Mar 18, 2026
On Brain Awareness Week’s third day we are focusing on UMBRELLA, a European research project that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools to improve how strokes are diagnosed, treated and managed.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts. Quick treatment is vital, but recovery can be long and complex and many survivors remain at risk of another stroke.
UMBRELLA aims to support doctors by using AI to help them make faster and more personalised decisions, while keeping patient information safe and private.
The project follows a careful process: health data is securely collected, organised and analysed inside hospitals. Personal details are removed, and strict privacy rules are followed. The AI is then trained to recognise patterns and tested to make sure it works safely and truly helps patient care.
Led by Vall d’Hebron Research Institute and Siemens Healthineers, and supported by the EU’s Innovative Health Initiative, the project brings together hospitals, researchers, patient organisations and companies from across Europe.
“Stroke survivors live with many long-term challenges. Better tools to support them are urgently needed. UMBRELLA is an exciting step toward more personalised and effective stroke care, with the potential to make a real difference for patients and families across Europe,” said Arlene Wilkie, Director General of SAFE.
By improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention, UMBRELLA aims to transform stroke care and improve the quality of lives of thousands of people.
To learn more about the project:
Visit the Umbrella website https://umbrella-ihi.eu
Or contact research@safestroke.eu
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101172825. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe and Vaccines Europe.
Mar 11, 2025
On Brain Awareness Week’s third day we are focusing on another new EU-funded research project called UMBRELLA which aims to make stroke care faster, more effective and more accessible. The project, co-led by Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Siemens Healthineers, will use advanced technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and real patient data to help doctors make better treatment decisions, improve recovery and prevent future strokes.
What is a stroke?
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). When this happens, brain cells start to die quickly, which can cause serious damage or disability. Fast diagnosis and treatment are critical to save lives and improve recovery.
How UMBRELLA is setting out to improve stroke care
- Faster diagnosis & treatment – UMBRELLA will help speed up stroke diagnosis and treatment, reducing delays that can lead to disability.
- Personalised care – Every patient is different. UMBRELLA will use data from seven European hospitals to develop AI models that support doctors in providing more personalised treatments.
- Better access to care – Not everyone gets the same level of care, especially in remote areas. UMBRELLA will introduce virtual recovery tools and wearable devices to help more patients.
- Understanding unknown strokes – About 1 in 4 strokes has no clear cause. UMBRELLA will study these cases to find better ways to prevent and manage strokes.
A strong team across Europe
The UMBRELLA project brings together hospitals, researchers, not for profit organisations and companies from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. Dr Carlos Molina, Head of the Stroke Research group at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and scientific leader of this project, says the project will set new standards for stroke care and improve lives.
“We are proud to be part of this project, which will help stroke patients and survivors across Europe,” says Arlene Wilkie, Director General of SAFE.
By improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention, UMBRELLA aims to transform stroke care and improve the quality of lives thousands of people.
To learn more about the project:
Click to visit the Umbrella website
Or contact SAFE on research@safestroke.eu
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101172825. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe and Vaccines Europe.
Mar 6, 2025
UMBRELLA is a major European research project aiming to advance stroke diagnosis, treatment and management through the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health tools.
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, causing brain cells to die quickly – highlighting the need for fast diagnosis and treatment. Even after treatment and rehabilitation, many stroke survivors face disability, long-term challenges and a higher risk of second stroke.
UMBRELLA aims to improve the experiences of stroke survivors by helping doctors make faster and more personalised care decisions through AI, while keeping patient data safe and private.
How AI is used in UMBRELLA
The project follows a clear step-by-step process to make sure AI is safe, fair and useful in hospitals:
Data search
AI learns from health information like brain scans, test results and medical notes. Experts decide what data is needed to make sure it reflects real patients.
Data collection
The relevant data is collected securely from hospitals and devices. Personal details such as names are removed and replaced with codes to protect privacy.
Data preparation
Information from different hospitals is organised into a common format, translating the data into the same language so it can be analysed together.
Analysis and training
AI systems then look for patterns in the data. For example, it may help spot patients at higher risk of complications. The system learns inside each hospital, and only small updates, not personal data, are shared to improve it.
Evaluation
The AI is carefully tested to make sure it works correctly and truly helps doctors in real clinical settings.
Impact
The goal is better, more personalised stroke care, improved recovery and safer use of health data.
What problems are UMBRELLA solving?
UMBRELLA was created to address some of the biggest challenges in stroke care:
- Delays in treatment → AI may help doctors diagnose and treat strokes faster
- One-size-fits-all care → AI can help tailor treatment to individual circumstances
- Unequal access to care → Digital recovery tools and wearable devices can support patients in remote areas
- Unknown causes of stroke → The project also studies strokes where the cause is not clear, to improve prevention and recurrent strokes
Who is behind UMBRELLA?
UMBRELLA is co-funded by the EU Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) co-led by the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (Spain) and Siemens Healthineers, in collaboration with hospitals in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. The consortium also includes many other research groups, non-profit organisations, including the Stroke Alliance for Europe, and companies
Arlene Wilkie, Director General of SAFE
“Stroke survivors live with many long-term challenges. Better tools to support them are urgently needed. UMBRELLA is an exciting step toward more personalised and effective stroke care, with the potential to make a real difference for patients and families across Europe.”
Dr Carlos Molina, Scientific Leader, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
“By combining medical expertise with artificial intelligence and digital technologies, UMBRELLA aims to improve how we diagnose, treat and support people after a stroke. Our goal is to reduce disability and help patients achieve the best possible recovery.”
To learn more about the project:
Click to visit the Umbrella website
Or contact research@safestroke.eu
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101172825. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the aforementioned parties who cannot be held responsible.
Jul 22, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
Saturday, July 22nd is World Brain Day. Organisers of the Together Under the Umbrella campaign are inviting the public to share a picture of themselves on the day, using the hashtag #UnderTheUmbrella, to help raise awareness of brain disorders.
Last year’s World Brain Day saw hundreds of pictures shared around the world – selfies, groups of family and friends, medical professionals and patient groups, all stood under umbrellas in support of brain disorder awareness. A wide variety of disease areas were highlighted in these messages including MS, Parkinsons, headache, mental health, chronic pain, ME and rare diseases.
The campaign is an initiative of the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA), who bring together European umbrella organisations of neurological patient advocacy groups.
The umbrella is used as a symbol of unity by the campaign – bringing the many neurological conditions together. To find out more about the campaign visit www.undertheumbrella.eu and follow @UnderUmbrellaEU on social media.
We’re #UnderTheUmbrella for #WorldBrainDay! Join us to raise
#BrainDisorder & #[InsertYourDiseaseArea] awareness
About Together Under the Umbrella
Developed in line with a strategy to advocate for support of patient-led campaigns to educate, eradicate stigma and raise awareness of neurological and chronic pain disorders, Together Under the Umbrella aims:
• To raise awareness of the prevalence of neurological disorders
• To educate society on the range of disorders which are ‘neurological’
• To ‘brand the brain’ by grouping these disorders under a common symbol to create a unified and identifiable
‘brand’
• To provide a platform for European and national patient neurology groups to promote and profile their work
in the areas of advocacy, communications and fundraising using the hashtag #UnderTheUmbrella
About Neurological Disorders
• Each year, approximately 1 in 3 Europeans are affected by a brain disorder and 1 in 5 by chronic pain.
• This includes 153 million people suffering migraine or other disabling headaches, 200 million musculoskeletal
disorders, 100 million people experiencing chronic pain, 8 million living with stroke, 6 million with dementia
and 4 million with traumatic brain injury.
• The World Health Organisation estimates that brain disorders cause one-third of the burden of all diseases.
• €295 billion a year is spent on healthcare for neurological and brain disorders, making them ‘the number one
economic challenge for European health care, now and in the future’.
About the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA):
The European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) brings together European umbrella organisations of neurological patient advocacy groups, to work with other associations in the field of neurology, including the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), in what has been termed a ‘Partnership for Progress’.
EFNA’s aims are:
• To improve the quality of life of people with neurological disorders, their families and carers
• To promote rapid and accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, rehabilitation and care for people with
neurological illnesses
• To promote better access to information which is accurate and easy to understand
• To promote public awareness and understanding of neurological conditions
• To eliminate prejudice and stigma associated with neurological disorders
• To increase priority given to neurology by policy and decision makers and by health care providers.
EFNA currently has a membership of 18 associations, based in countries Europe-wide.
