Ensuring the Future of Clinical and Basic Stroke Research

STROKEAHA: July 8, 2014

The stroke field has seen tremendous progress regarding both clinical and basic research advances over the past several decades. Preclinical stroke research has identified the major components of the ischemic cascade that contribute to the death of ischemic brain tissue and the important interactions between neuronal, glial, and endothelial cells not only as they relate to acute ischemic injury but also to brain recovery.¹ Recently, the interactions between the nervous system and other systems such as the immune and cardiovascular systems have become increasingly recognized as contributors to stroke pathophysiology.^2,3 Another important basic science advance was the demonstration that processes may be deleterious at one stage after ischemic injury but recovery promoting at another phase.⁴ Many important clinical research and patient care advances have also occurred and the ones that I consider most important are provided in Table 1. A detailed report by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s (NINDS) Stroke Progress Review Group was presented recently. Read More