Thrombosis and Hemostasis ARC Program

INITIATION DATE:

01.01.2014

ARC DIRECTORS AND CO-DIRECTORS:

Dr. Vipul Chitalia, Internal Medicine, Nephrology
Dr. Katya Ravid, Medicine, Biochemistry
Dr. Jean Francis, Medicine, Nephrology, Clinician (thru 2026)
Dr. Nathanael Fillmore, Medicine, Hematology & Medical Oncology

ABSTRACT:

Over several years, the Thrombosis to Hemostasis (TtoH) ARC has successfully brought together basic and translational research through a cross-disciplinary approach to gain deeper understanding of thrombosis pathogenesis and to develop novel personalized predictive tools and therapeutic targets. As reported earlier, ARC members have initiated and developed the first Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA) program in BUSM. In 2020, our ARC provided extensive support to the development of a new ARC focused on pre-clinical studies related to Covid-19. As thrombosis and vascular complications are significant outcomes of Covid-19, our ARC members shared methodology and offered conceptual support to the newly formed ARC “ Respiratory viruses- a focus on Covid-19.”  This has led to few collaborative studies now in preparation for publication. This later collaboration has been facilitated by our TtoH ARC innovative focus on organ pathology-induced changes in thrombosis and vascular hemostasis, which in the past two years centered on studies related to mechanisms of cancer-induced thrombosis. In addition, leveraging upon interdisciplinary approaches and expertise, the TtoH ARC also probed thrombotic mechanisms related to chronic kidney disease and bone marrow myelofibrosis; both used as model systems to examine this newly studied paradigm, resulting in notable publications and new grant support.  Our collaborative pursuits led to identifying certain human plasma metabolites retained in chronic kidney disease, such as Kynurenine, as thrombogenic. Further, the secreted enzyme in myelofibrosis, lysyl oxidase, was found to enhance platelet activation and thrombosis in vivo in mice, and more recently new collaborative proteomic approaches led to identifying in in bone marrow malignant cells modified integrins known to participate in promoting thrombosis. Here, we aspire continue our prolific ARC Program, building upon our array of developments, seeking to continue through new research directions, our research and education missions, while placing BU as a new hub of expertise in organ pathology-associated cardiovascular disease.

MEMBERS: