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Smaller TextCanada Research Chair in Molecular Hemostasis
Catherine P. Hayward
Associate Professor, Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Email: haywrdc@mcmaster.ca
Web: Catherine Hayward's Homepage
Research Involves
Hematology; molecules important to blood clotting; vascular repair
Research Relevance
Investigating the causes of inherited bleeding disorders; improving blood-clotting abilities
It's in the Blood
Before Catherine Hayward’s work, Quebec families who share a rare and often fatal bleeding disorder didn’t know what was causing their illness—or even what they suffered from.
Hayward’s discovery that the families are suffering from a protein storage defect affecting their blood platelets (small cells that are critical for blood clotting), has provided critical information for doctors treating these families. As a result, the Quebec platelet disorder, which previously often went unrecognized by physicians, can now be identified through a simple screening test. That’s important for patients and doctors, because the condition does not respond to transfusions of platelets, unlike other bleeding disorders.
While Hayward’s work has not yet resulted in a cure for this and similar blood disorders, her research has identified the biochemical trigger that starts the process of platelet protein breakdown in patients with the Quebec platelet disorder. The McMaster University scientist has also discovered a new protein, named multimerin, which functions as adhesive protein in blood vessels and as a binding partner for a key blood clot accelerating protein, factor V.
By building on her previous accomplishments, Hayward’s work is likely to provide new insights into how and why blood clots occur, and how blood vessels can be repaired. The results will be instrumental to new treatment and diagnostic devices to prevent excessive bleeding or blood clotting in sick patients, particularly those who have problems with platelet function.
Since platelets are key players in forming the blood clots that cause heart attacks, Hayward’s discoveries could be instrumental in the development of new drugs to prevent, diagnose, and treat ischemic heart disease.
