Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport received a $108,648 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 15, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2028. The award funds basic science research investigating novel mechanisms underlying venous thromboembolism (VTE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) associated with lung cancer. Specifically, the research will examine the role of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and neutrophil-mediated thrombosis pathways in cancer patients, with the objective of identifying new therapeutic targets to reduce thrombosis severity while mitigating the bleeding risks associated with conventional anticoagulation therapies.

The project utilizes transcriptomic analysis and mechanistic studies to elucidate how granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) elevation in lung cancer patients regulates neutrophil metabolism and promotes thrombotic pathways, including glycolysis, inflammasome activation, and coagulation. The research aims to establish the causative relationship between neutrophil PGK1 expression, NLRP3-mediated inflammatory signaling, and DVT development, ultimately generating evidence to support the clinical translation of PGK1-targeting therapeutics as a safer alternative to existing anticoagulation strategies for cancer patients at high thrombotic risk.