Stroke

Stroke research

Aims and expertise

Stroke aims to perform world-leading research that informs and improves clinical stroke care.

We comprise clinical, laboratory and statistical scientists, and work closely with the Clinical Trials Unit, NHS Stroke Service, and their patients, at the highly-rated Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Philip Bath, Stroke Association Professor of Stroke Medicine

Stroke Research Group 
The Stroke Research Group has an international reputation for clinical and laboratory research in stroke, and includes the Nottingham Stroke Trials Unit. 
 
 

Research issue

Approximately 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke every year, due either to a blocked blood vessel (causing ischaemic stroke), or a burst blood vessel (which causes haemorrhagic stroke). Whilst there are effective treatments for stroke (stroke unit care, thrombolysis, thrombectomy) unfortunately many patients still die or are left disabled and dependent on others.

Clinical research

Our clinical research covers the whole stroke pathway from the management of acute stroke (blood pressure lowering, remote ischemic conditioning, tranexamic acid for intracerebral haemorrhage), acute prevention of recurrence (antiplatelets), ISMN (Isosorbide Mononitrate commonly used to treat angina), Cilostazol (used to prevent more strokes from happening), enhancing recovery (stem cell mobilisation), and prevention of cognitive decline (intensive blood pressure and/or lipid lowering).

Laboratory studies

Our laboratory studies investigate the blood brain barrier and how its integrity may be maintained after a stroke.

What we are doing in...

1. Clinical studies

The Nottingham Stroke Trials Unit runs a number of large multi-centre phase 3 clinical trials, both in the UK and Internationally. In addition, we also run a number of smaller phase II clinical trials, as well as performing systematic reviews and meta-analysis. (List of clinical stroke trials.)

Clinical Pharmacology/Therapeutics

Types of studies

 

 

Current Trials

 

2. Systematic reviews

Cochrane Collaboration

 

3. Translational studies

Our translational studies focus on the elucidation of the mechanisms that may account for the breakdown and recovery of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with an aim to discover novel therapeutic mediators that can effectively prevent or reverse the formation of brain oedema, the main cause of death within the first week after an ischaemic stroke.

Translational stroke studies

Types of studies

 

 

Outcomes

Our research impact is reflected in the following:

Publications in leading journals e.g. Stroke, Lancet, New Eng Journal

 

Research grants 

 

NIHR Senior Investigator award

 

 

Collaborative links

We maintain strong collaborative links with key groups both within the University of Nottingham and outside with colleagues in the UK, Europe and worldwide. 

Projects recently collaborated include:

UK: Edinburgh (LACI-2, R4VAD, RESTART); UCL (CROMIS-2), LSTHTI (TICH-2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stroke, Division of Clinical Neuroscience

The University of Nottingham
Clinical Sciences Building
Nottingham, NG5 1PB


telephone: +44 (0)115 823 1765
email:strokeadmin@nottingham.ac.uk