Faster, more accurate test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Official title: Improved diagnostics for heparin induced thrombocytopenia
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11323524 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We're creating a quick lab test to find dangerous platelet reactions in people who have received heparin and might have heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $534,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL177430-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323524 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have recently received heparin and have a clinical concern for HIT, such as a falling platelet count or new clot while on heparin.
✕Less likely to help
People who have not been exposed to heparin or whose low platelet counts are due to other known causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If I take part, the team will develop a new molecular sensor that detects the mechanical forces platelets make when they activate. They will test the sensor using blood samples that contain the antibodies known to cause HIT and compare the sensor's readouts to the current reference tests. The work builds on prior lab data showing platelets contract with measurable force after activation, and researchers will refine the sensor so it works quickly and reliably. The goal is a faster, accurate test that could be used in hospitals instead of sending samples to a few specialized reference laboratories.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give faster and more accurate HIT diagnoses so patients avoid unnecessary or risky anticoagulants and reduce the chance of clotting, bleeding, or amputation.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is relatively novel—current standard tests use complex serotonin-release assays run in specialized labs, while mechanical sensing of platelet activation has promising preliminary lab data but is not yet established as a clinical diagnostic.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salaita, Khalid S. — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Salaita, Khalid S.
Related research
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New ideas to understand, diagnose, and treat heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
A Mayo Clinic led study will look at the different kinds of HIT antibodies to improve diagnosis and treatment for people with HIT.
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Immunobiology of vaccine-related clotting after adenovirus vaccines
This research asks how antibodies linked to a rare vaccine-related clotting condition (VITT) interact with specific blood proteins to cause clots after certain COVID-19 vaccines.
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Understanding and diagnosing Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
A project to understand the immune factors behind HIT and develop faster, more accurate tests to help people who need heparin therapy.
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Fetal and neonatal platelet allergy: understanding why some babies bleed
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Molecular mechanisms behind immune-related low platelets and clots in transfusion medicine
This grant supports a team of researchers to understand how immune factors cause low platelets and abnormal clots, with a focus on transfusion medicine and pediatric to adult patients.
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.