From discovery to drugs: developing new treatments for stroke

Our Keynote Lecture showcases the latest advancements being made in stroke research. The 2017 Keynote Lecture took place on Tuesday, 23 May at Guildhall, London.

The lecture was delivered by Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester. Professor Rothwell is one of the UK's leading neuroscientists whose research focuses on inflammation in brain disease, especially stroke.

Previous attempts to find new treatments which limit damage to the brain immediately after a stroke have had limited success. This has been for a number of reasons. Nancy and her team have taken a different approach targeting inflammation. Nancy's work has identified some of the main cells and molecules which drive inflammation in the brain. This inflammation leads to brain cell death and can ultimately lead to impairments that occur after a stroke.

We heard how Nancy and her team are now in the advanced stages of clinical trials in both ischaemic strokes, caused by a clot in the brain, and subarachnoid haemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by a bleed on the brain.

Research Awards Ceremony

Following the Keynote Lecture, we proudly presented this year's six awarded positions from across our portfolio of awards.


Professor Sir Mark Walport(link is external), Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and Head of the Government Office for Science presented the awards on behalf of the Stroke Association.

Lady Estelle Wolfson(link is external) joined Sir Mark on stage to present certificates to each recipient. Lady Estelle has been a major contributor to our research programme and is one of the UK's leading philanthropists.

We're delighted to announce the following award winners:

Princess Margaret Fund for Stroke Research

The Princess Margaret Fund for Stroke Research provides a unique opportunity for philanthropists who care about stroke to invest in areas of stroke research that have the greatest potential to change our understanding of this disease and develop new life-saving treatments.

Vascular Dementia Priority Programme

Our Vascular Dementia Priority Programme Awards are awarded in Partnership with Alzheimer's Society and the British Heart Foundation.