# Multiscale Model of Thrombosis in Artificial Circulation

> **NIH NIH R01** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $591,303

## Abstract

ALL blood-wetted devices, without exaggeration, are susceptible to unintended thrombosis and
bleeding – with dire consequences. In spite of decades of clinical experience, basic research,
and computational fluid dynamics modeling, it is still virtually impossible to avoid deleterious
hematological effects without experimental trail-and-error. In fact, in recent years, the incidence
of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic adverse events in ventricular assist devices (VADs) has
increased, not decreased. The unfortunate consequence is an unacceptable rate of debilitating
adverse events such as stroke and hemorrhage. This has motivated the PI and colleagues over
the past two decades to develop an accurate, computational model to simulate the process of
thrombus deposition on artificial surfaces. The computer simulation is unique in its ability to
account for physical and biological phenomena on multiple-scales, including the trafficking of
red blood cells and platelets in small spaces, synthesis and transport of chemical agonists, and
several pathways for positive- and negative feedback of platelet adhesion to artificial surfaces.
The current model has demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental observations in
microfluidic channels and the HeartMate-2 blood pump.
 The objective of this competitive renewal is to continue improvement of the versatility of this
model, and to demonstrate its translation to full-scale blood-wetted devices. The two Specific
Aims of this study are: SA1, to improve the fidelity of the model by adding important
mechanisms of platelet disaggregation, thrombolysis, and von Willebrand mediated platelet
adhesion; and SA2, to demonstrate and further validate the performance of the model with
contemporary blood pumps and oxygenators in clinical use.
 Successful completion of these aims will yield a comprehensive computational model for
thrombosis in blood-wetted devices, which we believe will contribute to the inevitable paradigm
shift in developing these devices: replacing trial-and-error with prescriptive quantitative
methods. Combined with computer optimization, the use of this model will greatly accelerate
development of safe and effective new devices, and will reduce the occurrence of adverse
complications. We also envision that the models will also be used forensically to analyze
thrombosis-related adverse events, and help guide management of anticoagulation therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9925233
- **Project number:** 5R01HL089456-09
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES F. ANTAKI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $591,303
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2021-06-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9925233

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9925233, Multiscale Model of Thrombosis in Artificial Circulation (5R01HL089456-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9925233. Licensed CC0.

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