10.26180/5d1028a2a2fa7 MARIA VASANTHA SELVADURAI MARIA VASANTHA SELVADURAI Examining PI3KC2α as an anti-thrombotic drug target Monash University 2019 platelets PI3K thrombosis PI3KC2α open canalicular system Haematology 2019-06-24 01:34:24 Thesis https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/thesis/Examining_PI3KC2_as_an_anti-thrombotic_drug_target/8312795 Heart attacks and strokes are the most common cause of death in the world, and are caused by blood clots in the body’s major arteries. Platelets are the blood cells that form these clots. Therefore, strategies to block platelet function are sought for improved heart attack and stroke prevention. This thesis characterised a new class of drugs that may provide such therapy. An enzyme inside platelets was shown to be important for platelet function. New drugs were developed to inhibit this enzyme and were shown to prevent blood clot formation more effectively than current therapies.