Mofiyin Obadina, MD, and Erica Sparkenbaugh, PhD, assistant professors in the Division of Hematology and the UNC Blood Research Center, received $50,000 from NC TRaCS for their TTSA proposal entitled, “Hypoxemia-Induced Platelet Activation in Sickle Cell Disease Pregnancy: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets.”
This award supports the development of new interdisciplinary collaborations and projects. Here, Dr. Obadina and Dr. Sparkenbaugh will explore the effect of nocturnal hypoxemia on aberrant platelet activation and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with sickle cell disease. This funding covers the 12-month Phase I of their trial, with the goal of identifying mechanisms and therapeutic targets that could improve care for this high-risk population.