Nirav Dhanesha, PhD, research assistant professor in Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, qualified as a finalist for the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) Kenneth M. Brinkhous Early Career Investigator Prize in Thrombosis. As one of the four finalists, the AHA recognized Dhanesha, a member of the Chauhan Lab, as one of the young investigators performing fundamental and significant research in thrombosis. Dhanesha presented his work during the AHA’s virtual Vascular Discoveries Scientific Sessions conference.
Dhanesha’s project, “Targeting Myeloid-Cell Specific Integrin α9β1 Inhibits Arterial Thrombosis and Improves Stroke Outcome by Limiting Thrombo-inflammation,” identified a novel pathway that regulates arterial thrombosis while improving stroke outcomes. Integrin α9β1 is highly expressed on neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. Dhanesha’s studies suggest that targeting myeloid-specific integrin α9β1 improves short- and long-term functional outcomes in murine stroke models with preexisting comorbidities by limiting cerebral thrombosis and inflammation. His findings have been recently published in the American Society of Hematology’s journal Blood and the AHA’s Circulation Research.
Dhanesha will receive a plaque to commemorate his achievement. Dhanesha’s mentor, Anil Chauhan, MTech, PhD, professor in Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, received the Brinkhous award in 2011.