Keeping track of young platelets

Measurement of preplatelets in inherited and acquired thrombocytopenia (Mr Sam Kemble)

Platelets, the tiny cells in our body that help the blood to clot, live for only ten days. Because of this short lifespan, conditions that cause low platelet counts, such as thrombocytopenia, are usually caused by problems in producing enough new platelets. Measuring the numbers of immature or young platelets – called preplatelets – can be very useful for diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of patients with thrombocytopenia and similar conditions. But current ways to measure preplatelets are unreliable and inaccurate. This grant will fund a PhD student to work in Birmingham’s world-renowned Platelet Group under the supervision of Dr Paul Harrison. The student will set up a new approach for measuring preplatelets. They will test it out in blood samples taken from mice, healthy people, and those with conditions that affect their platelet count. An accurate and reliable method for measuring preplatelets will improve the diagnosis and care of people with blood conditions associated with low platelet numbers.