Clinical Research Directory

Efficacy and Safety of Tenecteplase Bridging Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke

A phase III, multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint clinical trial will evaluate two thrombolytic agents for the treatment of acute large vessel occlusion stroke within 4.5 hours from symptoms onset: intravenous tenecteplase bridging mechanical thrombectomy vs. intravenous alteplase bridging mechanical thrombectomy.

Circulating Non-coding RNA in Acute Ischemic Stroke With Endovascular Treatment (EVTRNA)

EVTRNA is to analyze the differentiated expression pattern of circular RNA (circRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and micro-RNA (miRNA) by next-generation sequencing in acute ischemic stroke patients before and/or after endovascular treatment. The candidate circRNA/lncRNA/miRNA will be verified as the biomarker and regulator for progression and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke with endovascular treatment. Further, the candidate non-coding RNA will be used to evaluate the effect of endovascular treatment on both peripheral and central immune after stroke.

Wearable MCI to Reduce Muscle Co-activation in Acute and Chronic Stroke

The purpose of the study is to explore the feasibility of using a wearable device, called a myoelectric-computer interface (MCI), to improve arm movement in people who have had a stroke. Impaired arm movement after stroke is caused not just by weakness, but also by impaired coordination between joints due to abnormal co-activation of muscles. These abnormal co-activation patterns are thought to be due to abnormal movement planning.The MCI aims to reduce abnormal co-activation by providing feedback about individual muscle activations. This randomized, controlled, blinded study will test the home use of an MCI in chronic and acute stroke survivors.

Treatment With Endovascular Intervention for STroke Patients With Existing Disability

TESTED will compare the risks and benefits of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) to medical management (no EVT) in ischemic stroke patients who have a blockage in one of the large blood vessels in the brain and have a moderate-to-severe disability prior to their stroke.

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.

Delay AvoIding Primary Evaluation for ThRombectomy of Acute StrokE Patients With Large Vessel OCclusion in the Angiography SuiTe

The purpose of this study is to compare two strategies for treating adults with suspected large vessel occlusion stroke within 7 hours of symptom onset. Researchers will evaluate whether direct transfer to the neurointerventional angiography suite improves recovery and reduces disability compared to the conventional approach of first being evaluated in the emergency department. The study will also assess safety and other health outcomes to guide care for stroke patients.

WE-TRUST (Workflow Optimization to Reduce Time to Endovascular Reperfusion for Ultra-fast Stroke Treatment)

The WE-TRUST study is a multi-center randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of a Direct to Angio Suite (DTAS) workflow on stroke patient outcomes.

CUHK Brain Health Longitudinal Study

The goal of this study is to develop a large longitudinal cohort of individuals diagnosed with or at high risk for brain diseases (both neurological and psychiatric in nature), in order to identify risk factors that contribute to neurological and psychiatric diseases over time. The investigators seek to capture relevant information from medical records, electronically administered questionnaires and follow up phone-based interviews. The investigators expect to eventually have sufficient power from our dataset to examine risk factors for a variety of brain disorders, both individually and in aggregate. Our ultimate goal is to offer scientifically validated ways to preserve and promote brain health by working with our patients' needs and tracking their progress over time.

Impact of COVID-19 Vaccines on Cerebrovascular Health

Safe and effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines may reduce the transmission of and achieve population immunity against the COVID-19 pandemic, which accounted for more than 3.75million deaths worldwide. With World Health Organization's (WHO) effort on ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination rate may increase in the near future. On the other hand, vaccination hesitancy has emerged as a major hindrance on the global vaccination campaigns in certain areas due to safety concerns, social factors, and public health policies. For instance, a recent survey conducted in Hong Kong showed a low vaccine acceptance rate of 37%. Long-term safety concerns and post-vaccination events relayed by the social media maybe reasons for vaccination hesitancy. Among which, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) after vaccination were one of the most frequently reported post-vaccination events. These reports ranged from ischemic strokes in elderly patients with multiple cardiovascular co-morbidities, to hemorrhage strokes in otherwise "young-and-fit" adults. While many of these events were investigated by the COVID-19 immunization expert committee, an important premise to address the apprehension of CVA after vaccination is the provision of evidence-based information of the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on brain health. In this prospective, longitudinal, observational study, we aim to elucidate the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and cerebrovascular health in healthy citizens in a population-based cohort.

Establishing a Prognostic Model for Stroke Recovery

This main aim of the study is to investigate the changes in neurophysiological features after stroke, and its association with upper limb motor recovery, so as to establish a prognostic model for upper limb motor recovery after stroke. The investigators hypothesize that a combination of neurophysiological features measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), high density electroencephalography (HD-EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) might be used as biomarkers to predict upper limb motor outcomes after stroke. The investigators also hypothesize that non-invasive brain stimulation strategies such as tDCS will more effectively improve motor outcomes as an adjunct to therapy, if tailored according to patient's predicted pattern of neural reorganization.

HR-MRI-Directed Tirofiban Therapy for Late-Window Acute Ischemic Stroke (TIAN)

This study aims to address the existing clinical challenges by introducing high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-MRI), an advanced imaging technology, to achieve precise etiological classification in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) beyond the time window. HR-MRI allows clear visualization of intracranial arterial wall structures and direct identification of key pathological features of the culprit vessel, including atherosclerotic plaques, vascular wall remodeling, and intracranial hemorrhage, thereby enabling reliable differentiation between intracranial atherosclerotic large artery atherosclerosis (ICAS-LAA) stroke and other etiological subtypes such as cardiogenic embolism. Based on the latest clinical demands and advances in imaging technology, this study intends to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban in patients with ICAS-LAA stroke beyond the time window under the precise guidance of HR-MRI. It is expected to provide high-level evidence-based medical evidence for this specific patient population and further optimize clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Early Neurological Clinical Recovery, 3 Months After Endovascular Treatment of an Acute Ischemic Stroke

This trial aims at collecting standardized data concerning the early neurological clinical recovery of patients, 3 months after endovascular treatment of an acute ischemic stroke. Although this outcome is a major issue of patients' prognosis, it is rarely collected at this stage of their follow-up.

Efficacy of a Telehealth Delivered Group Lifestyle Balance for People Post Stroke (tGLB-CVA)

Investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess intervention efficacy of telehealth delivery of the GLB-CVA (tGLB-CVA) compared to a 6-month wait-list control (WLC) in partnership with a diverse group of patient partners and peer mentors.

Thrombus Composition in Ischemic Stroke: Analysis of the Correlation With Plasma Biomarkers, Efficacy of Treatment, Etiology and Prognosis

The recent validation of thrombectomy in addition to thrombolysis with intravenous administration of alteplase suggests a major revolution in the management of acute strokes. This treatment option also opens up a new field of research, making possible the analysis of the clot responsible for intracranial occlusion. Indeed, in about 30% of the cases, the thrombectomy procedure makes it possible to retrieve either partially or completely the clot. Previous studies have analyzed the correlation between the composition of the thrombus and the etiology of stroke. Their discordant results do not yet make it possible to distinguish a particular profile of thrombus according to etiology. Other studies have shown a correlation between the proportion of red blood cells in a thrombus and the likelihood that it is visible in MRI or cerebral scanning. More recently, one study has demonstrated a correlation between the presence of lymphocytes in the thrombus and an atheromatous etiology. The main limitations of these studies are the small number of patients included, the high variability of conservation protocols and the absence of plasma data, which does not allow for research on the correlation between clot composition and plasma biomarkers.

MyStroke for Stroke Survivors and Caregivers

The goal of this multicenter randomized trial is to evaluate the impact of a personalized video-based stroke education platform on patient-centered and health system-centered outcomes. The main questions this study aims to address are: 1. Does a personalized, video-based educational platform improve stroke knowledge? 2. Does a personalized, video-based educational platform reduce post-discharge health system utilization? 3. Do different strategies of nudging improve engagement with educational material after hospital discharge? In order to determine the effect of this personalized stroke education strategy, researchers will compare subjects who receive standard stroke education with those who receive the personalized stroke education platform in addition to standard standard education. Patient knowledge will be assessed 90-days after discharge. Study participants will include both stroke patients and caregivers, who will: 1. Receive standard education during the stroke hospitalization 2. Complete a survey on the day of hospital discharge to assess their baseline knowledge. 3. Half of the subjects will be randomly assigned to also receive access to the personalized stroke education platform on the day of discharge. 4. All subjects will complete two follow-up study visits (7 and 90 days after discharge) in order to complete surveys.

A Randomized Trial of Imaging Selection Modalities for Stroke Thrombectomy (NO-SELECT)

Several studies suggest that advanced multi-modal imaging with CTP should be used to screen late time window stroke patients for thrombectomy. However, NCCT is more accessible when comparing with CTP. It is unclear whether the NCCT-based ASPECTS can be used as an imaging criterion to screen patients for thrombectomy. The newly published MR CLEAN-LATE and TENSION trials used NCCT or CTA, but still relied on ASPECTS scores to evaluate and select patients for endovascular therapy. However, different trials have different time windows. The aim of this trial was to assess the clinical outcomes of stroke patients with anterior large vessel occlusion who selected by simple imaging (NCCT) comparing via standard imaging screening strategy (CTP/MRI). The hypothesis is that simple imaging is non-inferior to standard imaging selection strategy in terms of achieving favorable outcomes.

Comperative Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular and Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Subacute Stroke Patients

This study aims to determine whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) via auricular or cervical branches enhances recovery when combined with task-specific training in subacute stroke patients. We anticipate finding that both stimulation methods may improve upper limb motor function compared to conventional therapy. The research is expected to reveal specific cognitive domains (attention, memory, executive function) that benefit most from each stimulation approach, while also demonstrating meaningful improvements in patients' quality of life measures. These findings may make a significant practical contribution by providing clinicians with evidence-based guidance on suitable tVNS approach for improving functional independence and quality of life for stroke survivors.

Validation of Early Prognostic Data for Recovery Outcome After Stroke for Future, Higher Yield Trials

VERIFY will validate biomarkers of upper extremity (UE) motor outcome in the acute ischemic stroke window for immediate use in clinical trials, and explore these biomarkers in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. VERIFY will create the first multicenter, large-scale, prospective dataset of clinical, transmagnetic stimulation (TMS), and MRI measures in the acute stroke time window.

Progressive Abduction Loading Therapy

This study attempts to minimize the development of a common movement impairment following stroke known as "flexion synergy" that makes it extremely difficult to reach outward with the arm. Participants with acute/subacute stroke will receive one of two study interventions in addition to prescribed therapies in both inpatient rehabilitation and day-rehab. Participants will be followed for 1 year.

Post Stroke Dysphagia: Effect of Adding rTMS to Conventional Therapy on the Prevalence of Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is one of the most life-threatening stroke complications. Dysphagic stroke patients are at increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. Pneumonia accounts for at least 10% of post stroke deaths within 30 days of hospitalization after stroke. rTMS is effective in improving post-stroke dysphagia and swallowing coordination after stimulation of the unaffected hemisphere, however it's efficacy on the prevalence of pneumonia has not yet been examined. Purpose of the study: To determine the effect of adding low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to conventional oropharyngeal physical therapy program on the prevalence of aspiration pneumonia in in patients with post stroke dysphagia.

Somatic Dysfunction in Patients With Acute Cerebrovascular Disease

The goals of this observational study are to test the reliability of a new, standardized physical examination method to identify motion problems within joints or groups of joints among adult asymptomatic volunteers and in patients hospitalized with stroke or stroke-like episodes (e.g., transient ischemic attack, TIA). The main questions this investigation aims to answer are: * Can different, independent providers reliability quantify motion pattern problems using a systematic approach called, The Functional Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System (FPMSS) model? * Are there differences in joint(s) motion patterns among asymptomatic volunteers, patients with TIA (people with brain disease without new neurologic disability), and recent ischemic stroke (patients with new stroke-related-disability, e.g., paralysis)? * Is there an association between joint(s) motion impairment severity and stroke survivor outcomes? Participants (asymptomatic and those with stroke) will undergo a set of repeated paired, musculoskeletal physical exams by independent providers blinded to each other's assessments and patient information. Researchers will compare the severity, location, and quantity of joint(s) motion impairment between these three groups with the physical examination methodology (FPMSS). Clinical information (e.g., test results, diagnoses, brain imaging, medical history) will be collected from patients admitted for TIA and stroke. Enrolled participants with recent stroke will complete a survey three months after hospitalization to determine their self-perceived quality-of-life.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Support in Medical Emergency Calls

More than 12.000 patients suffer acute stroke in Norway every year, but less than half of them reach hospital within the current treatment window for thrombolysis. Stroke is the third-highest cause of death and the number one cause of severe disability requiring long time care at institutions. Consequently this has a high impact on society, patients and relatives, in addition to high costs related to care estimated to approximately 10 billion NOK per year. Although there are few studies on emergency medical communication centres (EMCC) in Norway, some have shown that the performance of the emergency medical communication centres can be improved. This project will seek to amend EMCC´s handling of acute stroke inquiries using artificial intelligence (AI), thus contributing to getting the patient to hospital in time for optimal treatments.

CHemical OptImization of Cerebral Embolectomy 2 (CHOICE 2).

Multi-center, randomized, parallel-group, superiority study to compare the efficacy of adjunct intra-arterial rt-PA versus not adjunct intra-arterial rt-PA in the improvement of the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke.

Bed Bridge Test in Acute Stroke Patients

Studies examining the validity and reliability of easy-to-apply muscle strength and mobility outcome measures in the acute and subacute phases of stroke are quite limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the In-Bed Bridge Test is a useful outcome measure for assessing lower extremity muscle strength and mobility in stroke.