Understanding how cells signal to prevent blood clots and inflammation
Mechanisms of integrin signaling and a new anti-platelet/anti-inflammatory approach
This research explores new ways to prevent dangerous blood clots and inflammation, which contribute to heart attacks and strokes, with fewer side effects than current medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090375 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Dangerous blood clots are a leading cause of death worldwide, contributing to conditions like heart attacks and strokes. While existing medications help prevent these clots, they often come with a significant risk of bleeding. This project aims to discover how certain cell signals work in platelets, which are tiny blood cells crucial for clotting. By understanding these signals better, we hope to develop a new type of medicine that can both prevent clots and reduce inflammation, without causing severe bleeding.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for future patients who suffer from or are at high risk of thrombotic cardiovascular diseases, such as those prone to heart attacks and strokes.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have or are not at risk for thrombotic cardiovascular diseases would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer and more effective treatments for patients at risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other thrombotic diseases.
How similar studies have performed: While current anti-platelet and anti-coagulant drugs exist, this project seeks a novel approach to combine their benefits while minimizing bleeding risks, which is largely an untested area.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Du, Xiaoping — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Du, Xiaoping
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 below.