| Location and group name
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Platelet Group
School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM), Division of Blood, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NL |
| Principal investigators
|
Prof. Johan Heemskerk
Prof. Hugo ten Cate Dr Marijke Kuijpers Dr Paola van der Meijden Dr Rachell Cavill Dr Yvonne Henskens |
| Associated TAPAS ESRs
|
Chukiat Tantiwong
Delia Irene Fernández de la Fuente Helena Brown Ilaria De Simone Isabella Provenzale Jingnan Huang Natalie Jooss Stefano Navarro Yam Fung Hilaire Cheung |
| Key research expertise
|
The Platelet group focuses on the characterization of the (patho)physiological mechanisms of platelet activation in haemostasis and thrombosis. Using an integrative approach, we aim to study the regulatory mechanisms of platelet deposition and activation, with a special emphasis on the complex interplay with coagulation system and vessel wall components. To do so, we combine established, standard, techniques with novel flow-dependent perfusion models to characterize platelet responsiveness in health and disease. A core contribution to the TAPAS program is our expertise in high throughput whole blood-based microfluidic studies of thrombus formation to study key regulatory processes of platelet activation under flow.
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| Key research facilities
|
Our research facilities are well equipped for specialised assays of platelet, blood cell and coagulant functions. These include the golden standard platelet aggregometry test, flow cytometry, haematology analysers, Flex Station 3 for measurements of intracellular calcium fluxes, Western blotting, Maastricht flow chamber, Zeiss LSM7 confocal line-scanning microscope, EVOS-FL microscope (Life Technologies) for in vitro analysis of thrombus formation under flow. The department furthermore has facilities for cell culturing (EC and iPSC), cell sorting, CAT, ROTEM, molecular biology, peptide synthesis, NMR and in silico molecular analysis.
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| Contact details
|
Prof. Johan Heemskerk
jwm.heemskerk@maastrichtuniversity.nl Department of Biochemistry |
