Clinical Research Directory

Different Treatment Strategies on Prognosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke(AISDTS)

AISDTS is a prospective registry study, in which clinical information, examination and imaging data of patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving different treatment strategies were collected, grouped and statistically analyzed, and corresponding clinical prediction models were constructed to explore the role of clinical biological indicators in the occurrence and development of stroke.

Neurophysiological Markers for Prediction of Rehabilitation Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke

The goal of this randomized controlled study is to develop and validate an integrated neurophysiological model for predicting rehabilitation potential in patients with ischemic stroke. The study focuses on identifying objective markers of brain activity associated with motor preparation and recovery. The project includes two stages. First, healthy volunteers will participate in experimental motor and mental tasks to establish reference patterns of brain activity using electroencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation. These data will be used to define stable neurophysiological markers of motor network function. In the second stage, patients in the acute and early recovery phases after ischemic stroke will be randomly assigned to receive either active intermittent theta-burst stimulation of the motor cortex or a sham procedure, in addition to standard rehabilitation. Brain activity and clinical motor function will be assessed before and after the intervention. The study aims to determine which neurophysiological measures are sensitive to neuromodulation and are associated with clinical improvement, in order to construct a predictive model of rehabilitation outcome. Participants will \[describe the main tasks participants will be asked to do, interventions they'll be given and use bullets if it is more than 2 items\].

Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke (ReMEDy2 Trial)

This is a Phase 2/3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of DM199 (rinvecalinase alfa) in treating participants with moderate stroke severity, who present within 24 hours of Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) onset due to small and medium vessel occlusions. This study focuses on participants with limited treatment options. Participants who have or will receive mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are not eligible for participation. Additionally, participants who have received fibrinolytics are excluded unless they experience a persistent neurological deficit of moderate severity six or more hours after fibrinolytic treatment. Participants considered for this trial should not be denied the use of standard of care (SoC) AIS therapies, such as fibrinolytics or MT, when appropriate. The double-blinded study will be randomized and placebo-controlled at up to approximately 100 sites.

Early Closure of Left Atrial Appendage for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Stroke Despite Anticoagulation Therapy

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias and cardioembolic stroke due to AF is its major complication. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) reduce the risk of cardioembolism in patients with AF. Despite DOAC therapy, there is a significant residual stroke risk of 1-2%/year. Recent data from the Swiss Stroke Registry found 38% of patients with AF and ischemic stroke were on prior anticoagulant therapy (approximately 400 patients per year in Switzerland). The investigators found in a prior observational study, that patients with AF who have ischemic stroke despite anticoagulation are at increased risk of having another ischemic stroke (HR 1.6; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.1-2.1). Combining observational data from 11 international stroke centres, the investigators found that the majority of ischemic strokes despite anticoagulation in patients with AF is "breakthrough" cardioembolism (76% of patients) and only a minority of 24% is related to other causes unrelated to AF. Optimal secondary prevention strategy is unknown. The investigators have conducted two independent observational studies including together \>4000 patients but did not identify any strategy (e.g. switch to different DOAC, additional antiplatelet therapy) that seems superior. A recent randomized controlled trial on surgical occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAAO) found that LAAO may provide additional protection from ischaemic stroke in addition to oral anticoagulation. Triggered by this finding, the investigators performed a matched retrospective observational study and found that patients with AF and stroke despite anticoagulation who received a combined mechanical-pharmacological therapy (DOAC therapy + LAAO) had lower rates of adverse outcomes compared to those with DOAC therapy alone. Therefore, the investigators hypothesize that in patients with AF and ischemic stroke despite anticoagulant therapy, LAAO in addition to anticoagulation with a DOAC is superior to DOAC therapy alone. The investigators propose an international, multi-center randomized controlled two-arm trial to assess the effect of LAAO in patients with AF suffering from strokes despite anticoagulation therapy and without competing stroke etiology. The investigators will use the PROBE design with blinded endpoint assessment. The investigators will enrol patients with non-valvular AF and a recent ischemic stroke despite anticoagulation therapy at stroke onset. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive LAAO + DOAC therapy (experimental arm) or DOAC therapy alone (standard treatment arm). The primary endpoint is the first occurrence of a composite outcome of recurrent ischemic stroke, systemic embolism and cardiovascular death during follow-up. Secondary outcomes include individual components of the primary composite outcome, safety outcomes (i.e. symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, major extracranial bleeding, serious device- or procedure-related complication), functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) and patient-oriented outcomes. The minimum follow-up is 6 months and all patients will receive follow-ups every 6 months until end of study, the maximal follow-up will be 48 months. Based on prior observational data from the investigators' group and others (5 observational studies, \>5000 patients), the investigators estimate the proportion of patients with the primary outcome in the standard treatment arm to be 18% in the first year and 9% in the second year (=cumulative 27% after 2 years). A relative risk reduction of 40% at 2 years would be clinically relevant. Based on these assumptions and a log-rank test, the investigators would need 98 events for a power of 80% at an alpha-level of 5%. Assuming a recruitment rate of 52, 118, 156 and 156 patients in years 1 to 4, an additional 6 months of follow-up (mean follow-up time of 2.1 years) and a uniform drop-out rate of 7.5% per year, 482 patients would need to be enrolled. How to treat patients with an ischemic stroke despite anticoagulation is a major yet unresolved clinical dilemma. This trial has the potential to answer the question whether LAAO plus DOAC therapy is superior to current standard of care for patients with AF who have ischemic stroke despite anticoagulation.

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Endovascular Stroke Thrombectomy

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a procedure that improves recovery for people who suffer from a stroke by removing blood clots from large blood vessels in the brain. However, even with this treatment, over half of the patients either pass away or are left with serious disabilities within three months. This is partly because, even in cases of a successful EVT, brain tissue damage continues to grow. Extent of brain damage is a major factor in how well a patient recovers. Studies in animals have shown that a drug called semaglutide might help protect the brain and improve recovery after a stroke. Semaglutide is currently used for the treatment of diabetes and obesity and is given as a weekly injection under the skin. We are hoping to test whether giving semaglutide to stroke patients undergoing EVT can improve their recovery. A very large study at many hospitals is needed to answer this question. We are starting with a smaller study to gain information on whether it is possible to perform a larger definitive one, and if so, how best to plan for it. In this first step we will study 100 patients with stroke who are scheduled for EVT in approximately 10 stroke centers across Canada. These patients will be randomly divided (like flipping a coin) into two groups: one will receive weekly semaglutide injections for 12 weeks, while the other will not receive the drug. We will track how many patients agree to participate, how many stay in the study, and how well they follow the treatment plan. We will also monitor the patients' recovery, overall health, and any side effects from the treatment. These results will provide important information to plan our larger study with the goal of reducing death rates and long-term disability in stroke patients undergoing EVT.

Efficacy and Safety of Interleukin-6 Receptor Inhibitor Combined With Endovascular Treatment in Patients With Acute Posterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke

This is an investigator-initiated phase III clinical trial employing a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of an interleukin-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab) combined with endovascular therapy in patients with acute posterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke.

Stroke Cerebral Reorganization Pathways (SPECTRE)

SPECTRE is a prospective longitudinal study in order to identify whether patients with different degrees of motor recovery are distinguished by distinct brain post-stroke plasticity patterns in the acute and sub-acute phases. This study allows close longitudinal follow-up of patients with severe clinical motor impairment using functional MRI to study cerebral neuroplasticity after ischemic stroke in the acute and sub-acute phase in patients with upper limb motor impairement, taking into account prognostic criteria used in current practice.

Repeated Intravenous Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke Within 3.0 Hours of Onset With Tenecteplase (RITIS-TNK)

Despite being the standard pharmacological reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke, intravenous thrombolysis is limited by suboptimal recanalization rates. Tenecteplase (TNK), a newer thrombolytic agent, offers practical advantages over alteplase, including single bolus administration. However, a significant proportion of patients fail to achieve early clinical improvement after standard thrombolysis, likely due to persistent vessel occlusion. This study proposes to investigate a rescue strategy for patients who do not show significant neurological improvement within one hour after receiving standard intravenous tenecteplase within 3 hours of stroke onset. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of administering a second dose of tenecteplase in this scenario. The study will also explore the potential efficacy of this approach in improving recanalization and functional outcomes.

Repeated Intravenous Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke With Medium to Large Vessel Occlusion Presenting Within 4.5 Hours of Onset With Tenecteplase (RITIS-TNK2)

While intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) within 4.5 hours is the standard medical reperfusion therapy, its efficacy is limited, particularly for large or medium vessel occlusions (LVO/MeVO), with low recanalization rates for IVT with rt-PA. The newer thrombolytic agent, tenecteplase (TNK), offers practical advantages-including single bolus administration, a longer half-life, and potentially higher fibrin specificity-and has been shown to be non-inferior to rt-PA. Despite advances, a significant proportion of patients with LVO/MeVO do not achieve early clinical improvement after standard IVT, likely due to persistent occlusion from a high thrombus burden. Endovascular therapy, while highly effective for LVO, has limited accessibility. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective and widely accessible pharmacological strategies. This study proposes a rescue strategy based on the hypothesis that a second dose of IVT may improve outcomes in patients with imaging-confirmed LVO or MeVO who show no significant neurological improvement one hour after standard TNK thrombolysis (administered within 4.5 hours of stroke onset). The primary aim of this study is to formally evaluate the efficacy and safety of a repeated dose of intravenous tenecteplase in this specific patient population.

Continuous Dual Aspiration Technique With Zoom System for Stroke

This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and clinical performance of ADAPT 2.0, first-line aspiration neurothrombectomy with Zoom System with Continuous Dual Aspiration Technique (CDAT).

Ambulatory Stroke Unit Treatment for Elderly Patients

ARTIFICE is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, exploratory non-inferiority trial evaluating whether an ambulatory stroke unit model (aSU) is non-inferior to conventional inpatient stroke unit care (SU) in patients aged 60 years or older with acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or retinal ischemia and non-disabling neurological deficits. Eligible patients are randomized 1:1 to same-day comprehensive ambulatory multiprofessional stroke evaluation (aSU) or guideline-based inpatient stroke unit treatment (SU). The primary endpoint is favorable functional outcome at 90 days, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 or return to pre-stroke mRS. Endpoint assessment at 90 days is performed by blinded assessors (PROBE design). Secondary outcomes include early neurological deterioration, recurrent stroke, delirium, mortality, health-related quality of life, healthcare utilization, and cost-effectiveness. A mixed-methods process evaluation examines feasibility, acceptability, and implementation aspects of the ambulatory care model.

OsciPulse D-dimer Pilot Trial

Pilot, randomized, non-blinded clinical trial to generate preliminary data to evaluate the impact of the OsciPulse system on serum d-dimer levels compared to standard of care intermittent compression therapy for DVT prophylaxis in patients admitted in the neuro ICU or intermediate neurological care unit with acute ischemic stroke.

Strategy for Improving Stroke Treatment Response

SISTER is a Phase-II, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, dose finding trial that aims to determine the safety and preliminary efficacy of TS23, a monoclonal antibody against the alpha-2 antiplasmin (a2-AP), in acute ischemic stroke.

Individual Alpha Frequency-Based rTMS for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: Efficacy and Neurophysiological Mechanisms

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized brain stimulation technique, Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF)-based rTMS, for motor function recovery in adult patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does IAF-based rTMS improve upper and lower limb motor recovery better than a sham (placebo) stimulation? 2. How does this personalized stimulation affect brain wave activity (cortical oscillatory dynamics) as measured by EEG? Researchers will compare active IAF-based rTMS with a sham stimulation control in a crossover design to see if the active treatment leads to better clinical motor outcomes and beneficial changes in brain activity. Participants will: 1. Be randomly assigned to one of two sequences: receiving two weeks of active IAF-rTMS followed by two weeks of sham stimulation, or vice versa. 2. Attend 30-minute brain stimulation sessions, targeted at the motor cortex, 5 days a week for a total of 4 weeks. 3. Undergo clinical motor function assessments (including NIHSS, FMA-UE, and FMA-LE) and EEG recordings at three time points: at baseline, after 2 weeks, and at the end of the 4-week study.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Recanalization for Symptomatic Non-Acute Intracranial Artery Occlusion（REPAIR）

A multicenter, randomized, open-label, endpoint-blinded trial to compare the effects of endovascular recanalization plus aggressive medical management with aggressive medical management alone on stroke recurrence and mortality in patients with symptomatic non-acute intracranial artery occlusion.

Regulating Blood Pressure During Recovery From Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ischemic Stroke

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether blood pressure treatment regimens with spironolactone are better than blood pressure treatment regimens without spironolactone at lowering blood pressure in stroke survivors.

Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion for Prophylactic Stroke Reduction Trial

This trial is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, multinational, blinded, superiority trial. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of left atrial appendage exclusion (LAAE) for the prevention of ischemic stroke or systemic arterial embolism in subjects undergoing cardiac surgery who have risk factors for atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke.

Discontinuation of Antithrombotic Treatment Following Patent Foramen Ovale Closure in Young Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke

To determine the safety of antithrombotic treatment discontinuation 12 months following successful transcatheter PFO closure.

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.

Wireless Nerve Stimulation Device To Enhance Recovery After Stroke

Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) has developed an innovative strategy to enhance recovery of motor and sensory function after neurological injury termed targeted plasticity therapy (TPT). This technique uses brief pulses of vagus nerve stimulation to engage pro-plasticity neuromodulatory circuits during rehabilitation exercises. Preclinical findings demonstrate that VNS paired with rehabilitative training enhances recovery in multiple models of neurological injury, including stroke, spinal cord injury, intracerebral hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury. Recovery is associated with neural plasticity in spared motor networks in the brain and spinal cord. Moreover, two initial studies and a recently completed Phase 3 clinical trial using a commercially available device demonstrates that paired VNS with rehabilitation is safe and improves motor recovery after stroke. The purpose of this study is to extend these findings and evaluate whether VNS delivered with the new device paired with rehabilitation represents a safe and feasible strategy to improve recovery of motor and sensory function in participants with stroke.

SENIOR: Stroke Prevention in the Elderly by Patent Foramen Ovale closuRe vs Anticoagulation

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an important mechanism of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Current guidelines recommend PFO closure for high-risk PFO in patients younger than 60 years, and a recent retrospective cohort study from Taichung Veterans General Hospital has shown that closure is effective and safe in older adults; however, the optimal treatment strategy for those \>60 years and direct head-to-head comparisons of PFO closure versus direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) remain insufficient. Robust evidence from a multicenter study combining prospective and retrospective cohorts is warranted. The SENIOR study is a multicenter observational cohort registry with a combined retrospective and prospective design. The prospective period is from September 15, 2025 to December 31, 2031, and the retrospective period covers January 1, 2013 to September 1, 2025; target sample sizes are 400 (prospective) and 500 (retrospective). We will enroll adults with ESUS and PFO; the prospective arm will focus on patients aged \>60 years with PFO related stroke. Treatments will be assigned as PFO closure, standard-dose DOAC, or antiplatelet agents (if DOAC intolerance) by local principal investigator. The primary outcome is recurrent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Secondary outcomes include 6-month functional outcome, all stroke, and serial comparison of atrial cardiopathy changes. Safety endpoints include peri-procedural adverse events (including newly-onset atrial fibrillation), hemorrhagic stroke, and all caused mortality. Clinical presentation, imaging, cardiac testing, biomarker, and genetic data will be collected for stratified and multivariable analyses.

A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of LWP779 in Healthy Participants

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial featuring both single ascending dose (SAD), food effect and multiple ascending dose (MAD) phases intended to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK, PD, and active metabolites of LWP779 after oral administration in healthy participants.

Effective Translation of Endovascular Thrombectomy Trials Into Real-world Practice in the Asia-Pacific

As a major breakthrough of acute stroke treatment over the past decade, endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) drastically improved neurological recovery and survival in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic strokes in major clinical trials. Nevertheless, much remained uncertain about the implementation of scientific evidence of EVT into real-world benefits. For instance, healthcare policies that influence critical time-matrices, endovascular thrombectomy techniques that may enhance success rate or prevent complications, or advanced imaging techniques that allow precise prognosis or expansion of treatment populations, should be evaluated. On the other hand, capturing LVO patients who were not able to undergo EVT may reveal the gap between clinical trials and real-world practice in the Asia-Pacific. In this multicenter prospective collaboration across the Asian-Pacific, the investigators aim to evaluate the determinants of effective EVT in the real-world setting.

A Pivotal Study Evaluating Safety and Effectiveness of Adaptative Tip Catheter in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and the effectiveness of the Adaptive Tip Catheter (ATC) used as a first line direct aspiration thrombectomy technique for patients suffering of an acute ischemic stroke.