Universiteit Maastricht, The Netherlands

 

Location and group name

 

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.

 

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.

 

Contact details

 

Prof. Johan Heemskerk

jwm.heemskerk@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Department of Biochemistry
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room: H4.308