2022 Midwest Platelet Conference

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The Midwest Platelet Conference will be held in Ann Arbor, MI, September 29th - October 30th. This is the 18th meeting in a series established to showcase the most innovative science in platelet biology in the basic, clinical, and translational forefronts of the field and support the trainees and young investigators as they develop their science in the field of platelets, hemostasis, and thrombosis. The Midwest Platelet Conference (MPC) was established 38 years ago to promote interactions between established investigators and trainees studying platelets, vascular biology, thrombosis and hemostasis. This conference is closely aligned with the goals of the NIH and NHLBI to understand how the platelet functions and its role in arterial and venous thrombosis, hemostasis, immune-thrombotic diseases, and inflammation in order to develop better approaches to treating these pathological conditions. Platelets play an essential role in maintaining hemostasis. Under normal physiological conditions, platelets circulate and have no affinity for vascular endothelial cells that cover the surface of blood vessels. However, upon injury to blood endothelial cells, platelets bind with high affinity to the collagen exposed in the underlying sub-endothelial matrix. This interaction also leads to other adhesive interactions that result in the activation of other platelets and their binding with each other to form an aggregate. In addition to their essential function in the hemostatic pathway, platelets also secrete >300 bioactive molecules, which have a range of other properties that are essential for modulation of key biological processes including fibrinolysis, wound repair, proliferation, angiogenesis and inflammation, just to name a few. These biological processes are tightly regulated by a crosstalk between platelets and vessel wall endothelial cells. A defect in the interactions/communications between platelets and endothelial cells can compromise the integrity of blood vessels culminating in cardiovascular disease (CVD) including heart attacks and strokes, which are the leading causes of death in the US. This conference is an essential grassroots forum for trainees and junior investigators to present their findings, receive critical feedback on their studies and network with trainees and faculty from around the US. To this end, there is an emphasis on presentation of unpublished data to ensure the presentation of cutting edge research in many fields focused in blood clotting and platelets. In line with the focus of the NIH and NHLBI, there is a focus on inclusion of women, underrepresented minorities, and young investigators in the conference including undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, junior faculty, and individuals with physical disabilities. The conference will include oral presentation slots for trainees in each of 6 session as well as 50 poster discussions in a dedicated session. The oral sessions will focus on topics including: New technologies in platelet research, Platelet biochemistry and signaling, Platelet disorders in the clinic, Platelet adhesion, aggregation, and secretion, New advances in antiplatelet therapy in translational research, and Emerging trends in platelet research. The goal of the Midwest Platelet Conference is to bring together leading experts and trainees in order to foster free exchange of ideas that will lead to advances in preventing or treating life-threatening diseases caused by dysregulation of platelet activity.