Neurovascular Disorders

With a strong clinical focus on acute stroke, our Neurovascular Disorders program looks at neurovascular imaging and image-guided interventions, surgical repair of intracranial aneurysms, acute therapies for ischemic stroke, and secondary prevention for ischemic stroke, carotid artery disease and cerebral venous thrombosis. We are proud of our numerous achievements, including being among the world’s Top 3 research groups on cerebral venous thrombosis and our involvement in the three largest international clinical studies on the condition.

Rationale and common goals

The focus of this program is on acute stroke.

  • Neurovascular imaging and image-guided interventions and surgical repair of intracranial aneurysms in the Neurovascular Intervention Center Amsterdam (NICA).
  • Acute therapies (intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment) for ischemic stroke.
  • Secondary prevention for ischemic stroke, carotid artery disease and cerebral venous thrombosis.

    Assets

    Combining stroke patients from both VUmc and AMC results in a unique cohort of over a thousand ischemic stroke patients per year. Very recently, two large clinical phase III trials developed by AMC PIs (Roos, Nederkoorn, Majoie) concerning acute treatment of ischemic stroke were finished and published in high-impact journals (MrClean NEJM 2014, PASS Lancet 2015).  We are among the top 3 research groups on cerebral venous thrombosis worldwide and involved in the three largest ongoing international clinical studies on cerebral venous thrombosis (PIs Stam, Coutinho). The database of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) patients contains almost six hundred prospectively and nine hundred retrospectively collected patients. The AMC is coordinating a nation-wide RCT in SAH (ULTRA; Vandertop, Verbaan). Within the VU University medical center, there is expertise on prognostic research and technology-driven rehabilitation trials (G. Kwakkel), as well as longitudinal research targeted on mechanisms that drive neurological recovery and use adaption strategies early post stroke. The Amsterdam Stroke Network will form the basis to set up new studies.

    This research program has a strong clinical focus. Basic scientists mainly contribute in advanced imaging techniques (neuroradiology) and for translational studies we work with the vascular medicine and the vascular pathology department, and with Sanquin. Further collaboration with basic science partners in AMC and VU, to unravel causes of stroke, is one of our targets in the near future.

    Making the difference

    Neurovascular research in Amsterdam has a strong track record in:

    • Designing and performing large clinical trials for the treatment of acute stroke.
    • Diagnosis and secondary prevention of stroke.
    • Unraveling causes of stroke.

    Program leaders

    Taskforce team

    Program members