Investigation of mechanotransduction mechanisms in platelets

Funded Activity Summary

Platelets are extremely important cells that stop bleeding by sticking to injured blood vessel walls, forming blood clots. Excessive clotting can lead to fatal vascular events such as heart attack and stroke. On the other hand, defects in blood clotting can result in life threatening bleeding problems. Platelets stick to sites of vessel wall injury through the interaction between cell surface receptors and sticky materials (proteins) that become exposed to the blood flow when the vessel wall is damaged. The stickiness of platelets is controlled by many proteins (and-or enzymes) inside these blood cells. These proteins transmit messages from platelet receptors on the surface into the cell interior, thereby controlling platelet behaviour. We are in the process of identifying several types of proteins-enzymes which are responsible for controlling platelet stickiness. The studies proposed in this application will provide better understanding of the complicated pathways regulating platelet stickiness and clot formation. The knowledge gained may utimately assist in the design of specific drugs for the prevention and-or treatment of heart attacks and strokes.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $481,500.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Haematology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Artherosclerosis | Haemostasis and thrombosis | Heart attacks and strokes | ITAM signalling | Integrin signalling | Mechanotransduction | Platelet adhesion | von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen

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