B3103 - Decsription of blood count data and associations of adiposity and insulin with blood counts - 08/05/2018

B number: 
B3103
Principal applicant name: 
Laura Howe | MRC IEU (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Lucy Goudswaard, Dr Inge Hers
Title of project: 
Decsription of blood count data, and associations of adiposity and insulin with blood counts
Proposal summary: 

People who are at an increased risk of thrombosis (clots) are often given antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel and prasugrel. These drugs work by reducing the activity of platelets, thereby reducing the risk of clots forming. It is understood that obese and diabetic people have more reactive platelets than healthy people. These subgroups of people therefore have an increased risk of having a heart attack or a stroke, even if they are taking these antiplatelet drugs. The processes that lead to this increased platelet reactivity in obese and patients with diabetes are unclear. This project aims to determine whether there is an association between BMI/insulin and increased platelet reactivity in young adults and to identify potential causes of this increased reactivity.

Impact of research: 
It is important to understand what causes the increased platelet reactivity in these subgroups of patients, and why some drugs are less effective at reducing this platelet activity. This understanding may reveal new targets which may be therapeutic in reducing thrombosis and heart attack/stroke risk.
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 25 April, 2018
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 26 April, 2018
Keywords: 
Physiology, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc.