The SCVC is actively participating in 18 clinical studies, with another 6 studies in start-up. We have previously completed participation in 31 additional clinical studies to date, all to help focus our efforts on delivering the best patient care.

Bench science stroke research is performed using a collaborative approach. Director, Dr. Michael Kelly, is a member of the HR/HSFC Team in synchrotron medical imaging. The research currently has three main focuses: brain metal changes after stroke; studying neuroendovascular devices in animal models; and the evaluation of computational flow dynamics within a side-wall aneurysm model using the synchrotron. Synchrotron imaging techniques such as diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI), rapid scanning X-Ray diffraction and K-edge digital subtraction angiography (KEDSA) are being used and bioabsorbable stent studies are currently in development.

Currently, the bench science research led by the SCVC in collaboration with others, has examined the time course of biochemical changes that surround brain tissue damaged by stroke. The specific focus of this research has been to identify the biochemical mechanisms that drive the spread of tissue damage from the initial stroke lesion into healthy tissue. The use of the novel biochemical imaging techniques in the project has been applied to a mouse model of ischemic stroke and has enabled biochemical characterization of tissue that is “at risk” of further damage following ischemic stroke.