Below, please find brief descriptions of clinical studies active in our laboratory. For details on these studies, or if you are interested in participating, please contact Ms.Toni Blair at 801-585-9757 or tblair@u2m2.utah.edu.
Healthy Controls
We are currently looking for healthy controls. We do gender, age, and race-matched controls for most of the studies below. For consideration please contact Toni Blair. All healthy controls are 18 years of age and older, medication free and will be compensated for time and travel.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
We are currently working on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and studying COVID-19 patients. We are looking at how leukocytes, platelets, and soluble factors contribute to immunothrombosis and inflammatory tissue damage. We are also examining novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.
Platelets and Sepsis
Sepsis, or systemic inflammation triggered by infection, is common and often complicated by thrombosis (e.g. blood clotting). We are studying how sepsis alters gene expression in platelets and other cells. For this study, we are enrolling hospitalized patients with sepsis and, for comparison, healthy participants aged 21 and older. Participation involves completing a short health questionnaire and a blood draw.
Platelet Activation and Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of death and physical and cognitive disability, especially in older adults. The goal of our research study is to examine changes in platelet function during acute ischemic stroke. The primary clinical analysis is to test whether stroke activates mTOR in platelets, compared to matched healthy controls.
Aging and Immunity
Aging is associated with an increased risk of infection and inflammatory diseases. Many of these also result in thrombosis. We are examining how platelets are altered during aging, in order to better understand how to prevent and treat these diseases. For this study, we are enrolling adults aged 21 and older. We are particularly interested in enrolling adults 65 years and older. Participation involves completing a short health questionnaire and a blood draw.
Inflammation and Rheumatologic Diseases
Diseases such as lupus and vasculitis are often complicated by injurious inflammation and thrombosis. How platelet gene expression is altered during these thrombo-inflammatory diseases are poorly understood. For this study, we are enrolling patients with inflammatory rheumatological diseases and matched healthy controls aged 21 and older, for comparison. Participation involves completing a short health questionnaire and a blood draw.
Fragile X Syndrome
Fragile X syndrome is characterized by dysregulated translational control mechanisms. We are examining whether these genetic disturbances result in activation of platelet and megakaryocytes and related functional responses. For this study, we are enrolling patients with Fragile X syndrome and matched healthy controls (which can be unaffected family members), for comparison. Participation involves completing a short health questionnaire and a blood draw.
Social Relationships and Health
University of Utah Psychology Department
We are currently enrolling participants between the ages of 18 to 50 for a study on relationships and cardiovascular disease risk. You will need to be relatively healthy (e.g., no cancer or cardiovascular disease) and willing to have your blood drawn, provide a urine sample, and complete a one-day ambulatory blood pressure assessment where you will take a blood pressure monitor home with you and return it the following morning. Compensation ($75) will be provided for your participation upon returning the monitor. Please email healthandrelationshipslab@gmail.com to enroll or for more information on the study.