Research Projects

Small Vessel Disease (SVD) is a condition that affects the small blood vessels in the brain, and it can lead to stroke and dementia. This research programme hopes to increase our understanding of how SVD develops, leading to new ways to investigate SVD and test drugs which may help treat it.

Stroke survivors and healthcare professionals have identified psychological and cognitive (thinking and mood) problems after stroke as someof the most important areas where more research is needed. This Lectureship will investigate how common these issues are after stroke, how they change over time, and how these changes can be predicted.

This study will investigate whether reducing blood pressure can stop bleeding in the brain after thrombolysis (a clot-busting treatment for stroke) and improve patient's outcomes.

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) causes 1 in 5 strokes. People who have SVD also commonly have apathy - a loss of interest and initiative. In this project, Professor Hugh Markus brings together a multidisciplinary team to better understand what is happening in the brains of people with SVD who are experiencing apathy, and how it could be treated.

Most stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) survivors are asked to take medicines, which some can find difficult. However, taking the medicines prescribed after a stroke, or TIA, and following lifestyle advice can reduce the chance of another stroke by 80%. Unfortunately, over 25% of stroke survivors do not continue these medicines, even for the first year after their stroke. Another 20% take less than is needed for the medicines to work.This research will use the views of stroke and TIA survivors to design a life-long medicines support service which could be provided by pharmacists.

Currently, a drug called alteplase is used in thrombolysis, but the researchers think that another drug, called tenecteplase, may be more effective than alteplase.

As well as reducing independence, walking problems after a stroke leads to lower daily activity, increasing the risk of further stroke and health problems. A promising method of improving walking after stroke is through ‘auditory rhythmical cueing.’ which involves people walking to the rhythm of a sound beat. This method improves walking after stroke in the hospital but has not been tested later on at home where recovery could continue.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an unusual form of stroke. The study will provide a much better understanding of the reasons underlying CVT, which is an unusual but very important cause of stroke in young (mainly female) adults.

This study is investigating how to make thoracic endovascular aortic stenting (TEVAR), treatment for thoracic aortic disease (TAD), safer by using extra protection devices.

Beyond impaired language function, people with aphasia report a range of psychosocial health problems which negatively affect their wellbeing, including reduced confidence and social isolation. These psychosocial problems are not adequately addressed by healthcare services. This study will pilot a new group-based singing intervention for improving the psychosocial health of people with aphasia.