Clinical Research Directory

REmifentanil And Dexmedetomidine for EarlY Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering in ICH.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains the most devastating subtype of stroke, with a case fatality rate of approximately 40% at one months post-onset, imposing a particularly heavy medical and economic burden on low- and middle-income countries. Studies have shown that poor prognosis in ICH patients is associated with acute blood pressure elevation and hematoma expansion after onset. Blood pressure control during the acute phase is considered a potentially key therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in ICH patients; however, no clinical study has yet demonstrated a clear advantage of any specific antihypertensive agent or combination. Previous researchers have confirmed that the combined use of remifentanil and dexmedetomidine, while providing effective analgesia, sedation, and anti-sympathetic effects, could reduce dramatic fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, thereby facilitating more stable blood pressure reduction and potentially further improving functional outcomes in ICH patients. The investigators plan to conduct a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled, superiority clinical trial within mainland China to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an early intensive blood pressure-lowering strategy using remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine for improving functional prognosis in acute ICH patients. This study aims to provide evidence-based medical support for the use of remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine in early intensive blood pressure-lowering in patients with ICH, to enrich the available options for early intensive blood pressure-lowering strategies, to improve the adverse prognosis of patients.

Clevidipine for the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The aim is to compare the rate of hypertensive subjects with ICH who reach SBP target with stability within 60 minutes of enrollment, among patients treated with IV clevidipine with those treated with alternate IV antihypertensive regimen.

The Fifth INTEnsive pReventing Secondary Injury in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial Within ACT-GLOBAL

This is a domain within the ACT-GLOBAL platform trial to compare the effectiveness of early and appropriate pharmacological interventions in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) to control secondary brain injury. Up to 2000 patients with presumed spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) will be followed for 6 months (or death, if prior to 6 months). Adaptive interim analyses will be used, with statistical triggers to determine if any of the interventions are superior to control. The end of the trial is defined as the date that all participants have completed their 6-month assessment. A large amount of preclinical data indicates that the outcome from ICH is linked to the detrimental effects of breakdown substances from brain bleeds. However, there remains a lack of compelling evidence supporting the effectiveness of any pharmacological intervention that can mitigate the secondary cerebral injury. The INTERACT domain aims to assess the effectiveness of intravenous deferoxamine and low-dose oral colchicine, both individually and in combination, to standard of care alone, on improving functional outcome in patients with spontaneous supratentorial ICH. Those patients who meet eligibility criteria will be randomized to receive one of four interventions: 1. No deferoxamine mesylate and no colchicine (labeled as control) 2. Deferoxamine mesylate only: deferoxamine mesylate at a dose of 32mg/kg/day via intravenous infusion immediately (within 1 hour) post-randomization and continue for the following 2 consecutive days. 3. Colchicine only: 0.5mg of oral colchicine daily for 30 consecutive days. 4. Both deferoxamine mesylate and colchicine: deferoxamine mesylate at a dose of 32mg/kg/day via intravenous infusion immediately (within 1 hour) post-randomization and continue for the following 2 consecutive days; plus 0.5mg of oral colchicine daily for 30 consecutive days.

Auricular VNS Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage

This study will evaluate whether non-invasive auricular vagal nerve stimulation lowers inflammatory markers, and improves outcomes following intracerebral hemorrhage.

Improving Outcomes for Patients With Life-Threatening Neurologic Illness

Background: While the intensive care of patients with life-threatening brain illnesses has advanced tremendously, a large number of therapies are still without proper scientific support. This can be partly explained by the fact that mechanisms of initial brain injury are still not well understood. Why additional neurological injury occurs during a patient's stay in the NeuroCritical Care Unit (NCCU) despite current best, evidence-based clinical practices, is also not well understood. However, over the past decade, better tools have become available to measure and monitor the impact of our clinical care on the rapidly changing physiology and chemistry of the injured brain. Some of these tools are CT, MRI, ultrasound, and catheter-based technology measuring blood flow and metabolism. These tools have enabled earlier detection of injury and complications and newer therapeutic strategies. Purpose: Examine disease pathways common to all brain injuries seen in the University of Maryland's 22-bed NCCU. Life-threatening neurological illnesses cared for in the NCCU include massive stroke, bleeding in and around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage), brain tumors, difficult to control seizures, neurologic infections, nerve and muscle diseases (such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barre Syndrome), and spinal cord disorders among others. Many NCCU patients are comatose or paralyzed and may suffer injuries in other parts of the body as well. This effort will require the creation of a robust clinical database for the capture of data including patient characteristics (age, sex), clinical characteristics, medical treatments, surgical interventions, physiological data (such as vital signs, cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, cerebral oximetry, etc), laboratory data, and standard-of-care diagnostic studies such as electroencephalography (EEG), ultrasound, CT, MRI, and angiograms. Similar databases exist at other major centers for neurocritical care and have been instrumental to the identification of characteristics both predictive of and associated with outcomes of patients long after their stay in the NCCU. In addition, the samples collected will be included in the University of Maryland Medicine (UMM) Biorepository which is a shared resource to enable biomedical research by University of Maryland faculty.

ROSE-Longitudinal Assessment With Neuroimaging

The investigators will perform follow-up on 250 of 500 cases recruited into the ROSE study of cases with deep and lobar intracerebral hemorrhage to perform advanced neuroimaging at 12-24 months post stroke, and evaluations of motor and cognitive function at baseline, 6 months after baseline, and 12 months after baseline to determine predictors of recovery, progressive cognitive or functional impairment. The investigators propose to leverage the recruitment, DNA, RNA-seq and baseline advanced neuroimaging cohort of ROSE to obtain long-term neuroimaging and identical assessments longitudinally to address critical questions regarding the progressive decline of patients 12 to 24 months post intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with long term cognitive follow-up to 36 months on average. This proposal would represent the largest, and longest advanced neuroimaging and RNA-sequencing evaluation after ICH to date.

CIRP and Cathepsin B in Neuroinflammation After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

This is a single-center, investigator-initiated, prospective observational case-control study. Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and healthy controls will be enrolled at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. Peripheral venous blood samples will be collected for measurement of CIRP, Cathepsin B, and related inflammatory biomarkers. Clinical and imaging data will also be collected in the intracerebral hemorrhage group. The study aims to compare biomarker levels between patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and healthy controls and to explore the potential role of these biomarkers in neuroinflammation after intracerebral hemorrhage. No investigational treatment will be administered.

Targeted Temperature Management Via Bladder Monitoring in ICH

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a bladder temperature monitoring-guided targeted temperature management (TTM) strategy improves functional recovery in patients with severe intracerebral hemorrhage, compared to conventional temperature monitoring. It will also assess the safety of this monitoring approach. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does continuous bladder temperature monitoring-guided TTM improve the likelihood of a favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 180 days after onset? * What medical problems (such as infections, shivering, deep vein thrombosis, or sepsis) do participants experience while under the TTM strategy? Researchers will compare the intervention group (using continuous bladder temperature monitoring) with the control group (using conventional intermittent temperature monitoring with a mercury thermometer at the armpit) to see if the bladder temperature-guided TTM strategy leads to better outcomes. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to one of the two temperature monitoring strategies * Receive standard medical and surgical care for severe intracerebral hemorrhage

Microplastics in Brain Hematomas and Neurological Outcomes After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

This observational study investigates the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in surgically removed intracerebral hematomas and their association with neurological outcomes in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Microplastics have recently been identified in human tissues and are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to inflammation and vascular dysfunction. However, their role in cerebrovascular diseases, particularly intracerebral hemorrhage, remains unknown. Patients undergoing surgical hematoma evacuation will be enrolled. Brain tissue and blood samples will be analyzed using advanced spectroscopic and imaging techniques to detect and characterize micro- and nanoplastics. The study aims to evaluate whether the presence of these particles is associated with increased inflammation, worse neurological outcomes, and higher risk of adverse cerebrovascular events. This research may provide novel insights into the impact of environmental pollutants on brain vascular disease and patient prognosis.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Neurological Disease

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive tool that images the neurovascular structures of the eye by using near-infrared light. Previous literature has demonstrated the potential of OCTA as a screening tool in stroke, but its utility in other neurological illness such as intracranial hemorrhage is unclear. Hence, this pilot study will gather preliminary data to support future grant applications to investigate this area more fully by recruiting patients with neurological illness and healthy controls and comparing their OCTA imaging parameters.

Transitions of Care for Stroke Patients

For stroke patients, early initiation of therapy typically yields the best functional outcomes. Rehabilitation of stroke patients immediately after hospitalization minimizes deleterious effects of immobility and facilitates restoration of function. The investigators are testing if coordinated efforts between the medical and rehabilitation disciplines may improve stroke patient's functional recovery and subsequent follow-ups after discharge.

Oral Anticoagulation After Stroke With Prior ICH in Subjects With AF

This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of initiating direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with a history of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) who have recently suffered an acute ischemic stroke. Existing evidence regarding the optimal antithrombotic strategy for this specific high-risk "double-jeopardy" population remains largely undefined. Eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either receive oral anticoagulation therapy or a non-anticoagulation standard of care. The primary objective is to assess the incidence of a composite endpoint consisting of recurrent ischemic stroke and recurrent ICH over a 12-month follow-up period.

International Care Bundle Evaluation in Cerebral Hemorrhage Research

Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 10-15% of all strokes but stands for 50% of stroke-related morbidity and mortality. Approximately half of all patients with ICH have a decreased level of consciousness at hospital admission. Despite this, intensive care and neurosurgical interventions are uncommon. A study conducted in low- and middle-income countries has demonstrated a beneficial effect of a treatment package consisting of early intensive blood pressure lowering, as well as the treatment of pyrexia and elevated blood glucose levels. The I-CATCHER team is now planning to conduct a similar study in Sweden and Australia, as well as in other high-income countries. The study has a clear focus on implementation, aiming to improve treatment and prognosis for patients with ICH within a few years. The purpose of I-CATCHER is to investigate whether a structured treatment package (Care Bundle) improves 3-month prognosis in patients with spontaneous ICH compared to standard care.

Ex Vivo Reproduction of Minimally Invasive Surgery With Hematoma Lysis Using Modified Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with high mortality and long-term disability, and effective treatment options remain limited. Minimally invasive surgical approaches combined with local administration of thrombolytic agents have been investigated to facilitate hematoma evacuation; however, incomplete clot removal remains frequent, particularly in patients with conditions associated with increased hemorrhagic risk. This observational, cross-sectional study uses an ex vivo model of clinically sized intracerebral hematomas generated from whole blood samples collected from control subjects without hemorrhagic risk and from individuals with predefined hemorrhagic risk profiles, including conditions associated with antithrombotic treatment, inherited bleeding disorders, thrombocytopenia and situations involving reversal or correction of coagulation abnormalities. Using standardized ex vivo hematoma formation and catheter-based administration of modified Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rtPA), the study will characterize clot structure, composition, and permeability across hemorrhagic risk conditions. The study will then determine personalized dosing regimens of modified rtPA in conditions where thrombolytic activity differs from reference values observed in healthy control samples treated with a standard dose. Finally, the thrombolytic activity of personalized dosing regimens will be evaluated by measuring hematoma weight reduction 9 hours after treatment and compared with predefined efficacy and safety reference boundaries. The results of this study are intended to improve understanding of the ex vivo thrombolytic performance of modified rtPA across different hemorrhagic risk contexts and to support future translational and clinical research in intracerebral hemorrhage.

Role of Neuroinflammation and Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

In this prospective, multicenter study of patients with acute spontaneous supratentorial Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH), each participant will have a standardized multimodal evaluation of neuroinflammation at 10 (±2) days after onset including translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-DPA-714 radioligand, BBB imaging using Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI and a panel of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory plasma biomarkers.

Florida Cerebrovascular Disease Biorepository and Genomics Center

The purpose of this study is to create a state-wide biorepository and resource center for cerebrovascular diseases in Florida, which will include collecting medical history information and blood from subjects affected by cerebrovascular disease. The information and blood samples collected may be used in future research for the study of cerebrovascular disease and to learn about, prevent or treat other health problems.

Anticoagulation in ICH Survivors for Stroke Prevention and Recovery

Primary Aim: To determine if apixaban is superior to aspirin for prevention of the composite outcome of any stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic) or death from any cause in patients with recent ICH and atrial fibrillation (AF). Secondary Aim: To determine if apixaban, compared with aspirin, results in better functional outcomes as measured by the modified Rankin Scale.

Evaluating a Prototype CT Scan for ICH Evacuation

The aim of the project is to collect pre-procedural CT scans, intra-procedural post-evacuation scans as well as immediate post-procedural CT scans to evaluate and collect feedback of two Siemens prototypes: 1) perfusion prototype and 2) automatic hemorrhage detection prototype. The assessment of the prototypes, including its features will focus on the feasibility, usefulness as well as the potential clinical value add in minimally invasive ICH treatment.

Vitamin D for Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most deadly and debilitating form of stroke. To date, effective treatment that could improve the functional outcome of ICH remained elusive. In a mice model of ICH, it was demonstrated that high dose Vitamin D (VitD) treatment enhanced hematoma resolution by promoting reparative macrophage differentiation and improved neurobehavioral performance in mice. Hence, this pilot study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of VitD treatment for ICH in human subjects. VICToHR is a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) trial. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either VitD or standard care (control). The intervention group will receive VitD 4000 IU daily for 2 weeks, followed by 1000 IU daily for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes are the rate of hematoma resolution at 14 days and the incidence of hypercalcemia and VitD toxicity. Hematoma volume will be assessed by a neuroradiologist who is blinded to treatment allocation.

Tenecteplase (TNK) in the Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

The overall purpose of this study is to look at the safety and effectiveness of administering Tenecteplase (TNK) into the brain bleed (hematoma) instead of another clot-dissolving drug known as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), which is the current standard practice. Clot dissolving (Fibrinolytic) drugs work to break down blood clots and have been found to improve health outcomes when applied directly into the hematoma within the brain. Patients who take part in this study will undergo the same surgical procedure that would normally be performed to treat them, but with the exception of TNK not rtPA.

AI-Guided Hematoma Aspiration vs. Conservative Treatment for Spontaneous ICH

The effectiveness of traditional craniotomy in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage remains controversial. Minimally invasive surgery, specially, image-guided hematoma aspiration, proves to be effective and may have some advantages compared with craniotomy. This multicenter randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of two minimally invasive treatment strategies for patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with moderate hematoma volume (20-50 mL): (1) AI-assisted, navigation-guided hematoma aspiration, and (2) targeted pharmacological therapy. This study is designed to address the current lack of prospective comparative evidence between advanced image-guided surgical intervention and medical management in this specific patient population. By focusing on functional recovery, hematoma resolution, and safety outcomes, this trial seeks to provide high-quality evidence to guide treatment decision-making and optimize individualized care for patients with spontaneous ICH.

Efficacy and Safety of Minocycline in Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. It aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral minocycline in patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage within 48 hours of onset.

Recombinant Factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for Hemorrhagic Stroke Trial - Part 2

The objective of the rFVIIa for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke Administered at Earliest Time (FASTEST) Trial is to establish the first treatment for acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within a time window and subgroup of patients that is most likely to benefit. The central hypothesis is that rFVIIa, administered within 120 minutes from stroke onset with an identified subgroup of patients most likely to benefit, will improve outcomes at 90 days as measured by the Modified Rankin Score (mRS) and decrease ongoing bleeding as compared to standard therapy. FASTEST Part 2 is an extension of the FASTEST Trial where the subgroups include those treated within 2 hours with a positive spot sign on a baseline CT angiogram or patients treated within 90 minutes of stroke onset, with or without a positive spot sign.

Statins In Intracerbral Hemorrhage

The SATURN trial aims to determine whether continuation vs. discontinuation of statin drugs after spontaneous lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the best strategy; and whether the decision to continue/discontinue statins should be influenced by an individual's Apolipoprotein-E (APOE) genotype. An MRI ancillary study (SATURN MRI), in a subset of SATURN participants , will evaluate the effects of continuation vs. discontinuation of statin drugs on hemorrhagic and ischemic MRI markers of cerebral small vessel disease, and whether the presence/burden of hemorrhagic markers (i.e. cerebral microbleeds and/or cortical superficial siderosis) on baseline MRI influences the risk of ICH recurrence on/off statin therapy.