Stroke & Neurosurgery Research

With an unwavering commitment to advancement, the University Hospitals Neurological Institute has carved an indelible path in medical research. It consistently takes a leading role in groundbreaking clinical trials, encompassing a wide spectrum from cutting-edge medical devices to revolutionary biologics. Many of the stroke and neurosurgery clinical trials that we conduct at University Hospitals enroll patients who are in the acute stage of their disease or injury. This means that patients are enrolled while they are in the emergency room, intensive care unit, or operating room.

Neurosurgery is an integral component of the University Hospitals Comprehensive Stroke Center, which is shaped by the most innovative medical and surgical therapies because our experts continuously engage in research. Our affiliation with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine allows basic science research to be quickly translated to findings that will improve patient care.

Stroke Research

At the forefront of innovation, the hospital's contributions to the field are exemplified by landmark trials like PROACT 2 and SELECT2, which have catalyzed transformative changes in medical practice. These pivotal trials not only led the way but also prompted profound shifts in how healthcare professionals approach patient care in the field of stroke.

University Hospitals is also an integral member of the StrokeNet Consortium, a collaborative network of top-tier institutions dedicated to advancing stroke research and treatment and supported by the Neurological Disorders and Stroke (one of the National Institutes of Health). Cleveland has been chosen as a Regional Coordinating Center for StrokeNet, which is comprised of the major healthcare institutions in the regions to conduct NIH stroke research, with University Hospitals serving as the primary contact site for NIH.

Through this national collaborative clinical trials network, the Comprehensive Stroke Center has secured over $2 million in clinical research funding, the majority of it coming from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This affiliation underscores the hospital's pivotal role in shaping medical progress on a global scale. Currently engaged in over 30 ongoing trials, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center has successfully enrolled over 1050 patients in various research studies, demonstrating its dedication to pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge.

Aneurysm Tissue Study

This research is being done in collaboration with basic science researchers at University of Pittsburgh to better understand cerebral (brain) aneurysms.  By directly analyzing the aneurysm tissue using advanced bioimaging and experimental tools, we have the opportunity to better understand the causes of rupture and the potential devastating morbidity associated with it.  The flow of blood is abnormal inside aneurysms and it is believed that this abnormal flow can contribute to weakness in the aneurysm.  Clinical images of aneurysms are used to build computer and physical models of patient blood vessels so the role of blood flow in this disease can be studied.  We also assess the importance of various patient factors on the vulnerability of the aneurysm such as hypertension, and family history of aneurysms. This combined knowledge may be useful for developing improved treatments for aneurysms. 

With an unshakable commitment to research, University Hospitals has solidified its status as a beacon of medical innovation in Cleveland. Its active involvement in the forefront of clinical trials, encompassing diverse therapeutic modalities, underscores its profound impact on shaping the future of healthcare and affirming its role as a vanguard of medical progress.