Stroke Research
Mercy Stroke Center research
Since 1991, patients at Mercy have had the opportunity to participate in clinical research designed to advance stroke care. Many have received "investigational agents" which are new drugs under development to reduce brain damage from a stroke and improve clinical outcomes.
The Mercy Stroke Center was the first local provider to participate in national clinical trials for stroke treatment, including a major multi-center trial that studied tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA; Activase) in stroke patients. This ground-breaking research led directly to the approval of Activase by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996 for ischemic stroke patients - the first treatment available for acute ischemic stroke patients. Mercy and CHW researchers have also established a track record in determining what treatments are best for stroke prevention. Examples of successful research include the effectiveness of carotid endarterectomy surgery and the effectiveness of clopidogrel (Plavix) for the prevention of a second stroke.
Current clinical research trials at Mercy include investigating agents designed to either restore blood flow to ischemic brain tissue quickly or to provide neuroprotection. The Mercy Stroke Center also seeks to develop better therapeutics and rehabilitative measures for stroke patients. In addition, new therapeutic agents are being tested for eliminating the effects of stroke. The best treatment for stroke patients likely may require the availability of several safe and effective agents that work by different mechanisms - a combination of agents sometimes referred to as a "stroke cocktail."
