Targeting NINJ1 to Prevent Blood Clots Linked to Inflammation
Official title: Targeting NINJ1-mediated Plasma Membrane Rupture to Prevent Thrombosis
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11413657 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how a specific cell-death process in immune cells worsens clotting during infections and how blocking it could reduce dangerous blood clots.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $528,032 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL177556-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413657 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates may be patients with inflammatory conditions or infections that predispose them to thrombosis and whose care could benefit from new anti-thrombotic strategies.
✕Less likely to help
People without inflammatory or infectious conditions related to thrombosis may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If this project succeeds, it could identify new ways to reduce inflammation-driven blood clots without harming normal clotting. Researchers will study how plasma membrane rupture in macrophages contributes to thrombosis and test therapies that target pyroptosis and PMR. The work involves lab experiments with human-relevant pathways and may lead to future trials in patients at risk of clotting disorders due to infection or inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially safer and more effective ways to prevent dangerous blood clots while preserving normal clotting function.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies have linked macrophage pyroptosis to clot formation, supporting the approach but clinical translation remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Congqing — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Wu, Congqing
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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.