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Pathophysiology Of Thrombosis, Antithrombotic Drug Development And Clinical Laboratory Assessment
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Thrombosis, or blood clotting, is the final common endpoint of hemostatic activation that is the cause of myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and other venous and arterial thrombotic events. The complex hemostasis activation mechanisms involve serine proteases and inhibitors of the opposing coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways, as well as receptor remodeling and adhesion molecule expression on the platelet and endothelial cellular elements. The inflammatory state is upregulated in parallel with hemostatic activation (leukocyte-platelet interactions via cytokines and selectins). Specific clinical disorders of interest include heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, peri-operative thrombosis and bleeding, as well as cardiac surgery (CABG, heart-lung transplant, cardiac assist devices) and interventional cardiology (PTCA, stent) related hemostatic disorders. A multidisciplinary approach using biomarkers, flow cytometry, platelet activation assays, endothelial cell culture, as well as clinical hematology/cytology techniques are employed. Mechanistic studies are coupled with antithrombotic drug development including low molecular weight heparins, thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, anti-platelet drugs, and aprotinin. The development of clinical hospital laboratory (hematology, coagulation) methods for patient diagnostic assessment and drug monitoring is a further component of these hemostatic studies. Basic, clinical and translational research projects involve experimental models, clinical studies, clinical trials, and liaison with standardization and regulatory agencies on an international level.
Research Training Programs
Residents, fellows, medical students, graduate students, and pre-graduate level students are invited to participate in cardiovascular research as it pertains to hemostasis and thrombosis.
Publications
View a partial list of
Dr. Walenga's publications through the National Library of
Medicine's PubMed online database.
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