Stroke outcomes directly relate to brain tissue rescue. We have contributed to changes in clinical practice through many clinical trials of new protocols and therapeutic strategies. Our program will focus on brain salvage in the pre-hospital setting and the acute hospital environment. We will use novel approaches to enhance brain recovery and design new implementation strategies to maximise the benefits of these therapeutic advances.
I am a practising hospital neurologist and world leader in the prevention and treatment of stroke. Our research aims to realise exciting new break-throughs for stroke sufferers by testing the effectiveness and safety of new treatments that promise to improve recovery of function of damaged brain and reduce disability after stroke, and to prevent recurrent strokes.
Translating Science Into Treatment For Ischemic Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
My team has pioneered research in Australia that has advanced knowledge in the delivery of safer and more effective stroke therapies. I have developed software for the automated processing of multimodal CT imaging to better select patients for stroke therapies. In order to move this cutting-edge imaging technology into routine clinical practice several processes will occur: Implementation, validation and demonstration of patient benefits, and cost effectiveness of CT imaging selection in routine
Post-stroke Hyperglycaemia – Treatment With Exenatide In Acute Ischaemic Stroke (TEXAIS) Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,266,149.00
Summary
Raised blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) after a stroke is common. It reduces the efficacy of stroke treatments and results in worse outcomes. Insulin is not useful as a treatment for this as it causes frequent hypoglycaemia and does not improve clinical outcomes. Exenatide is a common diabetes drug that is simple to use and lowers blood glucose without hypoglycaemia. It will be tested in the Treatment with Exenatide in Acute Ischaemic Stroke (TEXAIS) trial.
Advanced Imaging For Patient Profiling In Patients With Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$319,831.00
Summary
Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the developed world. Many patients are require rehabilitation which can vary in terms of its success, and in many cases patients can be left with permanent and significant disability. Approaches to understand the neuroplastic changes associated with poststroke motor impairment are limited. This study aims to further our understanding of stroke recovery by undertaking a longitudinal MRI assessment of patients recovering from stroke.
An Australasian, Multi-centre, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Of The Efficacy Of Fluoxetine In Improving Functional Recovery After Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,306,367.00
Summary
Stroke is one of the top three causes of disability. Treatments that improve recovery after stroke are lacking. We reviewed the world literature and found a number of very small studies which, together, suggest that the antidepressant drug, fluoxetine, may improve the recovery in stroke patients. AFFINITY is a large trial in 1600 Australians and New Zealanders with stroke which aims to find out whether taking fluoxetine for 6 months after a stroke improves recovery compared to a placebo.
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in adult across the world. Understanding how exactly brain cells are affected in stroke and how they are injured, and how they response to treatment is important in order to develop new treatment to maximize recovery and minimize brain injury after stroke. This project uses advanced MRI being performed at several time points after a stroke to study how the brain tissues recovers or dies after a stroke.
Implementation Of Quality Use Of Advanced CT Imaging In Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,128,594.00
Summary
Many centres now use advanced CT scanning techniques to assess stroke patient suitability for clot-dissolving treatment. However, there is major variation across Australia in the clinical application of advanced CT scanning techniques, which is a barrier to the delivery of this treatment. This project addresses the variation in CT imaging techniques by developing, piloting and evaluating the implementation of a standardised advanced CT scanning strategy for acute stroke patients.