Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre

Cerebrovascular Disease

Home Research Themes Cerebrovascular Disease

Our research aims to addresses urgent needs of stroke patients in the domains of acute therapies, prevention, and rehabilitation to improve the quality of life and life expectancy.

Over the next few years we aim to:

  1. Investigate biomarkers in blood such as red blood cell membrane and cholesterol.
  2. Progress pilot experimental medicine studies on stroke vaccination and on Carnosine.
  3. Pilot non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in motor stroke rehabilitation.
  4. Initiate trials on remote conditioning in post-stroke fatigue.
  5. Develop imaging biomarkers (including PET-MRI protocols) of progression (e.g. carotid plaque and inflammation in stroke).
  6. Harness our assistive technology programme to deliver one device for symptomatic benefit.

Our multidisciplinary research strategy encompasses preclinical stroke therapy development, acute stroke trials, biomarker studies, and stroke recovery and rehabilitation trials. We collaborate with Imaging, and Engineering colleagues on innovative collaborative cerebrovascular research.

Current Studies

Genetic Risk Factors for cerebral small vessel disease
Noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation for arm recovery after stroke
Prediction of stroke outcome using brain imaging machine-learning
Familial Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Restart or Stop Antithrombotic Randomised Trial (RESTART)
Determinants of prognosis in stroke
Genetic Risk Factors for cerebral small vessel disease

We aim to recruit 1000 small vessel disease stroke cases as defined by an MRI scan. Details about the stroke, cardiovascular risk factors, family history and other health details will be collected and a small blood sample taken for DNA. A Genome Wide Association Study, which can identify up to one million variants across somebody’s genomes will be carried out on the DNA to look for novel genes associated with these stroke cases.

Further information is on the Health Research Authority website.

Noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation for arm recovery after stroke

We are recruiting patients who have had a stroke between 4 and 48 months ago and who have been left with reduced function an the affected arm, to receive 3 sessions of physiotherapy per week for 6 weeks. A small device will be clipped to the ear that will deliver a mild electrical stimulation (felt as a mild tingling sensation) to assess whether it improves arm function and quality of life. More information about this study can be found on the Health Research Authority website.

Prediction of stroke outcome using brain imaging machine-learning

We are developing software to help interpret clinical information and brain scans in a way that will allow us to target treatment for acute stroke patients more effectively. More information can be found about this study on the Health Research Authority website.

Familial Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

We are using new genetic screening technology to look for previously unknown genes linked with hereditary cerebral small vessel disease. A fuller summary is available on the Health Research Authority website.

Restart or Stop Antithrombotic Randomised Trial (RESTART)

We are studying whether the benefits of antiplatelet drugs, like aspirin, in patients who are at risk of stroke and who have survived a brain haemorrhage, outweigh the risks of a brain haemorrhage occurring again. This study is listed on the Health Research Authority website.

Determinants of prognosis in stroke

We are investigating the underlying biological associations and recovery courses of reliably subtyped different categories of stroke. During a long-term follow up of patients in this study, we will will analyze factors that affect stroke prognosis in order to inform preventative measures and improved treatment strategies. Further information can be found on the Health Research Authority website.

Investigators

Arshad Majid

Arshad Majid

Theme Leader for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
Ralf Lindert

Ralf Lindert

Stroke in Young People
Ali Ali

Ali Ali

Rehabilitation, Exercise
Jessica Redgrave

Jessica Redgrave

Rehabilitation, Devices
Emma Richards

Emma Richards

Senior Stroke Nurse
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