EAST-STROKE Europe Partner

The EAST-STROKE consortium brings together leading European partners from medical science, healthcare, social sciences, and humanities, as well as patient representatives. Our experts have been carefully selected based on their outstanding scientific expertise in clinical stroke trials, their leadership in clinical research, their organizational experience, and their proficiency in communication and dissemination of scientific knowledge, as well as their role in representing key stakeholder interests. Together, we are setting new standards in stroke research.

© University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

UKE is one of Europe´s most modern clinics with about 14,900 employees and plays a leading role in stroke treatment and research in Germany. The Department of Neurology runs a stroke-unit with 16 beds.

UKE is one of Europe´s most modern clinics with about 14,900 employees and plays a leading role in stroke treatment and research in Germany. The Department of Neurology runs a stroke-unit with 16 beds, and together with the Departments of Neuroradiology and Neurosurgery takes care of patients with cerebrovascular disease at the highest level. A stroke trial team is available to include patients in clinical trials 24/7. We have long-standing track-record in participating in trials of acute stroke treatment as well as stroke rehabilitation and prevention. We have also experience in coordinating large investigator-initiated trials of stroke treatment, such as WAKE-UP and TENSION. The Department of Cardiology offers the entire range of non-invasive and invasive diagnostics and therapeutic treatments in cardiology. Our cardiology team has long-standing experience in coordination of clinical trials of atrial fibrillation, including EAST-AFNET 4 and NOAH-AFNET 6.

© University Medical Center Utrecht

University Medical Center Utrecht

UMC Utrecht is a university medical center dedicated to healthcare, research, and education. With more than 12,000 employees, it is one of the largest public healthcare institutions in the Netherlands. The Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery runs a stroke unit of 26 beds.

The Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of UMC Utrecht is a tertiary referral center for patients with cerebrovascular disease, including acute stroke, cerebral small vessel disease, unruptured intracranial vascular malformations, moyamoya vasculopathy, and cerebral vasculitis. The department has a stroke unit of 26 beds, and all relevant neurosurgical and radiological intervention facilities are available.

With regard to research, one of the department’s missions is to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cerebrovascular disease through integration of basic, translational, genetic, clinical and epidemiological studies with state-of-the-art methods. The department has (co-)led a range of national or international multicenter stroke trials, including HAMLET, VAST, APACHE-AF, MR ASAP, PRECIOUS, and B-STARS2, and has participated in many other randomized trials. The cardiology team of UMC Utrecht also has long-standing experience with randomized trials.

  • Dr. H. Bart van der Worp, neurologist, National Coordinator
  • Dr. Peter Loh, cardiologist, National Coordinator
  • Berber Zweedijk, National trial coordinator
  • Contact
© Vall d‘Hebron Hospital

Vall d’Hebron Barcelona

Our institution is dedicated in research, education, and innovation in the field of healthcare. The Stroke Unit provides comprehensive and high-quality care to patients who have suffered a stroke, based on innovation, continuous improvement in care quality, and clinical management.

Our institution is dedicated in research, education, and innovation in the field of healthcare. The Stroke Unit provides comprehensive and high-quality care to patients who have suffered a stroke, based on innovation, continuous improvement in care quality, and clinical management. Through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, we ensure advanced care based on the best available scientific evidence, guaranteeing better outcomes for patients.

The Stroke Research Group has developed a strong record of accomplishment in researching and developing innovative solutions for stroke management. Its commitment to excellence has established it as an international leader in managing and coordinating multicenter clinical trials, as well as developing new medical technologies. Among its achievements are the design of innovative thrombectomy devices and the implementation of digital platforms to optimize patient diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, significantly contributing to the evolution of medicine in this field.

Additionally, the group has established strategic alliances with public and private entities, ensuring the feasibility and scalability of its research projects. Its multidisciplinary team works together to effectively transfer knowledge and complement clinical research processes. The integration of diverse disciplines strengthens its ability to generate a global health impact and advance the understanding of stroke, positioning the institution as a benchmark in medical care, research, and innovation.

© Hamburg Center for Health Economics

Hamburg Center for Health Economics / University of Hamburg

As a joint center of the University of Hamburg (UHAM) and the University Medical Center Eppendorf (UKE), the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) integrates economic and social science, competencies as well as comprehensive medical expertise.

As a joint center of the University of Hamburg (UHAM) and the University Medical Center Eppendorf (UKE), the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) integrates economic and social science, competencies as well as comprehensive medical expertise. A unique feature of the center is its highly interdisciplinary set-up, a result of the integration of physicians and economists. More that 90 scientists from three faculties (Medicine, Business Administration as well as Business, Economics and Social Sciences) research jointly on solutions on health care problems today and in the future. The interdisciplinary approach provides great opportunities for excellent research in the field of health economics. In addition, the HCHE uses the comprehensive methodological expertise of its members to create evidence on scientific questions in the field of health economics and to combine scientific requirements and practical implications for politics and decision makers.

© SAFE

Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE)

SAFE is a non-profit-making organisation that represents patient stroke support organisations (SSOs) across Europe. Established in Brussels in 2004 to bring together the collective voice of stroke, we have grown to 36 members from 30 countries.

SAFE is a non-profit-making organisation that represents patient stroke support organisations (SSOs) across Europe. Established in Brussels in 2004 to bring together the collective voice of stroke, we have grown to 36 members from 30 countries.

Together we are the voice of over nine million stroke survivors in Europe. We are the only umbrella organisation in Europe empowering SSOs to reduce the scale and impact of stroke. In addition, on behalf of our members, we aim to be a leading organisation in the development of stroke policy and advocacy at a European level. We will do this by being active across the whole stroke care pathway facilitating awareness, campaigns, advocacy, education and research.

We launched our new strategy in 2024 which set out our vision of a Europe where preventable stroke is eliminated, death and disability is minimised, and every person affected by stroke lives their best life possible. We will do this by bringing together and empowering SSOs to deliver campaigns, advocacy, education, research and awareness raising.

  • Anna Scott, Communications and Engagement Manager
© ICHOM

International Consortium of Health Outcomes Measurement

At ICHOM, our mission is to unlock the potential of value-based healthcare by defining what matters most to patients and encouraging the adoption and reporting of these measures worldwide to make life better for all.

At ICHOM, our mission is to unlock the potential of value-based healthcare by defining what matters most to patients and encouraging the adoption and reporting of these measures worldwide to make life better for all. This will lead to informed decision making, quality improvement and reduced costs within health care systems.

ICHOM Sets: Defining outcomes that matter most to patients

To date, we have published 46 ICHOM Sets covering different conditions and for specific patient populations.

By creating a standardized list of the outcomes based on the patient’s priorities along with instruments and time points for measurement, we can ensure the patient remains at the centre of their care. For valid comparison, we know the importance of risk adjustment, so we also standardize these case mix variables.

When developing a Set, we bring together a multidisciplinary group of patient representatives, leading physicians and registry leaders to prioritize a core set of outcomes, which take into consideration outcomes from different treatments. Through the implementation of these Sets, you can begin to measure, analyze and improve outcomes achieved in the delivery of care. We are continually reviewing our published Sets.

© Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET)

Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET)

AFNET is a scientific research network comprising scientists and physicians from hospitals and practices in Germany and internationally with the aim to improve the treatment and care of patients with cardiovascular diseases through coordinated research.

AFNET (Atrial Fibrillation NETwork) was founded in 2003 as a research network initially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education. The organisation has developed into an internationally active academic research organisation dedicated to translational cardiovascular research and evaluating new therapies with a focus on atrial fibrillation. AFNET takes over sponsorship roles for international clinical trials, participates in research consortia (e.g. EU-funded projects) und provides project management support for clinical trials conducted by
other scientific sponsors.
AFNET has successfully completed 9 clinical trials (e.g. EAST-AFNET 4, NOAH-AFNET 6), 11 registries and more than 10 translational research projects. Scientific results and communication of AFNET publications have resulted in several guideline adaptions. AFNET also coordinates a series of consensus conferences with the European Heart Rhythm Association. The proceedings of these meetings are published in consensus papers.

© University Hospital Bern

University Hospital Bern, Inselspital

Inselspital, Bern University Hospital is part of the Insel Group, one of Switzerland’s leading hospital groups for university and integrated medicine. With around 11,000 employees, it offers people comprehensive healthcare through pioneering quality, research, innovation and education.

Inselspital, Bern University Hospital is part of the Insel Group, one of Switzerland’s leading hospital groups for university and integrated medicine. With around 11,000 employees, it offers people comprehensive healthcare through pioneering quality, research, innovation and education. The University Department of Neurology at Inselspital is the largest neurology clinic in Switzerland. From emergency to rehabilitation, it provides integrated care for people with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, neuromuscular transmission and muscles. The University Clinic for Cardiology at Inselspital is the leading center in Switzerland for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. With over 500 employees, it is one of the largest institutions in this field and offers the entire spectrum of cardiac examination and treatment techniques, including the latest innovative procedures.