A new project led by Swansea University aims to revolutionize the treatment of blood clots. The £1.2 million initiative, funded by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), is spearheaded by Professor Karl Hawkins along with colleagues from Swansea University and NHS clinicians.
The research focuses on rheology, which studies how materials flow and deform. This approach has led to the discovery of a crucial biomarker, potentially paving the way for an advanced blood test. This test measures changes in rheology during clotting to accurately track a clot's lifespan from formation to breakdown, offering insights beyond current methods.
Professor Hawkins stated: “By developing advanced rheometric techniques to analyse blood clot behaviour, we can now help create and assess new treatments in a way no other test can, opening the door to better treatment strategies.”
The project also utilizes microfluidic technology to monitor clot breakdown in real time across vessels of varying sizes. Dr Francesco Del Giudice emphasized: "Microfluidics provide unparalleled insights into clot breakdown processes, offering a comprehensive analysis with real-world clinical applications."
Dr Daniel Curtis added: "This project is a really exciting opportunity to develop new rheometric techniques that will not only support healthcare research but also change the way we study other materials that evolve over time."
Collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to refine these monitoring techniques further. The initiative is part of an £80 million UKRI (EPSRC) effort focused on fundamental research and discovery science for clinical applications.
Blood clot-related conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, and deep vein thrombosis significantly impact global health, leading to numerous hospital admissions annually. Dr Suresh Pillai highlighted the urgency for accurate tests due to complications associated with some current treatments: "Blood clot-associated diseases are causing an increasingly significant burden on the NHS...therefore, there is an urgent need to develop accurate tests to assess patient responses to new therapeutic interventions.”