Leducq International Network Against Thrombosis (LINAT)
- Frits R. ROSENDAAL, Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands)
- Edwin G. BOVILL, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
- Martine AIACH, Université de Paris V (France)
- Charles ESMON, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (USA)
- Henri R. LIJNEN, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven (Belgium)
- Bruce M. PSATY, University of Washington (USA)
- Delphine BORGEL, Université de Paris, INSERM, Unit 428 (France)
- Desiré COLLEN, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven (Belgium)
- Joseph EMMERICH, Université de Paris, INSERM, Unit 428 (France)
- Yechiel FRIEDLANDER, University of Washington (USA)
- Marc HOYLAERTS, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven (Belgium)
- Sally HUBER, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
- Deborah A. NICKERSON, University of Washington (USA)
- Peter REITSMA, Leiden University Medical Center, (The Netherlands)
- David J. SCHNEIDER, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
- David SISCOVICK, University of Washington (USA)
- Burton E. SOBEL, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
- Douglas J. TAATJES, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
- Paula B. TRACY, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
- Russel P. TRACY, University of Vermont, Burlington (USA)
The understanding of thrombin is crucial to our knowledge about cardiovascular disease. Thrombin is implicated in the production of the blood clots, which when blocking the flow of blood in the arteries of the heart, are responsible for causing a heart attack. As it turns out, the role of thrombin is very complex: it initiates a process of dissolving a blood clot as it causes the formation of the clot. It is also involved in the process of inflammation, the body’s response to injury or infection. The LINAT group proposes to delineate further how central a role thrombin plays in cardiovascular disease. They will put into place a sophisticated technological network, allowing improved communication among network members. Personnel exchange is envisioned on a model of a “virtual graduate school.” The knowledge gained will, it is hoped, be useful in identifying targets for intervention in coronary artery disease, one of the leading killers in the developed world.