Monash Health neurologists Professor Thanh Phan and Professor Henry Ma have achieved a significant milestone by securing a substantial $2.25 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trial and Cohort Grant. This funding will fuel their pioneering stroke trial, which aims to answer crucial questions in stroke care. Collaborating with Melbourne Health, this ambitious project seeks to bridge critical gaps in stroke treatment strategies.
The pivotal project, named the FRONTIER AP trial, focuses on comparing two treatments for acute ischemic stroke, a condition resulting from blocked blood vessels, leading to restricted blood supply to the brain.
The current treatment for ischemic strokes caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO), when a major artery in the brain is blocked, is endovascular clot retrieval (ECR), in which interventional neuroradiologists, neurologists, or neurosurgeons use a device to remove a blood clot mechanically. This therapy has been established after multiple trials confirmed its effectiveness, including a 2015 trial in which Monash Health was involved.
The FRONTIER AP trial focuses on patients whose strokes are caused by medium vessel occlusion (MVO), which are blockages in medium blood vessels in the brain. The optimal management for ischemic strokes resulting from MVO is unclear.
“There is conflicting evidence about the best way to tackle clot obstruction in medium-sized vessel blockages, whether through clot-busting medication or mechanical extraction,” explains Professor Thanh Phan, Head of Neuroscience Research at Monash Health and FRONTIER AP trial leader. Professor Phan is also the Co-Director (Clinical Lead) of the Stroke and Aging Research Group at Monash University.
Professor Phan continues, “That’s why this trial is so crucial. We’re determined to uncover the most effective treatment strategy for these kinds of blockages.”
The trial was made possible through a highly competitive NHMRC grant totalling $2.25 million. Securing such funding is a feat, especially when only 25 out of 226 project applications were selected for support.
“This grant signifies a major milestone for our Neurology Department and holds immense potential to impact global stroke care,” remarked Professor Henry Ma, Director of the Neurology Department at Monash Health and co-leader of the FRONTIER AP trial. Henry is also a Professor at the School of Clinical Sciences, Department of Medicine at Monash University.
The trial aims to recruit a substantial sample size of 240 patients, necessitating international collaboration including participants from New Zealand, Vietnam, and China.
Beyond academic interest, the trial’s implications extend to healthcare systems and patient care pathways. Should ECR prove superior for medium blood vessel blockages, it could significantly restructure acute stroke care across Australia, impacting patient treatment protocols.
Anticipating these changes, the grant incorporates an implementation phase comprising statistical analysis, health economics assessment, operational research, and geospatial analysis. The operational research and geospatial analysis will be performed by Professors Phan and Ma together with Associate Professor Richard Beare, Academic Unit, Medicine, Peninsula Clinical School.
Additionally, engagement with stakeholders, including the Stroke Foundation and consumer networks, will provide crucial insights into the impact of the proposed changes on patient care and preferences.
As we celebrate this milestone, we anticipate the far-reaching impact of the FRONTIER AP trial on stroke care. Monash Health’s Neurology Department remains committed to advancing stroke care through rigorous research and innovative approaches, affirming its position at the forefront of neurological excellence on the national and global stage.
Approved by Angus Henderson, General Manager, Research Strategy.
