The research in Dr. Lord s laboratory is focused on the role of fibrinogen in cardiovascular disease. When blood vessels are injured, fibrinogen is converted to an insoluble fibrin matrix that acts as the scaffold for blood clot formation. During wound healing, the fibrin scaffold is dissolved and the clot is removed.
Cardiovascular disease can arise when either clot formation or clot dissolution is abnormal.
Biochemical data demonstrate that fibrinogen affects both these processes. Further, epidemiological data indicate that elevated plasma levels of fibrinogen are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Lord s lab examines these multiple roles of fibrinogen using three approaches. Using protein engineering, they prepare variant fibrinogens, and test the functional effects of the introduced changes in biochemical assays. They examine patients with cardiovascular disease to determine whether specific fibrinogen abnormalities are linked to specific clinical symptoms.