Sol Sherry investigators examine the roles of platelets, plasma coagulation factors, protease inhibitors, and neutrophils in thrombogenesis and inflammatory disorders.
We have three primary goals.
To compare biochemistry and signaling related to normal (physiological) versus pathologic (diseased) functioning in order to improve the development of diagnostic tests.
To develop appropriate drugs or other therapeutic approaches to prevent platelet aggregation, blood coagulation, neutrophil activation, and fibrin formation, all of which contribute to the formation of an obstructive thrombus.
To investigate overall vascular biology, particularly coagulation, fibrinolytic, and the complement and kinin-forming systems. While these functions defend the body against disease development and progression, when they are unregulated, hemorrhage, thrombosis, and inflammatory reactions can result. In particular, our researchers study pro-angiogenic proteins, which help new blood vessels grow and are linked to heart disease, as well as anti-angiogenic proteins that block blood vessel growth and may help treat cancer.