The Stroke Association's Ninth Scientific Conference 16th-17th September

The Stroke Association held a successful scientific conference last week at Churchill College, Cambridge, where the latest research developments in stroke medicine were discussed. It was the ninth year that the annual conference has been held, and was attended by stroke physicians and researchers from around the world.

Over 180 delegates attended the conference, which was funded by educational grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi~Synthelabo. It included lectures and poster presentations on:

Stroke Prevention
Community Services and Rehabilitation
Acute stroke care

Professor Raymond Tallis from Manchester's Hope Hospital discussed methods of translating advances in basic and clinical neurosciences into neurorehabilitation techniques that could benefit patients recovering from stroke. Professor Geoffrey Donnan from the Australian National Stroke Research Institute discussed ischaemia patterns after stroke, and their implications for therapy and the design of acute stroke services.

Dr Ursula Wells from the Department of Health discussed the development of stroke research networks. This follows plans announced earlier this year from the Department of Health to develop a National Stroke Research Network as part of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration. The Network will provide infrastructure support to accelerate and increase the development of new treatments for stroke.

"This excellent conference has demonstrated that our medical research is directly influencing treatment of acute stroke. It has also highlighted how much time and effort is required to identify these major advances in services for patients, relatives and carers.", commented Professor Kennedy Lees from the University of Glasgow, after chairing the acute stroke research session.

Dr Joanne Knight, Associate Director of Research and Development at The Stroke Association commented, "The Stroke Association is dedicated to supporting research to further knowledge into prevention, treatment and rehabilitation techniques for stroke. Our Scientific Conference provides the opportunity for stroke researchers to hear the latest developments in stroke research and the chance to discuss and share knowledge into best practice."


---ENDS---

For media enquires regarding The Stroke Association's Scientific Conference please contact the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 0328 or e-mail press@stroke.org.uk.
Click here for more information on the 2004 Scientific Conference.
Please note we have an ISDN facility.
National Stroke Information telephone helpline: 0845 30 33 100

Notes to editor

· Presentation abstracts and posters displays given at The Stroke Association's scientific conference will be available from our website.
· The Stroke Association's Stroke Awareness Week-entitled 'Eat a Rainbow, Beat a Stroke'- is running from 4th-10th October. The campaign aims to highlight the benefits of incorporating a range of colourful fruits and vegetables into a person's daily diet and is especially reaching out to children aged 4-11 years old.
· 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. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.
· 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.
· 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.

back to top|