2024 International Stroke Conference: Impacting the Direction of Stroke Care

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine neurologists presented leading-edge stroke research, moderated key sessions and gave competitively selected oral presentations at the prestigious 2024 International Stroke Conference (ISC).

“The American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference is the largest global meeting in the stroke world,” said Jose Romano, M.D., professor and interim chair of neurology and chief of the Stroke Division at the Miller School. “As the largest group of stroke specialists in Florida, the Miller School has always played a significant role at this premier gathering, and 2024 was no exception.”

Dr. Romano, who chairs the Scientific Statement Oversight Committee for the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association, moderated a session focused on stroke scientific statements and guidelines. One of the conference highlights was the release and review of new subarachnoid hemorrhage guidelines and new scientific statements for stroke care, which clinicians use to guide evidence-based care.

Sharing the Florida Stroke Registry Experience

Dr. Romano is executive director of the Miller School-founded Florida Stroke Registry. Miller School faculty presented UM’s findings with the Florida Stroke Registry as a model of what a statewide stroke system of care should be.

“Today, the Miller School manages and maintains the Florida Stroke Registry, which is supported by the State Department of Health and is charged with supporting the improvement of stroke care throughout Florida, decreasing disparities and gaps in stroke care and enhancing synergy across all stroke systems of care,” Dr. Romano said.

Negar Asdaghi, M.D., associate professor of neurology and a former Miller School fellow, and Aaron Shoskes, D.O., from the University of Utah, presented “Temporal Trends in Vascular Risk Factor Burden Among Young Adults with Ischemic Stroke: The Florida Stroke Registry.”  

“This study explores the rising prevalence of traditional vascular risk factors amongst young patients who have suffered a stroke,” said Dr. Asdaghi, the study’s senior author. “Data from this study shows an alarming rise in the prevalence of preventable risk factors such as hypertension and obesity, specifically among young, male African Americans.”

Additional Miller School conference presentations:

• Miller School physical therapy clinical researcher Lauri Bishop, Ph.D., P.T., D.P.T, presented the poster, “Race and Ethnic Differences in Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery Post-Stroke Within the Florida Stroke Registry: Transitions of Care.”
• “The Impact of Pre-Morbid Antidepressant Exposure on the Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: The Florida Stroke Registry,” research led by former Miller School fellow Faddi Saleh Velez, M.D., was featured as a moderated poster session.
• Miller School medical student Hayes Fountain presented the poster, “Effect of SARS-CoV2 Infection on Endovascular Thrombectomy Outcomes: Data From the Florida Stroke Registry.”

Expansive Topics in Stroke Research

Representatives of the Miller School neuro-interventional group, neuro-critical care team, vascular neurosurgery team and basic scientists also presented at ISC, underscoring the school’s team science approach.

“This is not an individual sport,” Dr. Romano said. “It’s a team effort to deliver good stroke care and move the needle forward on research.”

Dileep Yavagal, M.D., professor and chief of interventional neurology and professor of neurosurgery at the Miller School, showcased the global initiative he founded, Mission Thrombectomy, including the organization’s consultant status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Mission Thrombectomy has expanded to include more than 90 countries and published the first white paper for policymakers on building regional stroke thrombectomy systems.

“ISC was an important meeting for raising awareness about Mission Thrombectomy’s impact, achievements, reach and goals,” said Dr. Yavagal.

Dr. Yavagal also presented about elevated nursing roles and stroke care coalition building at ISC. He spoke at two invited symposiums, presenting “Thrombectomy: Global Initiative with Indian Perspective” as well as “A Tough Cell: The Promise of Replacement Therapy.” He was among the faculty at a roundtable luncheon for trainees and early career members discussing large animal and emerging stroke models for translational research.

Victor Del Brutto, M.D., assistant professor in the Stroke Division at the Miller School, presented the poster, “Time Trends and Determinants of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Prescription After Acute Moderate-to-Severe Non-Cardioembolic Ischemic Stroke.”

“We evaluated patterns and temporal trends of dual anti-platelet therapies (DAPT) in patients with moderate to severe stroke,” Dr. Asdaghi, the study author, said. “This study shows that one in three patients with moderate-to-severe non-cardioembolic acute ischemic stroke receive DAPT in routine practice. Over the past decade, DAPT prescription has nearly doubled in this population.”

More from Miller School Stroke Experts

• Nicole Sur, M.D., assistant professor in the Stroke Division, was an invited speaker during the “Charting the Course for Stroke and Brain Health” session, presenting “Sleep for Stroke Prevention: Where to Go Next.”
• Ami Raval, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., research associate professor of neurology, presented “Stroke Prevalence and Care: Relevance of Gender, Socioeconomic Status and Environment” during the meeting’s basic and translational science networking luncheon.
• Kunjan Dave, Ph.D., research professor of neurology, presented the moderated poster, “Exposure to Single or Recurrent Hypoglycemia Increases Stroke Risk in Insulin-Treated Female Diabetic Rats.”
• Miller School Ph.D. student Shahil Patel gave an oral presentation, “Sex Difference in Brain Energy Metabolism After Electronic Cigarette Vape Exposure May Contribute to Worsened Stroke Injury in Rats.”
• Gillian Gordon Perue, M.D., assistant professor of clinical neurology and director of the Stroke Program at Jackson South Medical Center, debated during the presentation, “We Should Not Offer EVT to Patients with Moderate Pre-Morbid Dementia.”
• Roshni Thakkar, Ph.D., research assistant professor of neurology, moderated the “Update on Neuroprotection the Thrombectomy Era Including the Prehospital Phase” invited symposium.

The Miller School’s ISC role reflects the pivotal part the Miller School plays in stroke care worldwide, according to Tatjana Rundek, M.D., Ph.D., Miller School professor of neurology, founding member of the Florida Stroke Registry executive committee and an author of several studies presented at ISC.

“We do timely, impactful research, train the next generation of neurology specialists, and have a seat at the table in determining best practices for stroke care,” said Dr. Rundek, also executive vice chair of research and faculty affairs, neurology, at the Miller School.

Tags: Dr. Dileep Yavagal, Dr. Jose Romano, Dr. Negar Asdaghi, Dr. Tatjana Rundek, stroke, stroke care guidelines