Posted on | CategoriesImmunology, Inflammation, Infectious Disease / Internal Medicine | PI: Andrew S. Weyrich, PhD

The Power of mRNA in Anucleate Platelets

Andrew Weyrich, MD, and his group made the seminal discovery that anucleate human platelets transform messenger RNA (mRNA) into mature products that code for protein. More recently, his group found that a specific type of microRNAs (Dicer1-dependent) and their precursors (megakaryocytes) modulate the expression of target mRNAs important for cellular function. Continue reading → The Power of mRNA in Anucleate Platelets

Research Statement

Dr. Andrew S. Weyrich’s research examines how blood clots in health and disease. His group made the seminal discovery in 2005 that anucleate human platelets splice precursor messenger RNA into products that regulate inflammation. This paradigm shifting observation revolutionized the field of hematology, and has led to thousands of studies that use mRNA profiling to understand how platelets regulate thrombosis and inflammation – which is now referred to as “thromboinflammation”.  Dr. Weyrich has delivered more than 100 national and international talks and keynote addresses, and he has received numerous investigator research awards from the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB), the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), and the prestigious William Dameshek prize from the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

The University of Utah has also recognized him with an H.A. and Edna Benning Presidential Endowed Chair and he recently received the John R. Hoidal Senior Investigator Award. Dr. Weyrich has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and has been funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for over 25 years, including during his tenure as the Vice President for Research (VPR). Dr. Weyrich is also a member of the esteemed NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood (NHLBI) advisory council.