Neuroscience

St. David’s Neuroscience and Spine Institute participates in many clinical trials and research studies addressing stroke, from novel treatment protocols to registries collecting vital information about stroke outcomes. The Institute is committed to being an active participant in improving treatment options and real-world outcomes for stroke patients. We have clinical studies around:

• Patients who have acute ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage while undergoing chronic anticoagulation therapy
• Mild and Rapidly Improving Ischemic Stroke
• Cerebrovascular Stroke
• Intracerebral Hemorrhage
• Examine the effects and patterns of using anticoagulants

St. David’s Neuroscience and Spine Institute also maintains active research using advance statistics and big data to investigate a range of important questions in stroke epidemiology, diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes. Our research investigates the incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes among atrial fibrillation patients taking novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in comparison to patients taking warfarin. In one research study, St David’s found a much higher incidence of hemorrhages generally and hemorrhagic strokes in particular among patients taking warfarin, while patients taking NOACs experienced a higher incidence of ischemic stroke. We are also working to identify biomarkers in routine data that can help distinguish stroke from stroke mimics. Using laboratory results from standard blood work and vitals measures, we constructed multivariable statistical models that identify statistically significant differences between stroke cases and stroke mimics. Our researchers also study workflows and process interventions to further improve clinical performance and quality in the triage and diagnosis of stroke patients.

Please contact the Office of Research if you have interest in collaborating with St. David’s.