Leonardo Augusto Moraes

A major focus of my current research understands immune-like signalling mechanisms that regulate the balance between platelet activation and inhibition to prevent thrombosis, using in vivo and in vitro thrombosis models. This includes platelet activation via the collagen receptor GPVI, and the inhibition of platelet function by the adhesion receptor such as PECAM-1. Also, we have exploring a number of intracellular receptors in platelets (PPARs, RXR, LXR, FXR i.e.) and there seems to be emerging a very interesting, albeit complicated, network of regulators, which hold the potential to control platelet function. The aim is to define the effect of inhibitory receptors on features of platelet activation and the cellular or biochemistry environment in which these may be important for haemostasis and thrombosis.