World Stroke Day 2023

The Florey’s impact on stroke Research addressing the greatest challenges

Challenge Stroke is often misdiagnosed in people aged 18 to 45. Young stroke survivors say health services do not always cater to their needs.

Florey response The Young Stroke Service will create a new model of care that supports young people once they leave hospital with their recovery and life goals.

Florey response An important element of the service includes research to better understand why young people have stroke and how to prevent further stroke.

“The health system we have for people who have experienced stroke is geared towards older people, leaving younger people and their needs behind. Young people tell us that leaving hospital feels like ‘being dropped from a plane without a parachute’ – we aim to change that experience.”

Professor Julie Bernhardt

Challenge Stroke rehabilitation environments are critical spaces for stroke recovery but have previously received very little attention in their design. There is a lack of evidence-based design in stroke rehabilitation environments.

Florey response The NOVELL Redesign project (Neuroscience Optimised Virtual Environment Living Lab) works closely with stroke survivors, academic and industry to transform stroke rehabilitation and optimise outcomes for patients, visitors and staff.

“We hope our ‘living lab’ framework will serve as a model design process in healthcare whether retrofitting existing spaces or building new facilities.”

Professor Julie Bernhardt

Challenge There are still many challenges for people who experience stroke when working through the healthcare system. Key challenges are variable access to best practice care in hospital and inequities based on geographical location.

Florey response The Florey is introducing Australia’s first national advanced digital stroke registry, ensuring that people receive quality care in hospitals throughout Australia.

“This system will provide dynamic clinical insights to improve stroke care and outcomes and will establish solutions for more efficient, tailored, and timely data capture. Importantly, these digital health advances will inform the field for other registry programs.”

Professor Dominique Cadilhac

Challenge Limited treatment options exist for people who experience serious, lifelong effects from strokes. While current medications prevent the occurrence of a further stroke, they do not target ongoing impairments post stroke.

Florey response Professor Vincent Thijs is leading a novel trial for stroke treatment by repurposing and evaluating a commonly used drug Etanercept. The trial will unearth whether the drug is a truly viable option.

“Like the best scientific investigations, we are conducting this trial with an open mind. Regardless of the result, we want to learn more and share insights gained through this trial with the scientific community to continue striving for improved treatment options and hope for people who’ve experienced stroke.”

Professor Vincent Thijs

Challenge Solving uncertainty about the best rehabilitation approach to optimise recovery early after a stroke.

Florey response Our Florey team have been leaders in early stroke rehabilitation research for many years. They now lead an international clinical trial across 7 countries that aims to identify the optimal intervention to promote recovery of mobility and better outcomes that starts within 48 hour of stroke onset.

Florey response One of a handful of rehabilitation trials spanning multiple countries, the ultimate ambition of the AVERT DOSE investigator group is to provide safe, effective clinical protocols that can be used across the globe to give the best rehabilitation start for people post stroke.

“Global trials like this one are challenging, but if we can show that the interventions work in both high and lowincome settings, they can be applied broadly, with potentially huge impact.

That’s our goal.”

Professor Julie Bernhardt