Understanding and diagnosing Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Official title: The Immunobiology of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Funded at Versiti Blood Health, INC. · NIH-11372204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to understand the immune factors behind HIT and develop faster, more accurate tests to help people who need heparin therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Versiti Blood Health, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $498,141 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL167668-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients exposed to heparin who are suspected of having HIT or have a confirmed HIT diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIT or those not exposed to heparin may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on the immune reactions that cause HIT and how antibodies against PF4 bound to heparin trigger dangerous clotting. Researchers will study why some PF4/heparin antibodies become platelet-activating while others do not, with a goal of clearer, quicker diagnostics. The work includes using 16S sequencing related approaches to characterize related immune environments and will involve cloning and testing antibodies from HIT patients to dissect disease mechanisms. The ultimate aim is to improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary treatment, and shorten hospital stays for people at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more reliable HIT diagnoses and safer treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has identified PF4/H antibodies, with novel monoclonal antibodies from patients enabling deeper pathogenesis studies; this project builds on those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Versiti Blood Health, INC.
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wen, Renren — Versiti Blood Health, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wen, Renren
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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.