Our team pioneers innovative approaches to explore platelet function, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in clinical research. Our inventions encompass techniques such as whole blood thrombin generation, plasmin generation, and whole blood platelet sensitivity and viability measurements. Our primary focus is on unravelling the intricate interplay among white and red blood cells, platelets, and coagulation factors. By investigating thrombosis risk and bleeding tendencies in clinical conditions – such as arterial and venous thrombosis, malignancies, COPD, and viral infections – we contribute to advancing medical knowledge. Collaborating with leading research groups worldwide, we strive to empower individuals at all levels of education and training, from bachelor and master’s students to PhD candidates.
Thrombin generation (TG) is at the heart of our coagulation research line. It is a global hemostatic assay, which describes the formation and inactivation of thrombin in clotting plasma, platelet rich plasma, or whole blood. Synapse Research Institute is the inventor and patent holder of the Calibrated Automated Thrombinography (CAT) method, which allows quantitative assessment of thrombin generation. Numerous international peer-reviewed articles have shown the added value of thrombin generation to coagulation research. Our research focusses among others on the development of thrombin generation in whole blood, the use of TG to elucidate coagulation mechanisms, to determine the thrombotic tendency of patients at risk of thrombosis, or the factors underlying a bleeding risk, as well as on the support of drug development.
The Synapse Research Institute is the inventor of calibrated automated method to measure plasmine generation (PG), and thus PG is at the heart of our fibrinolysis research line. With this research, we aim to map fibrinolytic profiles in healthy individuals and patient cohorts, mainly through (inter)national collaborations. Furthermore, we strive to understand how certain diseases can impact fibrinolytic function. The PG assay is highly specific and sensitive to inhibitors of fibrinolysis, and has already proven its value by detecting differences between healthy individuals and patients with conditions such as cirrhosis.
To better understand the role of platelets in hemostasis, but also in other (patho)physiological conditions we perform routine and experimental platelet function tests. We refined the platelet ATP release kinetics test to evaluate platelet vitality and function in both clinical and research settings. By measuring ATP release from dense granules upon stimulation, the test provides valuable insights into platelet activation. Performed directly in whole blood, it eliminates extensive preparation steps, offering a faster and more streamlined workflow. This assay will be applied to assess platelet health, monitor function in disorders such as thrombocytopathy, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and evaluate the impact of treatments on platelet activity. In addition, part of our research is focussed on the implementation of artificial blood vessels to mimic the cardiovascular system and to better link research to clinic. The Synapse Research Institute developed a novel microfluidics to assess platelet function in thrombus formation, coagulation and fibrinolysis, which is now at the heart of our platelets research line.
Our team aims to obtain more information from laboratory data by performing in depth analyses and by integrating data using artificial intelligence. The thrombin dynamics method generates thrombin generation test derived-parameters that quantify the balance between pro- and anticoagulant processes. This methodology can be used to further investigate bleeding and thrombotic disorders. Artificial intelligence is applied to integrate the large amount of laboratory generated data and general patient characteristics to develop diagnostic and predictive models for bleeding and thrombotic disorders.
