How fibrinogen becomes fibrin and why that matters for blood clots
Official title: Coagulations 'Drake Passage': The Bumpy Transition Between Fibrinogen and Fibrin
Funded at East Carolina University · NIH-11122886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We are finding molecular differences between fibrinogen and fibrin to help people with clot-related problems like heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s-related vascular damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Carolina University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greenville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $558,697 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HL179651-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11122886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with conditions tied to abnormal fibrin deposits—such as certain cardiovascular diseases, stroke survivors, or those with Alzheimer’s-related vascular changes—would be the most relevant candidates for future related trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
People whose health problems are unrelated to blood-clotting or fibrin biology are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers at East Carolina University will study the two closely related blood proteins, fibrinogen and fibrin, using lab techniques from biochemistry and biophysics to map how their shapes and binding sites differ. They will look for molecular signatures that mark fibrin versus fibrinogen and test how those differences relate to pathological deposits linked to disease. The project also trains students in these lab methods so future teams can translate the findings toward diagnostics or therapies. Most work happens in the lab on protein samples and molecular assays rather than as a clinical treatment trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests or treatments that specifically detect or target harmful fibrin deposits, improving diagnosis and care for clot-related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked fibrin to disease and shown it can be harmful in some contexts, but fibrin-specific diagnostics and therapies remain largely novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
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East Carolina University
Greenville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Offenbacher, Adam — East Carolina University
- Study coordinator: Offenbacher, Adam
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.