The University of Michigan Stroke Program has a broad research agenda from molecular biology to outcomes research. Researchers are investigating genetic syndromes that pre-dispose to stroke syndromes. Vascular biology and possible neuro-toxicities of medications used to treat stroke are also being investigated.
The group has a fundamental interest in health disparities and uses the disease stroke as a common, expensive and severe model disease to look at the impact on minority populations and women. In addition to epidemiology, behavior change clinical trials are conducted by the group to reduce the impact of disease in populations. The intersection of sleep apnea and stroke is a critically important research focus of the Stroke Group. The role of sleep apnea as an explanatory variable in health disparities is a part of this investigation.
A third focus of the research group is health care resource utilization and cost-effectiveness studies looking at the prevention, treatment and recovery from stroke. These efforts are intended to provide a scientific basis for rational health care decision making. An NINDS funded Emergency Neurology Clinical Trials Network is a prominent focus of our work. The University of Michigan is also a Regional Coordinating Center for the NINDS-funded StrokeNet.
