Examining PI3KC2α as an anti-thrombotic drug target

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.