Investigate the role of platelet von Willebrand Factor in initiating platelet aggregation under flow

Funded Activity Summary

Platelets are small specialised blood cells that are essential for normal blood clotting and repair of damaged blood vessels following injury. We are studying the processes that enable platelets to stick to each other and to other cells to form a stable blood clot at the site of injury. The same processes, unchecked, are involved in the formation of harmful blood clots in the bloodstream that may block blood vessels in the heart or brain and result in a heart attack or stroke. Platelets stick to the blood vessel wall through specialised adhesive proteins. These adhesion proteins are stored within the platelet and expressed on the cell surface when the platelets stick to the blood vessel wall. In conditions such as Gray Platelet Syndrome, the platelets are unable to store adhesion receptors, resulting in impaired blood clot formation. A clearer understanding of how platelets stick to the blood vessel wall will not only increase our knowledge of blood clot formation in health and disease, but also with the potential development of new therapies for the prevention of heart disease and stroke.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2000

End Date: 01-01-2002

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $307,165.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Haematology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Cardiovascular disease | Glycoprotein Ib | Haemostasis | Integrin GPIIb/IIIa | Platelet adhesion | Shear forces | Thrombosis | von Willebrand Factor

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