Reducing the use of animals in research into deep vein thrombosis

Joint NC3Rs/BHF PhD Studentship:  Advanced in-vitro and in silico models to predict and prevent deep venous thrombosis (Dr Daniele Vigolo)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a life-threatening and debilitating condition where blood clots form within the deep veins, often in the leg. These clots can become unstable and cause fatal conditions such as pulmonary embolism. It’s currently impossible to predict who will develop DVT. Furthermore, diagnosis can be difficult, leading to many people taking potentially dangerous anti-clotting medicines unnecessarily. A great deal more research into DVT is needed, but efforts currently rely on the use of large numbers of animals, usually mice. We’re teaming up with The National Centre for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to develop new research methods that do not involve animals. This team intend to develop a new way to study the way blood flows in deep veins, because this may be important in the development of DVT. They will use a combination of measuring blood flow through synthetic veins and valves that mimic the anatomy of deep veins, and powerful computer models of blood flow. These studies will provide clues as to how deep vein anatomy affects blood flow, and how this might help us predict who’s at greatest risk of DVT. They will also show other researchers a new way to study DVT, without the need for animals.