Our researchers support a very active research programme that includes studies of bleeding and clotting disorders, which are either inherited from birth or develop later in life.
Haemostasis
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INHERITED BLEEDING
Haemophilia is a blood clotting disorder caused by deficiency of blood coagulation Factor VIII (haemophilia A) and Factor IX (haemophilia B), resulting in bruising and bleeding.
Our team supports the running of many clinical trials in haemophilia including gene therapy. We also conduct studies looking at better treatments for haemophilic arthropathy and novel X-ray techniques to assess cardiac disease.
We also run clinical studies on other inherited bleeding conditions – von Willebrand Disease, bleeding disorder of unknown cause and inherited fibrinogen disorders.
Acquired Bleeding
Patients who suffer traumatic injury, who undergo surgery, or who deliver a baby may develop severe bleeding. Our team is developing a novel means of investigating the clotting factor changes, and the changes that occur to the cells that line blood vessels, during severe bleeding. It is hoped that a deeper understanding of the changes that occur will direct researchers to develop new drugs to treat severe bleeding.
INTRACEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGE
There are around 3 million deaths worldwide per year from intracerebral haemorrhage (bleeding into the brain) and many survivors are left with long-term disability or dependent on others. Our researchers are running clinical trials to assess if giving medications to reduce bleeding as early as possible after an intracerebral haemorrhage starts will reduce the chance of patients dying or being left disabled.
Our team also run research assessing how to reduce the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage for newborn babies who are affected by a rare condition: fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT).
IMMUNOHAEMATOLOGY
Our teams run clinical trials into a number of clotting or bleeding problems that are caused by autoimmunity. These include thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT). We also run clinical trials for other autoimmune haematological conditions such as warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and cold agglutinin disease.