Studying deep vein thrombosis in bioengineered human veins

Venous thrombosis: initiating mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Miss Laura Mereweather)

Researchers at Imperial College London are creating replica human veins to better understand deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein thrombosis affects in 1 in every 1,000 people each year in the UK. DVT occurs when a blood clot develops in the veins, most commonly in the legs. This obstructs blood flow and damages the surrounding tissue. The clot can also break off and get trapped in the lungs – this is called a pulmonary embolism. Exactly how the blood clot develops in DVT remains unclear and a greater understanding could help us predict, prevent and treat DVT more effectively. DVTs tend to form around the valves in veins. These are flaps of tissue that open to allow blood to flow in one direction and snap shut to prevent it flowing backwards. This team are engineering a replica of veins and vein valves in the laboratory to mimic the human circulation. They will pass human blood through the model and examine the early events that lead to the development of a blood clot. By using bioengineering skills, the team hope to find out more about DVTs and test ways to prevent clot formation by interrupting the early steps. Their findings may help us better protect people at risk of DVT, such as the elderly and those who are less mobile.