Stopping long-term leg damage after deep vein clots by giving anti-inflammatory medicine around the vein
Official title: Preventing Post-Thrombotic Syndrome after Deep Vein Thrombosis with Perivascular Anti-Inflammatory Agent Delivery
Funded at Mercator Medsystems, INC. · NIH-11194237 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will try giving anti-inflammatory medicine around the affected vein to lower the chance of long-term swelling, pain, and skin problems after a deep vein clot (DVT).
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mercator Medsystems, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Leandro, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,095,555 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL160434-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194237 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a recent deep vein thrombosis—especially larger, proximal clots such as iliofemoral DVT—would be the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with long-established post-thrombotic scarring, very distal clots, or those who present late after symptom onset may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
After a deep vein clot, inflammation can scar and stiffen the vein wall and lead to chronic leg problems called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). This project is developing a way to deliver anti-inflammatory drug directly around the vein (perivascular delivery) to block that damaging inflammation. The team plans laboratory and early-stage translational work to optimize the delivery method and drug dosing and move toward use in patients with recent DVT, especially larger proximal clots. The goal is to stop the vein scarring process that current clot-removal methods do not address.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If it works, this approach could reduce chronic swelling, pain, skin changes, and ulcers after DVT and improve patients' quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials that focused on removing clots have not lowered PTS, so locally delivering anti-inflammatory therapy to prevent vein scarring is a relatively new and unproven approach in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Mercator Medsystems, INC.
San Leandro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seward, Kirk — Mercator Medsystems, INC.
- Study coordinator: Seward, Kirk
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Neutrophil integrin α9 and blood clots after stroke in aging
This project looks at how a molecule on white blood cells called neutrophil integrin α9 might cause dangerous vein clots after a stroke, especially in older adults.
-
Metabolic tricks to prevent and heal dangerous blood clots in the leg
A study at a university aims to see if shifting how certain blood cells use energy can stop leg clots from forming and help bodies clear clots faster, reducing future complications.
-
Understanding how blood clots in deep veins can lead to long-term complications
This study is looking into how deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects healing and can lead to long-term problems like post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), with the goal of finding better treatments for people dealing with these issues.
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.