Newcastle University

Stroke Research Group

Theme Leader

Professor Gary Ford (IAH)

Major Research Themes

The Stroke Research Group (SRG) aims to undertake clinical and health services research which is relevant to patients, carers, and the NHS through development and evaluation of the clinical and cost effectiveness of interventions and services.

SRG research themes are:

• Assessment and treatment of hyperacute stroke
• Interventional neuroradiology
• Clinical service design and professional role development for improving urgent assessment of patients with suspected stroke.
• Clinical and cost effectiveness of acute, rehabilitation and community stroke services.
• Shared decision making in stroke care.
• Technology assistance and therapy approaches for upper limb and gait rehabilitation.
• Stroke and cognition

Expertise

The SRG has a strong track record of undertaking high quality research studies which lead to service improvements and is a multidisciplinary group with expertise in:

• clinical pharmacology and ageing (Prof Gary Ford)
• rehabilitation (Prof Helen Rodgers)
• stroke service design and configuration (Dr Chris Price)
• movement science (Prof Lynn Rochester)
• neuroradiology (Prof Philip White)
• epidemiology/health services research/shared decision making (Prof Richard Thomson)
• neuroscience (Prof Janet Eyre)

The group has strong local, national and international collaborative links with academics, patient groups, service providers and commissioners.

Key Collaborations

We have strong links and collaborations with stroke services, commissioners and patient groups nationally and locally. Specific collaborations include:

• Hyperacute treatment (Texas, Yale)
• Pre-hospital ambulance research (Swansea, UCLA,)
• Safety and effectiveness  of stroke thrombolysis (Karolinska)
• Interventional radiology (Glasgow, Montreal)
• Robot assisted upper limb rehabilitation (MIT, Glasgow, East London, Cambridge)
• Evaluation of an extended rehabilitation (Nottingham, Leeds, King’s College)
• Small vessel disease and cognitive decline (St George’s)

Developing Researchers

SRG members supervise post graduate students, research associates and research fellows from a range of professional backgrounds undertaking MD, PhD and post-doctoral work and there is a good senior academic and peer support. The SRG has excellent office accommodation and facilities within the main SRG office and there is a high quality IT infrastructure. There are opportunities to attend regular academic meetings in the Institute for Ageing and Health, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Psychology, and Institute of Health and Society. We have strong collaborative links with other methodological expertise in clinical trials, statistics, medical sociology, shared decision making and health economics.

Impact and Engagement

Our work had led to improvements in stroke care and service provision e.g. use of FAST test and early supported discharge. Our work has been used to inform national and international guidelines.
The SRG includes the National Director of the NIHR Stroke Research Network (Prof Gary Ford) and the Associate Director for Patient, Carer & Public Involvement (Prof Helen Rodgers) and North East SRN Clinical Lead (Dr Chris Price).

Professor Ford is a member of the NIHR Strategy Board and is a NIHR Senior Investigator.

Related Websites

• Neurodegenerative Diseases & Stroke (IAH)
• Decision Making and Organisation of Care (IHS)
• Stroke Research Network

Staff List

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