Using Stored Platelets to Improve Bleeding Control
Official title: Leveraging Stored Platelet Bioenergetics to Improve Hemostatic Function Upon Transfusion
Funded at Vitalant · NIH-11398252 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests how storing platelets at cold temperatures, with possible nutrient tweaks, can boost their ability to stop bleeding in patients who are actively bleeding.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitalant NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $571,905 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171594-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398252 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with bleeding requiring platelet transfusion who could be matched to the platelet products studied (e.g., cryopreserved or cold-stored platelets).
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving platelet transfusions or those for whom the tested storage approach is not suitable may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Vitalant aim to understand how cold-stored platelets behave in real-world bleeding scenarios and whether adding metabolic supplements can further enhance their clot-forming abilities. The work focuses on how redox biology and thiol switches influence platelet activation, adhesion, and coagulation under flow conditions similar to the human body. If successful, the findings could lead to storage methods that produce more effective platelet products for transfusions. The study will explore in vivo effectiveness of long-term stored, possibly supplemented, cold-stored platelets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients experiencing severe bleeding could receive more potent platelet transfusions, potentially improving hemostasis and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests cold-stored platelets may offer better hemostatic function, but the specific redox-modulated mechanisms and metabolic supplementation strategies are being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitalant
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Kimberly Anne — Vitalant
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Kimberly Anne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Nationwide blood donor study to track respiratory viruses and immune responses
This project uses a large national blood donor network to monitor how common respiratory viruses are and what antibodies people have, helping us understand how past infections and immunity change over time.
-
Modulating Galectin-9 to help reduce HIV persistence
Researchers are exploring whether blocking Galectin-9 can help reduce hidden HIV reservoirs in people on therapy.
-
Extracellular Vesicles as Clues and Targets for Heart Disease in People with HIV
This grant investigates how tiny particles in the blood, called extracellular vesicles, relate to heart disease risk in people living with HIV and looks for new ways to prevent or treat it.
-
How tiny DNA fragments in the blood may help the immune system control HIV
This project explores whether tiny fragments of DNA in the blood trigger immune signals that help delay HIV coming back in people on HIV treatment.
-
Blood and immune cell development in the chorion during early pregnancy
This research looks at how blood-forming stem cells and immune cells in the chorion (a fetal membrane) develop during the first trimester to understand how the placenta helps protect the baby.
-
Improving blood safety and availability for transfusions in children and adults
This study is looking at ways to make blood donations safer and more available for people who need transfusions, including kids and adults, so that everyone can have better and safer blood when they need it.
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.