Oluwamayokun (Mo) Oshinowo
BME PhD Proposal Presentation

Date: 2022-10-05
Time: 1:00 PM
Location / Meeting Link: CHOA Seminar Room in EBB Krone/ emory.zoom.us/j/7113684811

Committee Members:
Wilbur Lam, MD,PhD; David Myers, PhD; James Dahlman, PhD; Andrés García, PhD; William Robert Taylor, MD, PhD; Ovijit Chaudhuri, PhD


Title: Single platelet biomechanics for translational and clinical investigation

Abstract:
Clotting is a complex process where both the mechanical and biochemical microenvironments synergistically play a role in preventing and stopping blood loss to achieve hemostasis. In this process, the biochemical microenvironment including the clotting cascade and the mechanical contribution of fibrin(ogen) are extremely well characterized. However, less is known about how platelets integrate the myriad of biochemical and biophysical microenvironmental signals and perform their biophysical function, especially at the single cell level. Additionally, translating cellular mechanics to the clinic has been difficult as bulk assays do not identify important platelet subpopulations, and there is a lack of sufficient high-throughput single platelet assays available to undergo a thorough investigation of platelet behavior. To address this knowledge gap, this proposal aims to leverage novel single cell biophysical assays to measure and understand the clinical relevance of platelet adhesion, spreading, and contraction. As such, we will investigate the role of single platelet mechanics as it pertains to 1) common animal models of hemostasis, 2) the mechanical microenvironment, and 3) as a clinically relevant biophysical biomarker. Consequently, completion of this proposal will provide substantial evidence that cell biomechanics is translational, clinically relevant and worth investigating at the single cell level.