Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah received a $231,000 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028. This award funds research investigating the role of lung megakaryocytes and megakaryocyte-derived platelets in lung injury, with particular emphasis on immunothrombosis as a contributor to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and hypoxemic respiratory failure. The research builds on prior work examining platelet transcriptome alterations and the function of the FcγRIIA immune receptor in sepsis-related pathology, with research activities pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to examine platelet dysfunction in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, including the role of neutrophil extracellular traps in lung vessel pathology.

The deliverables under this award include basic and translational research findings on platelet biology, immunothrombosis mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets for ARDS—conditions that represent the most common cause of intensive care unit admission and carry significant morbidity and mortality. Products will likely include peer-reviewed publications, mechanistic data on platelet-neutrophil interactions in lung injury, and foundational science to inform future clinical interventions addressing immunothrombosis in sepsis and respiratory failure.