Six doctors from three different university medical centers, including professor of neuroradiology Charles Majoie and professor of neurology Yvo Roos of Amsterdam UMC were jointly awarded the prestigious gold Winkler medal by the Dutch Neurology Society on December 17, 2020. They receive this prize for the MR CLEAN study for endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

The professors from Maastricht UMC+, ErasmusMC and Amsterdam UMC where pioneers of the MR CLEAN study and the endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke in which a patient receives a thin catheter through an injection in the groin. The catheter is advanced into the occluded blood vessel in the brain. The blood clot is then removed from the body through the catheter.

Less damage

Patients treated with EVT have less brain damage and fever neurological complaints. Their functioning in society, like walking or getting dressed, is significantly better. A life with severe disabilities can be prevented more often than with the previous treatment. The patients only receive drugs that can dissolve the blood clot. This EVT procedure has now become the standard approach for acute ischemic stroke.

The golden Winkler Medal for neurology

Winkler Medal

It is the first time since 1950 that the prize does is not awarded to one person in specific, but to a group of people. The chairman of the jury, Prof. John Wokke, indicated that this is a unique collaboration in which all six nominees made a unique contribution to the research and bear responsibility for the whole. It is a great example of how researchers within consortia jointly find solutions for cardiovascular diseases faster and can also bring these solutions to patients faster.

MR CLEAN Trial

Read more about the MR CLEAN trial: Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands. The trial is supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation and carried out in nineteen Dutch hospitals. Erasmus MC, Amsterdam UMC and Maastricht UMC + coordinated the research.

Read more in the article: Search for optimal treatment following a stroke.