Grant: CIHR-ICRH Travel Awards - General pool

Platelets are tiny cells in the blood that normally circulate as (“unactivated”) discs in the bloodstream. After an injury such as a cut, platelets quickly become “activated,” change shape and stick together, forming platelet plugs that keep us from bleeding to death. This “shape change” reaction is critical for normal platelet function, however, we do not completely understand how platelet shape change occurs. The purpose of this research is to study a specific protein called filamin A, and determine exactly how this protein controls shape change in platelets, at the cellular level. This information will give us a better idea of how to develop better treatments for platelet-related diseases, including bleeding disorders.