image: Wei Li, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA is an associate professor of biomedical sciences at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.
Credit: Sholten Singer, Marshall Health photographer
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Wei Li, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, associate professor of biomedical sciences at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has been awarded a Research Project Grant (R01), one of the most competitive grants issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to investigate the mechanisms driving increased risk of thrombosis in patients with heart failure and those with fluctuations in sex hormone levels.
The four-year, $1.96 million grant (1R01HL177493-01A1) will explore how a key plasma membrane protein, sodium/potassium ATPase (NKA), regulates platelet activation and contributes to blood clot formation.
Thrombosis—a condition where blood clots form inside blood vessels—poses serious health risks, yet many aspects of its regulation remain unclear. Li’s research focuses on the α1 subunit of NKA, which plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Preliminary findings suggest that this protein interacts with platelet receptors in a way that influences clot formation, with differences observed between males and females. The study will test the hypothesis that the α1 subunit fine-tunes platelet activation by regulating specific receptors.
"This highly competitive NIH R01 award underscores the national impact of Dr. Li’s work and highlights the caliber of research being conducted at Marshall University," said David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), Marshall University vice president for health affairs and dean of the medical school. "His investigation into the mechanisms of thrombosis has the potential to transform how we prevent and treat life-threatening blood clots, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease and beyond."
Li’s project will specifically examine how NKA α1 interacts with LGL-containing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to regulate platelet activation and how sex hormones influence this process. By clarifying these mechanisms, the study may identify new therapeutic targets to reduce thrombosis risk and improve patient outcomes.
“This grant allows us to uncover how a fundamental cellular protein influences platelet behavior and clot formation,” Li said.
Li received his medical training at China Medical University and completed his Ph.D. training in Japan. He joined the Cleveland Clinic as a project scientist in 2006 before joining Marshall University in 2017. Li’s research has been supported by two consecutive NIH R15 grants, and he has authored or co-authored more than 30 papers since joining Marshall. The R01 is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by NIH. The R01 provides support for health-related research and development based on the mission of the NIH.