Silvio Antoniak

Silvio Antoniak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a member of the UNC Blood Research Center, where he collaborates with experts in blood coagulation and platelet biology.

His research centers on the dual role of tissue factor (TF) in viral infections, investigating how coagulation and platelets contribute to anti-viral immune responses in pulmonary infections (e.g., influenza A) and cardiac conditions (e.g., viral myocarditis). The lab examines whether TF induction represents a protective host response or a viral exploitation mechanism, with specific focus on thrombin-dependent PAR4 signaling in thrombosis. Concurrently, his team explores pathways to mitigate cardiotoxic side effects of anti-cancer therapies to improve oncology patient outcomes.

The Antoniak Lab addresses critical questions regarding TF regulation during infections, including consequences of impaired or uncontrolled TF expression, and aims to harness TF's hemostatic benefits while curbing thrombotic risks. This work bridges coagulation biology, virology, and cardiovascular pathophysiology within the UNC Blood Research Center framework.