Challenges and Controversies in Translational Stroke Research - an Introduction

Excerpt

Translational stroke research is at a turning point. Of countless efficacious interventions reported in animal models of stroke, few if any have proven unequivocally efficacious in clinical trials, and none has entered clinical practice since thrombolysis [1]. Despite the widened therapeutic windows for systemic and endovascular thrombolysis, more than 90 % of acute stroke victims do not benefit from therapeutic options directly limiting the ischemic injury and improving the functional outcome [2]. Therefore, the translational roadblock is still standing [3]. As we explore the reasons for failure and consider novel strategies to enhance the predictability and clinical relevance of preclinical stroke research, we must be prepared to challenge the scientific methodology and even the most fundamental concepts in stroke pathophysiology. This special edition collects papers from renowned experts in the field on topics that are likely to shape the next generation of translational stroke research. …