Thrombosis remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. Inflammation has been recognized as a central driver in its development. In so-called thromboinflammation, proinflammatory neutrophils – an important group of immune cells – and the coagulation system mutually amplify each other and potentially cause thrombotic occlusions of blood vessels.

Building on this knowledge, Pekayvaz discovered another surprising function of neutrophils: they are not only involved in the development of thrombosis but can also infiltrate existing thrombi and promote their resolution. This so-called immunothrombolysis challenges fundamental assumptions in vascular biology and opens up new therapeutic possibilities.

In his ERC project I-CLEAR (Immunothrombolysis: deCoding neutrophiL Engagement in Active thrombus Resolution), Pekayvaz plans to investigate how neutrophils change their role during the course of thrombosis and switch from driving thromboinflammation to promoting immunothrombolysis. In the process, he aims to decipher the underlying biological mechanisms and identify the biological switches that activate this thrombolytic process. “This could open up new paths to reduce bleeding risks through targeted activation of the body’s own thrombus resolution mechanisms,” says Pekayvaz.