3D human blood vessel model for blood clots and testing treatments
Official title: High-throughput Imaging-integrated Vascular Model for Understanding Thromboembolism and Therapeutics Screening
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11247481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using lab-grown three-dimensional human blood vessel models and advanced imaging to test how clots form and which medicines might stop or dissolve them for people at risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $600,869 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166522-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or those at high risk of venous thromboembolism who can donate blood or tissue samples would be ideal contributors to related sample-collection efforts.
✕Less likely to help
If you need immediate treatment for a clot or emergency care, this lab research will not provide direct clinical benefit to you right now.
What this research studies
Researchers will grow tiny three-dimensional human blood vessel models using human cells and use high-resolution, volumetric imaging to watch clots form and respond in real time. They will expose the models to clot-promoting signals, including those seen during infections, and apply different anticoagulant and clot-dissolving drugs to see which work best. The system is designed to run many tests quickly to spot promising treatments faster than traditional methods. Because the models use human cells instead of only animal tests, results may better reflect how treatments behave in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could speed up discovery of safer, more effective anticoagulant or clot-dissolving therapies and reduce blood-clot–related illness and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Related organ-on-chip and 3D human vascular model studies have shown promise for predicting drug effects, but using high-throughput volumetric imaging specifically for clot testing is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Y. Shrike — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Y. Shrike
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.