VALIDATE: Use of AI to advance personalised acute stroke treatment and to improve outcomes

VALIDATE: Use of AI to advance personalised acute stroke treatment and to improve outcomes

On Brain Awareness Week’s sixth day we are focusing on VALIDATE which is using artificial intelligence (AI) to personalise acute stroke treatment and improve outcomes.

In ischemic stroke treatment, timely access to appropriate interventions is paramount. While there are a range of effective therapies, navigating the intricacies of individual patient cases and not accurately considering each individual patient holistically can influence treatment outcomes and long-term quality of life. 

The VALIDATE team are aiming to improve this. By using datasets from thousands of patient profiles and state-of-the-art AI models, they are developing and validating a clinical decision support system. Central to this project is the creation of a new App which aims to provide additional information for clinicians by predicting the outcome of different treatment strategies. This system will empower healthcare professionals in choosing the optimal treatment strategy tailored to each patient’s unique circumstances. 

Beyond providing accurate prognosis, the success of the Validate App hinges on gaining the trust of clinicians and patients in its implementation. To achieve this, rigorous testing in real-world clinical settings will be conducted through observational studies, validating its efficacy and reliability. 

For stroke survivors, the long-term implications could mean personalised treatment options and improved outcomes and quality of life. 

For more information visit the VALIDATE website https://validate-project.eu  

VALIDATE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 777107. 

ANGIE: 3D patient brain models could increase access to thrombectomy

ANGIE: 3D patient brain models could increase access to thrombectomy

On Brain Awareness Week’s fifth day we are focusing on ANGIE, a research project supported by EU, which aims to develop micro-robots for targeted drug delivery, to dissolve blood clots in acute stroke treatment. 

To ensure accurate targeting, the research team have developed 3D-printed re-constructions of patient’s brain vessels based on their MRI scans. These brain 3D models are gaining recognition in the medical community for their ability to provide a realistic and safe environment for doctors treating stroke to hone their skills and facilitating earlier and more extensive training.  

Ultimately, this advancement could mean that more patients have access to more lifesaving procedures and go on to improve stroke treatment outcomes. 

More information can be found at www.h2020-angie.eu

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 952152.

TRUSTroke – A new EU research project uses AI for predictive ischemic stroke management

TRUSTroke – A new EU research project uses AI for predictive ischemic stroke management

On Brain Awareness Week’s fourth day we are focusing on a new project called TRUSTroke which is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve life after stroke for stroke survivors.  

Currently, the ability to predict potential future complications that may result in further hospital re-admissions post-stroke is limited. In response, TRUSTroke is developing an advanced technology to help healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers manage both immediate and long-term effects of an ischemic stroke.  

Hear Dr. Carlos Molina, Head of the Stroke Research Group at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, talk data safety and how his team are hoping to improve stroke outcomes in the future. 

More information can be found at www.Trustroke.eu

TRUSTroke has received funding from the European Union in the callHorizon-hlth-2022-stayhlth-01-two-stage under grant agreement No.101080564

TENSION trial reveals that thrombectomy is safe to use in patients who have had a severe stroke

TENSION trial reveals that thrombectomy is safe to use in patients who have had a severe stroke

Tension logo

TENSION is a large international study that was launched in 2018 with the hope to extend the benefits of a treatment called mechanical thrombectomy to stroke patients who are not currently offered this treatment option.

Thrombectomy is a treatment for certain types of acute ischaemic stroke. It uses very small devices to breakdown and remove the clot from the blood vessel in the brain. It can drastically reduce the level of post-stroke disability by restoring blood flow and therefore limits brain damage.

So far, thrombectomy trials have included highly selected groups of stroke patients – those with only small blood infarcts in the brain. This means that thrombectomy treated is limited and only available to small number of people.

The TENSION project aimed to determine if thrombectomy was safe to use in patients who had a severe stroke i.e. where a large blood clot had caused the stroke.

The trial results which were simultaneously unveiled at the World Stroke Congress and published in The Lancet, found that using thrombectomy can significantly help patients with severe strokes caused by blocked blood vessels in the brain. The study’s findings are likely to pave the way for broader consideration of this approach for a greater number of patients in the future.

“This is great news and if the results drives treatment guidelines updates, more patients should experience improved outcomes after a severe stroke” says Prof Dr Götz Thomalla, Principal Investigator of the study.

TENSION has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 754640.

Funded by the EU

Funded by the EU

 

ELASF will be accredited by EACCME® for healthcare professionals

ELASF will be accredited by EACCME® for healthcare professionals

The European Life After Stroke Forum on 11-12 March in Dublin, has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®). This means that healthcare professional delegates will be awarded 6.5 European CME credits (ECMEC®s) following the completion of our post-event survey.

Member spotlight:  Estonian Stroke Patients’ Society

Member spotlight: Estonian Stroke Patients’ Society

As part of our new member spotlight series, the Estonian team have shared their news with us.

Greetings from the Estonian Stroke Patients’ Society! 

Over the past six months, our organisation has undergone a period of huge change that has been touching almost every aspect of the Society. The reason for this overhaul was the realisation that we wouldn’t be able to create the organisation we wanted, by doing what we had always done. We needed to revert to basics and build a solid foundation to continue to build on to achieve our new vision, mission and goals. Here are some of the key actions we have undertaken to lay these foundations and continue to respond to the unmet needs of stroke survivors in Estonia: 

We launched a ‘Science and Development Team’ consisting of nine specialists from various fields, ranging from those with strategic and technical knowledge to health specialists, including one doctoral student in neuroscience. The goal of the team is to support our continued development, using their knowledge to drive activities, so that we are sustainable, the voice of stroke patients is heard, and we are considered as an equal partner in stroke in the future. 

We have also updated our visual look and feel with a new logo, a new colour scheme and a brand-new website. This new visual style has also been applied to our information materials, including a guide that supports stroke patients to access therapy.  

One of our proudest moments was hosting our information day, “Informed Patient”, on December 15. It was aimed at stroke patients and their needs, and featured lecturers from state institutions, medical facilities, and collaboration partners and it was all well received by stroke survivors. These efforts did not go unnoticed, the event received coverage in the media, including TV, newspapers, and health portals. 

To further solidify our commitment to patient advocacy, we were honoured to be re-elected as a member of the North Estonian Regional Hospital’s patient advisory board for the period 2024-2027. 

As we move into 2024, our Society will continue our focus on science, innovation, and collaborations with patient associations, both within Estonia and abroad.  

Elen Kirt, Estonian Stroke Patients’ Society 

 

If you have any questions about Estonia’s activities, please contact Elen Kirt elen@insuldiselts.ee

If you have news to share about your organisation, please e-mail Anna Scott on anna.scott@safestroke.eu

 

European Life After Stroke Forum – Early bird registration ends 31 January

European Life After Stroke Forum – Early bird registration ends 31 January

We are now only two months away from the next European Life After Stroke Forum which takes place in Dublin on the 11-12 March. This second in-person life after stroke focussed event promises to be a vital platform for sharing insights, discussing the latest research, and delving into best practices in this often under-researched topic. We will be bringing together stroke survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and advocates to address life after stroke issues.
The last day to take advantage of early bird discounts on our registration rates is 31 January – don’t delay, click to register now.
SAFE members calls for EU to implement CVD health plan

SAFE members calls for EU to implement CVD health plan

Last week saw five SAFE members travel to Strasbourg to join the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) and European Stroke Organisation (ESO) to come together to jointly advocate for population-wide access to cardiovascular risk assessments and care pathways that focuses on individual patients needs and goals. SAFE and ESO have committed to ensure that any EU CVH plan will also include the principles of the Stroke Action Plan for Europe.

European Life After Stroke Forum 2024 – Programme now LIVE

European Life After Stroke Forum 2024 – Programme now LIVE

We are so pleased to announce that the programme for our European Life After Stroke Forum is now live on the website. Our 2024 event in Dublin promises to be a vital platform for sharing insights, discussing the latest research, and delving into best practices in this often under-researched area.

Our plenary topics are:

Plenary 1 – Building the evidence for support for life after stroke
Plenary 2 – Life after stroke – Support in action
Plenary 3 – A showcase of life after stroke from Ireland

Topics for parallels

  • A disproportionate burden? Life after stroke in women.
  • Spasticity: What is it and how can we manage it?
  • A vision for vision after stroke
  • No decision about me without me – speaking together with one voice
  • Exploring mental health post-stroke
  • Secondary stroke prevention: Managing blood pressure and the benefits of exercise.

To access the full programme, click here.

To register for the event, click here.

The Czech Republic signs the Stroke Action Plan for Europe declaration

The Czech Republic signs the Stroke Action Plan for Europe declaration

We are very pleased to announce that the Czech Republic is the 13th country to endorse the Declaration for Action on Stroke and enact the Stroke Action Plan for Europe, bringing the country another step closer to guaranteeing the highest standard of care and support for stroke patients.

To find out more about the Stroke Action Plan for Europe, visit the SAP-E website

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