# The Mechanistic Impact of Paternal Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Exposure on Thrombogenesis

> **NIH NIH R56** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR · 2024 · $762,367

## Abstract

While the contribution of exposure of future fathers (paternal) to environmental factors, such as smoking, to the
pathogenesis of several disease states has been documented, that of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
(ENDS), including in the context of occlusive cardiovascular disease (CVD), has not yet been investigated.
Therefore, the present application proposes experiments that address fundamental, mechanistic, and clinically-
relevant translational aspects of the adverse-health effects of ENDS, namely e-waterpipes and e-cigarettes,
which are increasingly popular forms of tobacco, in the context of paternal exposure on thrombotic disease and
platelet biology. These studies will be performed in a sex-dependent fashion. Specifically, the ramifications of
ENDS paternal exposure on normal hemostasis and the development of thrombosis disease will be determined.
Subsequent studies will examine whether ENDS modulate platelet function and/or counts. Experiments are also
designed to determine the effects of ENDS on clotting/thrombosis markers and the coagulation system. We will
also investigate if their effects involve inflammation and non-platelet cells (e.g., endothelial cells and neurtophils).
In addition, and in terms of the mechanistic experiments, the role of the platelet transcriptome (e.g., miRnome)
of the offspring and the epigenetic marks (e.g., histone modification) of the father's sperm in mediating ENDS
paternal effects will be determined. Finally, the impact of paternal ENDS on the placenta and the sperm non-
coding RNA will also be investigated. Collectively, these experiments will make significant contributions to the
understanding of the consequences of paternal ENDS exposure- an increasingly popular and underappreciated
health threat- on cardiovascular health, as well as the mechanism by which it exerts these effects, in a sex-
specific manner.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11192952
- **Project number:** 2R56HL145053-06
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Fadi T Khasawneh
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $762,367
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2024-09-20 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11192952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11192952, The Mechanistic Impact of Paternal Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Exposure on Thrombogenesis (2R56HL145053-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11192952. Licensed CC0.

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