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Marshall University Professor Awarded $1.96 Million NIH Grant to Investigate Thrombosis Mechanisms

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Associate Professor Wei Li of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has been awarded a prestigious Research Project Grant (R01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the mechanisms driving increased risk of thrombosis in patients with heart failure and those with fluctuations in sex hormone levels. The four-year grant will explore how the sodium/potassium ATPase (NKA) protein regulates platelet activation and contributes to blood clot formation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NIH Research Project Grant (R01) is one of the most competitive grants issued by the NIH, with only a few percent of applicants receiving the award.
  • The grant will investigate the role of the a1 subunit of NKA in regulating platelet activation and contributing to blood clot formation.
  • Preliminary findings suggest that the a1 subunit interacts with platelet receptors in a way that influences clot formation, with differences observed between males and females.
  • The study will examine how NKA a1 interacts with LGL-containing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to regulate platelet activation and how sex hormones influence this process.
  • The project has the potential to transform how we prevent and treat life-threatening blood clots, improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease.
  • Dr. Li's research has been supported by two consecutive NIH R15 grants and has led to over 30 publications.
  • The R01 grant is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by the NIH, providing support for health-related research and development.

Statistics:

  • The grant award is $1.96 million over four years.
  • The grant is one of the most competitive grants issued by the NIH, with only a few percent of applicants receiving the award.
  • Dr. Li has received two consecutive NIH R15 grants prior to this project.
  • Dr. Li has authored or co-authored over 30 publications since joining Marshall University in 2017.

Sources:

  • [Wei Li, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, "Dr. Li awarded NIH R01 grant to investigate thrombosis mechanisms"]
  • [David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), Marshall University vice president for health affairs and dean of the medical school, "David Gozal comments on Dr. Li's NIH R01 award"]
  • [Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, "Dr. Wei Li receives NIH R01 grant to study thrombosis mechanisms"]

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