This research is focused on assessing the relationship between the variability of the blood flow through the blood vessels supplying the brain, and the risk of stroke in patients who have already had a stroke or “mini-stroke” (TIA) in the past.
This fellowship will involve the study of the human eye to find out about the health of the brain’s small blood vessels and nerve connections in people who have recently had a stroke.
People who have survived a previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are at particularly high risk of subsequent, ‘recurrent’ stroke with 30% having another stroke in the following five years. High blood pressure is the most important reversible risk factor for having a recurrent stroke. The aim of this study is to develop and test a self-monitoring system of high blood pressure, tailored to the needs of stroke and TIA survivors, which will include self-adjustment of medication where possible in consultation with a GP.
Disease of the chest portion of the largest artery in the body (the aorta), is known as thoracic aortic disease (TAD). The number of people experiencing TAD is increasing. This study is investigating how to make thoracic endovascular aortic stenting (TEVAR), the preferred method of treating TAD, safer by using extra protection devices.
CADASIL is one of the most common genetic causes of stroke and dementia. Currently there is no treatment for CADASIL. In this study, human stem cells will be generated from a piece of skin donated by patients with CADASIL. From these stem cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) will be generated in a tissue culture dish in the lab. This work may pave the way for new treatments for CADASIL, and will allow us to better understand the ways that gene mutation causes disease.
This study will investigate how other illnesses can affect stroke treatment and outcome. It will involve the analysis of electronic, linked datasets of health information from stroke patients in Scotland.
This study will show whether more intensive lowering of blood pressure (BP) in survivors of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is feasible, safe and effective in reducing brain injury. If successful, the study will pave the way for the design a larger definitive trial.
TSA LECT 2015/04 Dr Fergus Doubal, University of Edinburgh
INTERSTROKE is a large, international study that aims to include 12000 participants who have had a stroke and 12000 matching “controls”- volunteers of the same age and sex who have not had a stroke.
Chickenpox and shingles are common infectious diseases and we plan to research whether these are risk factors for stroke.
