Stroke & Advanced Clinical Research Methodology

Short description

Our group investigates how acute stroke treatment and secondary prevention can be made safer, more effective and more individualized. Our research spans acute reperfusion therapies, stroke in anticoagulated patients, advanced neuroimaging, covert cerebrovascular disease, and prevention of recurrent stroke. Using prospective cohorts, randomized trials, international registries, causal inference, and advanced imaging as well as innovative research methods – including diagnostic and prognostic concepts – we aim to translate clinical data into evidence that directly improves care.

Research focus

• Ischemic Stroke, Covert cerebrovascular disease,  Anticoagulation, Heart-Brain, Advanced clinical research methodology

Ongoing Projects

• DO-IT - Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Direct Oral Anticoagulants Intake (DO-IT RCT) 
• Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Recent Ingestion of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DO-IT Cohort Study)
• Incidence of Silent Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Clinically Silent Brain Ischemic Lesions (SILENT2)

Key publications

• Meinel T. R. et al., Prior Anticoagulation in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation 10.1002/ana.25917

•  Meinel T. R. et al., Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Recent Ingestion of Direct Oral Anticoagulants | Emergency Medicine | JAMA Neurology | JAMA Network 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4782

• Meinel T. R. et al., Mechanical thrombectomy for basilar artery occlusion: efficacy, outcomes, and futile recanalization in comparison with the anterior circulation | Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 10.1136/neurintsurg-2018-014516

• Meinel T. R. et al., Multivariable Prediction Model for Futile Recanalization Therapies in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke | Neurology 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200815

• Meinel T. R. et al., Covert Brain Infarction: Towards Precision Medicine in Research, Diagnosis, and Therapy for a Silent Pandemic 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.030686

Sources of Funding

• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF/SNSF)
• Swiss Heart Foundation (SHF)
• SAMW/Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Stiftung
• University of Bern
• Department of Neurology
• Helmut Horten Foundation
• Baasch-Medicus Stiftung Zürich
• British Heart Foundation (BHF)
• Dutch Heart Foundation (DHF)
• Boehringer Ingelheim (BI)
• Deutsche Forschungsgemeintschaft (DFG)
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Programme hospitalier de recherche clinique national (PHRC-N)