The Network

Network In September 2013, the National Institutes of Health funded the stroke trials network, NIH StrokeNet. The StrokeNet infrastructure consists of 27 regional coordinating centers across the US, a national coordinating center at the University of Cincinnati, and a national data management and statistical center (Medical University of South Carolina). The network also has a Central IRB that is located at the University of Cincinnati and is responsible for the human subjects protection. To provide additional research capacity, ADVARRA also serves as the Central IRB for other StrokeNet Trials. The central StrokeNet research pharmacy is located at the University of Cincinnati. The primary goal of this network is to maximize efficiencies to develop, promote and conduct high-quality, multi-site clinical trials focused on key interventions in stroke prevention, treatment and recovery. An additional goal of the StrokeNet is to educate future stroke investigators and researchers in stroke prevention, treatment and recovery. The educational core provides webinars focused on stroke, research methodology and professional development.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) established the National Institutes of Health (NIH) StrokeNet to facilitate the rapid initiation and efficient implementation of small and large multisite exploratory and confirmatory clinical trials focused on promising interventions for stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery, as well as validation studies of biomarkers or outcome measures. The network is open to execute high-effect trial ideas that can come from any corner of the wide stroke community. This network, which was initiated in the Fall of 2013, currently has a network of 27 regional coordinating centers and involves approximately 500 hospitals across the United States and is designed to serve as the infrastructure and pipeline for new potential treatments for patients with stroke and those at risk of stroke. The StrokeNet trials also include sites in other countries including Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, and Japan. NIH StrokeNet also provides a tremendous educational platform for stroke physicians and other healthcare professionals, particularly those individuals in training and focused on an academic career. To maximize the effect of NIH StrokeNet, it is important for the larger stroke community to know its structure and the process and timeline by which stroke trials are developed and implemented.