Dhanesha earns AHA career development award

Nirav Dhanesha, PhD, research assistant professor in Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, has earned a three-year, $231,000 Career Development Award from the American Heart Association (AHA). Dhanesha, a member of the Chauhan Lab, will use the funds to investigate the mechanisms for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in obesity.

“Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health issue that is associated with significant costs and increased morbidity and mortality. Obesity combined with environmental or genetic factors pose greater risk of VTE. Understanding the mechanisms that exacerbates venous thrombosis in preexisting comorbid condition of obesity may have a significant impact on the management of DVT patients,” Dhanesha said.

Dhanesha will use state-of-the-art techniques such as intravital microscopy and laser speckle imaging as well as novel mouse models on diet-induced obese background to explore underlying mechanisms for DVT.

In 2018, Dhanesha received the American Society of Hematology Fellow Scholar award. Along with principal investigators Chauhan and Enrique Leira, MD, MS, professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Epidemiology, Dhanesha is a co-investigator on the NIH/NINDS U01 award, which established the University of Iowa as a member of the Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network. 

“The excellent research environment in the Department of Internal Medicine has provided several opportunities for early career scientists like me in the transition towards an independent research career. Support from the mentoring team (Dr Anil Chauhan and Dr Steven Lentz) as well as from the department chair, Dr Dale Abel, is extremely important for the success.  I would also like to thank Chauhan Lab members and my family for the support,” Dhanesha said. 

This is the second AHA Career Development Award to come to the Chauhan Lab this year.