National Health and Medical Research Council

Stroke is a disease of the cardiovascular system in which blood vessels in the brain are suddenly blocked or rupture, leading to brain damage. Effects of a stroke may include impaired movement, speech and thinking, and may never improve. In Australia in 2006-07 there were 34,476 hospitalisations due to stroke, and 8,484 deaths in 2006. Although death rates from stroke continue to fall, is still a leading cause of death (6.3% of all deaths in 2006) and ongoing disability. [1, 2]

NHMRC funding for stroke research

In the period -09, NHMRC contributed nearly $82 million to Australian research into stroke.

Some NHMRC-funded research projects into stroke

Location, location: calcium channels and blood flow

Chief Investigator Professor Caryl E Hill, Australian National University

Blood flow depends on arterial diameter which can change with contraction of muscle in the vessel wall. Calcium influx through one type of channel in the muscle cells has been considered critical, but drugs targeting these channels have not succeeded in treating the arterial spasm which occurs after stroke and head injury. Our study will investigate the existence and role of other calcium channels in brain arteries. Knowledge gained will likely lead to development of new drug targets for stroke.

NHMRC Project Grant

Psychosocial disability and return to work in younger stroke survivors

Chief Investigator Dr Maree L Hackett, University of Sydney

Each year about 12,000 Australians of working age survive a stroke. These younger survivors have responsibility for generating an income or providing care for families and state that their main objective is to return to work for financial reasons and to help rebuild confidence and independence. This observational 3 year study will determine thefactors are associated with returning to work, improving the wellbeing of thousands of stroke survivors and their families using multivariate

NHMRC Project Grant

MRI techniques for measuring cerebral blood flow in stroke

Chief Investigator Dr Fernando Calamante, Brain Research Institute

Stroke is one of the most frequent causes of death and the major cause of adult neurological disability. Diagnostic tools to improve its management are therefore crucial. This project is dedicated to improving the magnetic resonance imaging techniques for measuring blood flow to the brain, and to applying these to patients who have had a stroke. Improved methods will enable better prediction of tissue outcome following stroke, thus enabling optimal early management decisions to be taken.

NHMRC Project Grant

Blood pressure (BP) lowering therapy to improve outcome from haemorrhagic stroke

Chief Investigator Professor Craig S Anderson, University of Sydney

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is a serious type of stroke affecting thousands of Australians and 2-3 million people in the world each year, with most either dying or left disabled. There is no proven treatment for ICH, although surgery is sometimes used and early injection of a special clotting factor may improve outcome. One potential simple therapy is the rapid control of elevated blood pressure (BP) which occurs commonly and predicts a poor outcome in ICH, possibly by increasing bleeding and swelling in the brain. There is much uncertainty as to the optimal management of elevated BP in ICH. This study, called INTERACT, aims to determine the balance of benefits and risks of a management strategy of early rapid BP lowering in 2000 patients with ICH randomised from 100 clinical sites in Australia/Asia.

NHMRC Project Grant

Training reaching post stroke

Chief Investigator Dr Sandra G Brauer, University of Queensland

Up to 50% of stroke survivors are left with upper limb disability that limits their daily activities & their paralysis is so severe that it excludes them from training with the most effective methods. This study is a clinical trial of innovative new techniques to assist people with severe upper limb paralysis to reach following stroke. Positive results are likely to reduce disability in a large number of stroke survivors and have the potential to be used by other patients with paralysis.

NHMRC Project Grant

Investigation of diseased blood vessels that can cause strokes using the latest scanning technologies

Chief Investigator Dr Gary Y H Liew, University of Adelaide

Diseased blood vessels often involve build up of cholesterol plaques that cause blockages or poor blood flow. This can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Our research aims to investigate the properties of diseased vessels in the neck with the latest scanning technologies to identifying individuals who are at risk of strokes. We hope to show that the inflammatory activity and composition of the plaques play important roles in leading to the development of strokes.

Medical Postgraduate Scholarship

VITATOPS - A controlled trial of vitamins to prevent stroke

Chief Investigator Professor Graeme J Hankey, University of Western Australia

The VITAmins To Prevent Stroke (VITATOPS) trial is the only ongoing randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the world which aims to determine whether multivitamin therapy (folic acid 2mg, vitamin B12 0.5mg, and vitamin B6 25mg) prevents recurrent stroke and heart attacks in patients who have suffered a recent stroke. To date more than 7,500 patients have been randomised. Ongoing support is requested to complete the follow-up of 8,000 patients by middle of 2009.

NHMRC Project Grant

Genome-wide association study in stroke

Chief Investigator Associate Professor Christopher R. Levi, University of Newcastle

The majority of stroke is caused by atherothrombosis, the formation of blood clots in brain blood vessels. Numerous genes are linked to atherothrombosis, but many studies examined genetic influences in isolation from environmental risk factors. We will examine the relevance of genetic variations linked to atherothrombosis, in the context of environmental risk factors. By determining the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in stroke, we will develop a stroke risk assessment.

NHMRC Project Grant

10-year outcome after stroke: The North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study (NEMESIS)

Chief Investigator Associate Professor Amanda G Thrift, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute

Stroke is common, occurring in approximately 50,000 Australians each year. About a third of people with stroke die within the first 12 months but we do not know how many survive or how well they manage in the longer term. We aim to interview 10-year survivors of stroke to assess how much help they need to undertake everyday activities, and how much the stroke is costing the Australian community. This information will help us in planning the health care needs for stroke patients in future.

NHMRC Project Grant

Sources

1. AIHW, Stroke in Australia
2. AIHW, Mortality FAQs