Dr. Joshua Muia is an Associate Investigator in the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Program at the Versiti Blood Research Institute and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Previously a tenure-track faculty member at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Dr. Muia leads an NIH-funded research program exploring vascular biology, metalloproteases (ADAMTS13 and ADAMTS7), and related disorders like TTP and von Willebrand disease. His lab has pioneered ultra-sensitive ADAMTS13 assays and engages in translational research spanning from sepsis to coronary artery disease. Dr. Muia is also a dedicated mentor, with many former trainees thriving in science and medicine.
Beyond his research, Dr. Muia is deeply committed to mentorship and professional service. As a longtime member of HTRS, his leadership has grown from planning committee member to Reasearch Colloquium Chair, and now to the HTRS Board of Directors.
“HTRS has supported me in so many ways—from giving me a platform to share my research to helping me build meaningful connections,” says Dr. Muia. “Being part of HTRS, especially as my visibility has grown, brings me real joy—both in the impact I can make on others and in what it means for my trainees.”
“HTRS provided my trainees opportunities to build their professional networks and expose them to the wider scientific community,” he adds.
As Chair of the HTRS Research Colloquium planning committee, Dr. Muia also worked to expand participation across disciplines.
“I really wanted to broaden the scope—to make it equally welcoming to both clinicians and basic scientists, including PhD holders,” he explains. “HTRS is a society for anyone interested in thrombosis and hemostasis, and it was important to reflect that inclusivity in our programming.”
Dr. Muia has spoken at several HTRS programs, ensuring inclusive dialogue with attendees.
“HTRS brings together people from all kinds of backgrounds—different trainings, geographies, ideologies, ethnicities, and experiences,” he says. “I don’t need to know everything about someone to connect with them. That mindset allows me to engage meaningfully with others and often learn just as much from them as they might from me.”
For those interested in joining HTRS, Dr. Muia offers this perspective:
“The only way to truly get to know an organization is to be part of it,” says Dr. Muia. “When I attended my first HTRS Colloquium about eight years ago, I never imagined I’d one day become a planning committee member, Chair, or even join the Board of Directors. But the professionals I’ve met through HTRS have shaped my career in ways I couldn’t have predicted. The benefits are many—access to a wider professional network, grants, mentorship, webinars, and outstanding scientific workshops. Opportunities like the Fundamental Research Grant for pediatric investigators are especially exciting. You can’t quantify the value of HTRS in a single day—it’s something you see through the people, their achievements, and the impact they make.”
