The European Stroke Network: A Platform for Overcoming the Translational Roadblock

Friday, February 15, 2013
Room 208 (Hynes Convention Center)
Stephen Meairs , University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
Although numerous treatment strategies have shown a beneficial effect in animal models of cerebral ischemia, very few have been shown to improve outcome in human trials. The European Stroke Network (ESN) was created to bring together the best clinicians and basic scientists in Europe to combat this “translational roadblock”, even recruiting people who have never worked in stroke research before. This unique multidisciplinary effort to foster the discovery of new treatments for stroke is based upon an intensive dialogue between researchers and clinicians and underscores the “beauty of science”.

Indeed, this exciting scientific venture of the European Stroke Network has resulted in important new discoveries paving the way to clinical trials. For example, novel concepts for the treatment of life-threatening brain swelling after stroke have arisen through teaming up with neuroscientists working on strategies to help patients with multiple sclerosis. We have learned that stroke outcome can be improved by enriching the treatment environment. This can be accomplished, for example, if patients play games or pursue interesting activities in the recovery phase. By employing sophisticated imaging techniques, scientists have been able to show how this leads to a remarkable formation of new brain connections. In another attempt to enhance the therapy of acute stroke, ultrasound physicists and stroke researchers have joined to develop new ways to break blood clots in brain vessels with acoustic energy. Further innovative research of the ESN has involved the integration of pioneers in nanoparticle drug delivery for treating stroke with substances that were not previously suitable for this purpose. Such advances have led to a recently established cooperation with the Canadian Stroke Network to study novel ways for supporting functional recovery and regeneration of brain tissue after stroke. Importantly, multidisciplinary research has also led to unexpected observations that challenge old dogmas – again highlighting the “beauty of science” and its ability to elucidate new avenues for the benefit of mankind.

The dynamic structure of the ESN profits greatly from efforts to improve the scientific basis of stroke research. This is highlighted by the results of a first multicenter preclinical trial that provides a novel framework for validating new therapeutic approaches before moving to human clinical trials. This approach could help prevent the testing of inefficacious substances in humans and also improve the margin of drug safety in clinical trials.