Synthetic sugar-like molecules to regulate platelet production
Official title: Synthetic glycosaminoglycan mimetics as regulators of megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis
Funded at University of North Texas · NIH-11345972 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to test synthetic molecules that mimic natural sugars to help the body make healthy platelets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denton, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $223,435 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL161423-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345972 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with thrombocytopenia or related platelet disorders, or healthy volunteers in early laboratory studies contributing samples or data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without platelet disorders may not directly benefit in early-stage studies.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how platelets are produced in the bone marrow and released into the blood, aiming to understand the key regulators of this process. Researchers will study non-saccharide glycosaminoglycan mimetics (NSGMs) that resemble natural molecules involved in megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. The goal is to identify how these mimetics influence megakaryocytes and platelet release, potentially guiding new therapies for low platelet counts. The work involves laboratory experiments with human-relevant biology to uncover molecular interactions relevant to clotting health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new treatments to prevent or treat low platelet counts and reduce bleeding risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests glycan interactions are important in megakaryopoiesis, but NSGMs for this purpose are novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas
Denton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Afosah, Daniel Kwame — University of North Texas
- Study coordinator: Afosah, Daniel Kwame
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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.