The Stroke Association receives £179K grant from the BUPA Foundation to study prevention of stroke

The Stroke Association has been awarded a specialist grant of £179,000 from the BUPA Foundation to fund research into surgery to reduce the risk of stroke, it was announced today. The news will be formally announced by Dame Deirdre Hine at the Improving Care for Older People conference taking place on 7th and 8th June.

The grant is part of the BUPA Foundation’s ‘Health and Care of Older People’ initiative that is awarding a series of specialist grants totalling £850,000. The programme invited funding applications for research that will support the care needs of older people with mental health and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Stroke Association’s grant will fund the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial, which will examine how surgery may reduce a person’s risk of stroke. Patients with narrowing of the carotid arteries, that supply blood to the brain, are at increased risk of stroke. The study will examine whether removal of such narrowing through carotid endarterctomy surgery will benefit patients when balanced against the risk of the surgery itself. Initial results from the study have found that surgery reduced a patient’s five-year risk of stroke. This subsequent phase will examine the benefits of surgery over ten years to determine whether it would be a cost effective way of reducing the risk of stroke that could be implemented in the health service.

Dr Joanne Knight, Associate Director of Research and Development at The Stroke Association commented: “The Stroke Association is delighted that the BUPA Foundation will fund the continuing of this important study to determine the benefits of surgery in reducing the risk of stroke.

This is pioneering work that could mean changes to how stroke is prevented in people at risk of the condition.

Over 130,000 people have a stroke each year and a quarter of a million people are disabled as a result of the condition. Any research that could help prevent or reduce its impact is vital and needs to be supported and commended.”

Dame Deirdre Hine, chairman of the BUPA Foundation, said: "The BUPA Foundation is delighted to be able to fund this worthwhile and important project. As the number of older people increases, we need to look for ways to improve their health and care. This project will help find more effective ways to prevent older people suffering from stroke, and give us a better understanding of how to care for stroke patients. The BUPA Foundation is dedicated to advancing medical research to prevent, relieve and cure sickness and health, and this project is a vital part of that."

ENDS
For further information please contact the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or e-mail press@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

2. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

3. The BUPA Foundation is an independent medical research charity founded in1979 that funds medical research to prevent, relieve and cure sickness and ill health. The Foundation also runs an annual awards competition to recognise and reward excellence in medical research and healthcare initiatives. The Foundation has awarded research and specialist grants in excess of £15 million since its incorporation. This year BUPA donated £2.5 million to the BUPA Foundation. Further information on the BUPA Foundation is available at www.bupafoundation.co.uk

4. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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