An inaugural event, held both in-person and virtually at TIRR Memorial Hermann on World Stroke Day (October 29, 2024), focused on expert opinion and groundbreaking research in order to showcase the developments that have been made in the care of patients affected by stroke—and to highlight what still needs to be done to improve care for those with this common, devastating condition.
Titled “Reimagining Stroke Rehabilitation: Uniting Research, Innovation and Education for Recovery,” the daylong seminar hosted a suite of internationally recognized expert speakers, including several from TIRR Memorial Hermann.
“We are thrilled to successfully bring this to fruition,” says Farhaan S. Vahidy, PhD, MBBS, the associate vice president of research and chief scientific officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann. “The event was very timely.”
According to Dr. Vahidy, focusing efforts on studying stroke and improving care for stroke patients have never been more important. “If we look at the epidemiology of stroke, it is quite concerning,” he notes. “There was a point in time when stroke mortality was declining, but some of the most recent data suggests that stroke mortality has plateaued and may in fact be increasing. Because of this, preventing strokes, stopping strokes and providing the best possible rehabilitation is very important.”
The rise in incidence of stroke is particularly concerning because studies have shown it is not simply tied to an aging population.
In addition, research continues to demonstrate that stroke is a disease of disparities. Globally, the highest burden of stroke is carried by low- to middle-income countries. And at the national level, multiple disparities in stroke incidence and outcomes continue to complicate its prevention, treatment and recovery.
“All of this makes the fight against stroke very relevant,” Dr. Vahidy says. “This is the motivation behind continuing to address stroke, bringing forward the latest research and developments in innovative care and creating an environment for education and learning.”
The conference at TIRR Memorial Hermann aimed to elucidate the latest research for rehabilitation and recovery paradigms for those with long-lasting effects of stroke. Dr. Vahidy, who recently returned from the 2024 World Stroke Congress in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, presented TIRR Memorial Hermann’s vision of—and the strengths associated with—a learning health care system. Sheng Li, MD, PhD, the health system’s director of Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation research, who organized the conference with Dr. Vahidy, spoke on the recent advances in diagnostics and management of stroke. Gert Kwakkel, PhD, a professor of neurorehabilitation at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, discussed the importance of how different phenotypes drive the need for highly individualized stroke rehabilitation care. Wayne Feng, MD, the chief of the Division of Stroke and Vascular Neurology, medical director of the Duke Comprehensive Stroke Center and tenured professor of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., discussed his role as principal investigator of a large clinical trial exploring transcranial direct stimulation for stroke recovery. Finally, Preeti Raghavan, MD, the director of the Center of Excellence in Stroke Treatment, Recovery and Rehabilitation at the Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Md., demonstrated the power of big data and importance of a Learning Health System and also focused on redesigning care based on individual stroke patient phenotypes.
Other guest speakers included Alan Plan, MS, PhD (candidate); Thomas Potter, PhD; Abdulaziz Bako, PhD; and Tatiana Schnur, PhD.
“A lot of focus has been given— and duly so—on acute stroke treatments,” Dr. Vahidy notes. “Over the past several decades, tremendous strides have been made in advancing acute treatment for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, with numerous trials driving improvements in emergency and acute care. However, when we turn our attention to rehabilitation, the progress has been starkly disproportionate. This is significant because rehabilitation stands as the single most effective intervention in facilitating meaningful recovery for stroke survivors. What makes rehab even more remarkable is its versatility—it can seamlessly integrate with any acute stroke treatment, enhancing outcomes across the spectrum of care.”
He continues, “Our vision is clear: Every stroke patient, without exception, deserves access to a rehabilitation program that is tailored to their unique needs and potential. At TIRR Memorial Hermann, we pride ourselves on being leaders in this domain. With approximately one-third of our patient population being stroke survivors, we deliver not only exceptional rehabilitative care but also innovative treatment modalities that push the boundaries of recovery. Through cutting-edge research and a commitment to excellence, we strive to redefine what’s possible in stroke rehabilitation and recovery.”
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For the 35th consecutive year, TIRR Memorial Hermann is recognized as the best rehabilitation hospital in Texas and No. 2 in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report's "Best Rehabilitation Hospitals" in America.
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