Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Thomas Jefferson University's Sidney Kimmel Medical College received a $763,379 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), with an award date of May 1, 2026, and completion date of January 31, 2030. The award funds research to elucidate the mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) feedback regulation during platelet activation and to investigate how the thrombin receptor can be negatively regulated by GPCR kinase 5 (GRK5). This research addresses the role of GRK5 as a critical negative regulator of platelet activation, with implications for managing platelet dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases including venous thromboembolism, heart attack, and stroke.

The funded research will generate scientific outputs including mechanistic findings on GPCR-mediated platelet function, characterization of genetic variants affecting platelet sensitivity and cardiovascular disease risk, and preclinical data supporting potential therapeutic interventions targeting GRK5. The research project will utilize specialized biomedical research infrastructure at the Philadelphia-based academic medical center and is structured around three specific research aims designed to test the hypothesis that GRK5 can be manipulated to manage platelet dysfunction in disease.