How eosinophils may drive clots and artery disease when LNK is reduced
Official title: The role of eosinophil in thrombosis and atherosclerosis in LNK deficiency
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11238984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research will learn whether eosinophils make blood clots and artery disease worse in people who carry a common LNK/SH2B3 genetic change that raises heart attack and stroke risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $601,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL168392-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, especially those known to carry the LNK/SH2B3 R262W variant or who have elevated eosinophil counts, would be the most relevant group.
✕Less likely to help
People whose heart disease is driven mainly by non-inflammatory factors or who do not carry the LNK/SH2B3 variant may be less likely to benefit from eosinophil-focused approaches.
What this research studies
For patients, the team starts with human genetic findings that link a common LNK/SH2B3 change to higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They use mice lacking LNK to study how eosinophils, neutrophils, and platelets interact to promote artery plaque and clot formation. In mouse experiments they test whether removing eosinophils with an antibody reduces the accelerated thrombosis seen without LNK. They will also search for blood markers and oxidized lipids that could point to new treatment targets for people at genetic risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat clots and atherosclerosis in people with the LNK/SH2B3 risk variant by targeting eosinophils or their interactions with platelets and neutrophils.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies, including the team's LNK-deficient mouse data showing reduced thrombosis after eosinophil depletion, support the idea, but benefit in humans is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Nan — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wang, Nan
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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.