How turbulent blood flow breaks down von Willebrand factor
Multimeric Structural Degradation of vWF in Turbulent Flows
This project looks at how abnormal blood flow in conditions like aortic valve narrowing or heart pumps causes the von Willebrand protein to lose its large functional pieces.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238879 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view, the team will recreate a range of blood flow conditions in the lab, from smooth (laminar) to chaotic (turbulent), and measure energy dissipation and exposure time. They will track the loss of high-molecular-weight von Willebrand multimers and study whether mechanical forces or enzyme activity cause the breakdown. The work will link laboratory flow measurements to clinical situations such as severe aortic stenosis and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (cf-LVADs). Results will aim to clarify the timing and conditions under which von Willebrand factor becomes damaged.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with acquired von Willebrand syndrome, severe aortic stenosis, or those using continuous-flow LVADs would be the most relevant candidates to contribute samples or benefit from findings.
Not a fit: People with inherited von Willebrand disease or bleeding disorders unrelated to abnormal blood flow are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help reduce bleeding complications by guiding device design and clinical decisions to prevent loss of von Willebrand function.
How similar studies have performed: Clinicians have observed reversible loss of large von Willebrand multimers after valve replacement or LVAD removal, but the precise mechanical and time-dependent mechanisms remain incompletely explained, so this work builds on known clinical findings with new mechanistic laboratory testing.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jhun, Choon-Sik — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Jhun, Choon-Sik
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.