Understanding Platelet Stress in Pulmonary Hypertension
Official title: Platelet Metabolic Stress Induces Thrombo-Inflammation to Drive Endothelial Dysfunction in PH
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11172429 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how stress in blood platelets might contribute to blood vessel damage in people with pulmonary hypertension.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $721,423 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166985-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172429 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms, and while it does not directly recruit patients, future clinical studies stemming from this work would likely involve individuals diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without pulmonary arterial hypertension would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Pulmonary hypertension causes high blood pressure in the lungs, leading to heart failure, and we want to understand what causes the blood vessels to change. We believe that stressed blood platelets, which are tiny cells in your blood, might play a key role in damaging the lining of these blood vessels. Our team is looking into how a specific protein in platelets, called MFN1, might trigger inflammation and further harm the blood vessels in the lungs. By understanding these processes, we hope to find new ways to protect the blood vessels and improve outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that target platelet function to prevent or reduce blood vessel damage in pulmonary hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that reducing platelets can lessen disease progression in animal models of pulmonary hypertension, suggesting this approach has promise.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shiva, Sruti — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Shiva, Sruti
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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.