How SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can cause blood clots
Cellular effects of SARS-CoV-2 in mediating thrombotic susceptibility
Researchers are looking at how SARS‑CoV‑2 makes blood and vessel cells act in ways that raise the risk of dangerous blood clots in hospitalized COVID‑19 patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290417 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will analyze blood and plasma from hospitalized COVID‑19 patients, using samples collected during a previous anticoagulation trial plus newly recruited participants. The team will measure inflammatory proteins such as Galectin‑3 and IL‑6 and test how these factors change platelet, neutrophil, and endothelial cell behavior. Laboratory experiments will link those changes to thrombin generation and clot formation. The goal is to connect specific inflammatory signals to the clotting problems seen in severe COVID‑19.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults hospitalized with COVID‑19, particularly those with signs of inflammation or at increased risk for thrombosis.
Not a fit: People without COVID‑19 or whose clotting problems come from non‑inflammatory or chronic noninfectious causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify markers or targets that help prevent or reduce blood clots and related organ damage in people with severe COVID‑19.
How similar studies have performed: Prior clinical studies have linked high IL‑6 and other inflammatory markers to clotting in COVID‑19 and mouse work implicates Galectin‑3, but direct human mechanistic links remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dayal, Sanjana — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Dayal, Sanjana
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 below.