Nayak and Flora earn ASH awards
Manasa Nayak, PhD, and Gagan Flora, PhD, research assistant professors in Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, and members of the laboratory of Anil Chauhan, MTech, PhD, have each earned awards from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Nayak received a two-year, $150,000 ASH Junior Faculty Scholar Award for his project on targeting platelet metabolism to combat platelet activation and thrombosis, while Flora was awarded a two-year, $125,000 ASH Fellow-to-Faculty Award for his work on targeting aerobic glycolysis in platelets as a novel antithrombotic strategy.
Current antiplatelet therapies are widely used in clinical settings to reduce the risk of thrombosis in cardiovascular diseases and remain the standard of care for patients at high risk of acute coronary events. However, their long-term use is associated with an increased risk of bleeding, highlighting the need for safer and more targeted therapeutic strategies.
Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic pathways may serve as promising targets for therapeutic intervention across a range of diseases. Despite this, the role of platelet metabolism in regulating platelet function remains largely unexplored. Nayak’s research tests the hypothesis that metabolic reprogramming of platelets can inhibit platelet activation and reduce susceptibility to thrombosis without increasing bleeding risk. He will use the ASH funds to define how platelet metabolism contributes to platelet activation and to develop targeted therapies that maintain hemostatic balance. It will also provide protected time to pursue and secure his NIH R01 funding.
Traditionally, metabolic pathways have been viewed primarily as sources of energy for platelets; however, emerging evidence highlights their active role in regulating platelet activation and function. Building on this concept, Flora’s work investigates aerobic glycolysis as a key metabolic pathway regulating platelet function, with an emphasis on developing safer, metabolism-based therapeutic approaches. His research also explores how metabolic disorders such as obesity contribute to heightened platelet reactivity and thrombotic risk, further supporting the need for targeted interventions. Understanding how altered metabolic states in obesity influence platelet function may further support the development of targeted, metabolism-based antiplatelet therapies.
Both Nayak and Flora express their sincere gratitude to Chauhan for his mentorship, guidance, and continuous support, as well as to their lab members for their collaboration. They also thank Steven Lentz, MD, PhD, for his support, and ASH for recognizing and funding their work through these awards. Finally, they acknowledge and thank their family members for their continuous support.