Muthuvel Jayachandran, Ph.D.

Thrombotic events such as myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, stroke and pulmonary/venous thromboembolism are major causes of morbidity and mortality in humans. The general focus of my research is toward understanding what factors contribute to an increased coagulability of the blood (thrombotic propensity) with infection, inflammation, sex hormone deficiency, menopausal hormone therapy and aging. This research work has included an integrated approach to the problem by identifying how biochemical and molecular signaling pathway responses of vascular and circulating blood cells derived microvesicles (also known as microparticles) and their procoagulant and anticoagulant activities change during acute infection, inflammation, sex hormone deficiency, menopausal hormone therapy and aging. Investigations utilize biochemical and molecular biological techniques including genetic manipulations, in vitro cell systems and in vivo treatments. The interdisciplinary team approach includes the expertise of physiologists, hematologists, biochemists and clinical cardiologists. The significance of this research is that identification of novel mechanisms linking infection, inflammation, sex-hormones, thrombosis and aging will lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies directed toward reducing thrombosis and associated events in humans.