Researchers investigating coagulation, thrombosis and acquired bleeding disorders can receive grants to advance their work by applying for a 2021 Professor Heimburger Award.
Understanding the intricacies of how blood clots – or fails to clot – is essential for treating a wide variety of bleeding disorders, including hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease. Five scientists will receive a research grant of 20,000 Euros ($22,500 US).
Get more information about applying for the award. The deadline is October 15.
The award, named for Professor Norbert Heimburger, honors a longtime CSL Behring scientist known as a pioneer of modern coagulation therapy. He developed virus-safe products based on pasteurization. Today, people who have bleeding disorders have dramatically increased quality of life – and health – because of medicines that replace the “factor” they lack.
CSL Behring created the award to recognize clinical and preclinical research from emerging coagulation specialists who are driven to improve patient care. This year’s winners were named in July just ahead of the virtual congress for the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH).
They are:
Eline van Bergen of University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands
She’s researching a path toward better joint health for hemophilia patients. Her project is studying how biochemical markers can work alongside imaging tests, like ultrasound scans, MRIs and X-rays, as a means of tracking joint problems.
Dorith Claushuis of Catharina Hospital Eindoven and CARIM research institutes, Maastricht University Medical Center, Netherlands
Claushuis is studying platelet disorders resulting from cancer treatment. “These results will help us identify which platelet function tests are altered in patients with bleeding and
moreover increase knowledge on platelet physiology,” Claushuis said in her application.
Mariasanta Napolitano of the PROMISE Department at the University of Palermo, Italy
Napolitano is studying how to help patients with severe hemophilia improve their quality of life by closely following their treatment regimen.
Gerard Jansen of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Jansen is looking at platelets using super-resolution microscopy. His investigation includes a specific interest in the organization of platelet granules and how this impacts von Willebrand Disease.
Linda de Heer of University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands
When someone has a heart valve replaced with a mechanical one, they typically need life-long therapy to prevent thrombosis (clots). De Heer is researching a novel in vitro flow model for testing mechanical heart valve thrombosis and anticoagulant therapies.
CSL Behring’s Vice President for Hematology, Antti Kourula, said the Heimburger Awards offer an opportunity to encourage promising research and get a wide view of what’s happening in the field.
“Our leadership in hemophilia and other bleeding disorders starts with innovative science and extends beyond what is happening in our own labs or product portfolio to advance research and patient care around the globe,” Kourula said. “We look forward to the exciting research the Heimburger Awards support.”
