Sodium Pump, Sex Hormones, and Blood Clots
Official title: Sodium Pump, Sex Hormones, and Thrombosis
Funded at Marshall University · NIH-11378808 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how a common “sodium pump” protein and sex hormones affect the risk of blood clots in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marshall University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Huntington, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $476,449 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL177493-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378808 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with or at risk for thrombosis, especially those affected by heart conditions or undergoing sex hormone therapy, or individuals with related platelet function concerns.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not have heart disease, hormone-related risk, or platelet-related clotting issues, this study may not directly benefit you.
What this research studies
This project examines how variations in a brain- and body-wide protein called the sodium/potassium ATPase (NKA) may influence how easily platelets clump together to form clots, especially in conditions like heart failure or during sex hormone therapy. Using mouse models and experiments on human platelets, researchers will look at how different NKA subunits, particularly the alpha-1 subunit, affect clot formation and platelet activity. The work also tests whether small amounts of NKA inhibitors can reduce thrombosis, aiming to pinpoint new targets for safer anti-clot therapies. The findings could help personalize treatment decisions for people at higher risk of thrombosis related to hormones or cardiovascular conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted strategies to prevent dangerous blood clots in at-risk patients.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies in mice and human platelets show that components of the sodium pump can influence clotting, making this approach promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Marshall University
Huntington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Wei — Marshall University
- Study coordinator: Li, Wei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Role of blood flow mechanics and transfusion in sepsis-related tiny-cl vessel clots
A patient-focused look at how red blood cell flow and transfusions might influence tiny blood vessel clots and organ problems in sepsis.
-
Understanding how DVT forms and heals to prevent vein scarring
This NIH grant supports a physician-scientist to study why deep vein clots form and how vein walls get scarred, with the goal of improving long-term outcomes for patients who develop DVT.
-
Piezo1’s role in blood clotting across vessels
Researchers are exploring how a tiny sensor in blood vessels called Piezo1 influences clot formation, with the aim of reducing clotting risks without causing dangerous bleeding.
-
Oscillatory blood flow and vein valve health to prevent clots
Aimed at understanding how the natural rhythmic blood flow in leg veins protects against clots and whether restoring that flow can prevent dangerous vein clots in hospitalized patients.
-
Local anti-inflammatory therapy to help dissolve clots and prevent vein damage in DVT
Aims to test a local anti-inflammatory treatment to help resolve deep vein clots and reduce long-term vein problems in people with DVT.
-
Precision risk tools for blood clots and bleeding in critically ill children
A pediatric-focused project will use existing data from many hospitals to build and test a risk model that helps doctors decide which very sick kids might benefit from clot-prevention therapies.
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.