Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a Project Grant of $1,081,420 under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) for research on novel pathways and mechanisms underlying platelet disorders. The award, effective April 1, 2026, through January 31, 2033, supports basic and translational research investigations designed to advance understanding of how cellular signaling pathways—particularly G protein networks and integrin receptors—control platelet adhesion, aggregation, and plug formation in both hemostasis and thrombosis. The research aims to identify disease-induced changes in platelet reactivity that contribute to thrombotic diseases and to develop novel antithrombotic therapies and biomarker assays for detecting prothrombotic states.

The research program focuses on four primary areas: (1) studies on G protein networks and integrin affinity regulation in platelets; (2) investigations into the role of platelets in venous thrombosis pathogenesis and novel antithrombotic strategies; (3) development of novel assays to measure primed platelets across different disease states; and (4) studies to understand and correct defects in platelet count and function associated with inherited and acquired platelet disorders. This research will be conducted at UNC-Chapel Hill's Chapel Hill, North Carolina facility and represents a multi-year commitment to advancing the fundamental understanding of platelet biology and its clinical applications in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.