Role of megakaryocyte and endothelial cell shared super enhancers in determining prothrombotic phenotypes
Heart attacks and most strokes occur when a blood clot forms in one or more of the arteries feeding the heart or brain, respectively. Thanks to the tireless efforts of researchers, we now have a better understanding of the processes in the body that lead to dangerous blood clot formation. However, we don’t yet fully understand why some people are more prone than others to clot formation. It’s also unclear why some people respond less well to the clot-busting drugs that are the cornerstone of heart attack treatment. Now, Dr Mattia Frontini and his team will delve into the extensive human genetic databases that are available to researchers, to search for the variations between us that could account for these important differences. He thinks the key may lie in the regions of our DNA that act as ‘dimmer switches’ turning up or down the activity of genes that are central to the blood clotting process. By dissecting how variations in our DNA influence blood clotting, we can begin to understand more about our personal risks and heart health. This work could lead to a truly individualised approach to heart disease and stroke prevention and treatment.
Project details
| Grant amount | £941,810 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | Senior Basic Science Research Fellowship |
| Start Date | 01 April 2019 |
| Duration | 5 years |
| Reference | FS/18/53/33863 |
| Status | In Progress |
