Grant: Foundation Grant

Thrombosis, blood clots in arteries or veins, is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in Canada and worldwide. Thrombosis causes heart attacks, strokes and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), clots in the deep leg veins. Vein clots can dislodge and travel to the lungs producing fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). Clots forming on medical devices such as heart valves can break off and cause PE or stroke. We aim to reduce death and disability from thrombosis by developing safer anticoagulants (blood thinners), manufacturing coatings to prevent clotting on medical devices, and raising awareness about thrombosis. Anticoagulants are a cornerstone of thrombosis treatment. The goal of such therapy is to prevent clotting without causing bleeding. Currently available anticoagulants do not meet this goal and cause bleeding, which can be fatal. Therefore, we need safer anticoagulants. We identified factor (F) XI as a target for safer anticoagulants by showing that an agent that lowers FXI levels is effective and safe for DVT prevention after knee replacement surgery. However, this agent takes several weeks to work. Therefore, we have developed faster acting FXI inhibitors that we will test at the bench, in animals, and in surgical patients. Clotting on medical devices leads to device failure or to PE or stroke. Devices trigger clotting by activating FXI. We have coatings that block this process and we will test them at the bench and in animals before moving to humans. Global awareness about thrombosis lags behind that of disorders such as cancer and AIDS. To overcome this, we launched a year-long educational program culminating in World Thrombosis Day to enhance awareness so that patients can advocate for thrombosis prevention and treatment. We have 1000 partners and a global reach of 2.7 billion and plan to further increase our reach. Therefore, by raising thrombosis awareness and developing novel strategies to prevent and treat it, we will reduce death and disability from thrombosis.