BRNO STROKE MEETING 2019
BRNO STROKE MEETING 2019: the combination of expertise, capacities and technologies of Brno research institutes forms a unique platform for stroke research
For the sixth time, the annual BRNO STROKE MEETING was held. The International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno (FNUSA-ICRC) and representatives of partner organizations and companies involved in joint research projects in the field of stroke.
In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, fifty participants were acquainted with the results of the FNUSA-ICRC Stroke Research Program led by Professor Robert Mikulík. It is worth mentioning that the Stroke team received roughly 15 million CZK from grants and contracted research this year, or the success of the launch of the international project IRENE COST Action (Implementation Research Network in Stroke Quality). This project brings together over sixty experts from 30 European countries and Professor Robert Mikulík was elected as its chairman. .
Teams from other Brno institutions, namely the Veterinary Research Institute, Institute of Biophysics of the CAS, the Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS, the Loschmidt Laboratories of the Masaryk University and the St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Pharmacy at University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno and BioVendor and out of Brno institutions, colleagues from the Institute of Biotechnology CAS – BIOCEV Center from Vestec near Prague, contribute significantly to the joint results. Representatives of all mentioned institutions at the meeting discussed not only the results for 2019, but mainly the vision of further cooperation.
Future of stroke research in Brno
In Brno over the last few years, one of the most powerful research facilities for stroke research in the world has been created by bringing together experts from various fields of science such as clinical research, biophysics, veterinary experiments, biomedical engineering or protein engineering, academic, clinical and industrial.
“Our team and our scientific colleagues from partner institutions and companies count on even closer cooperation in stroke research in the coming years, and we would like to strengthen the joint promotion of our results under the “STROKE BRNO” brand and joint preparation of other projects and grants,“ summarized Prof. Mikulík the joint plans.
In the preparatory phase is for example a joint grant with prof. Kim Dong-Eog of Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea, who visited Brno institutions this September. The forthcoming grant would allow joint research into new diagnostic methods based on better imaging of cerebral infarction. It is also planned to develop several mobile applications that should facilitate the measurement and improvement of stroke care, but also communication between stroke center doctors.
The National Research Stroke Network will be operational by 2020
A great potential for stroke research will be brought by a new project led by Professor Robert Mikulík, whose aim is to create a research network of stroke centers in the Czech Republic. This will allow the emergence of new methods or means of treating stroke by conducting joint academic clinical studies. The National Research Stroke Network project, under the auspices of Czecrin Research Infrastructure, will be launched from the New Year in cooperation with the Cerebrovascular Section of the Czech Neurological Society of ČLS JEP.
The Woman of the Year 2019 award for a young patient who spreads awareness
During the meeting, the FNUSA-ICRC StrokeTeam and the HOBIT Educational Project praised Miss Karolína Vařáková, a former patient of the 1st Neurological Clinic of FNUSA, who had a stroke at the age of 21 and now devotes herself to education about stroke among young people. She joined the HOBIT project and participates in its activities in schools and for the general public. Karolína leads discussions for elementary school pupils, gave her story in an educational film and works with volunteers who have applied for the Ambassador Program HOBIT. He deserves our admiration and great thanks for his motivating approach. And as she says about her activity: “Even if it only helped one person save their lives, it’s worth it.”
Best Poster Award for the HOBIT Project
Research projects in the field of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of stroke and cerebral aneurysms were presented during the meeting through 23 scientific posters of representatives of FNUSA-ICRC and other Brno research institutions. The Best Poster Award went to the HOBIT project team led by Ing. Hana Maršálková (Pokornou), who is the co-author of the whole project and has been dedicated to its development and implementation for 9 years. The HOBIT project (www.projekthobit.cz) is dedicated to educating pupils and the public about the symptoms of stroke and how to help with it.
“This year we managed to exceed the target of 10,000 trained pupils at more than a hundred primary schools and multi-year grammar schools in the Czech Republic. By looking for new tools and testing them in the field, our project is showing increasingly better results, ie better short- and long-term retention of stroke in pupils who have completed the curriculum, ”explained Hana Maršálková, Project Manager of HOBIT Project.
Veronika Svobodová, Stroke Research Team FNUSA-ICRC
