Role of Imaging in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Acute ischemic stroke caused by loss of normal blood supply to the brain is a leading cause of long-term disability. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, acute ischemic stroke could result in permanent paralysis or death. The effects of a stroke will be determined by the location and extent of the brain damage and time to restoration of blood supply to the affected region. Treatment options include agents (e.g., tPA, alteplase) that can dissolve clots in the bloodstream and endovascular procedures such as thrombectomy.

In routine clinical practice, an accurate evaluation and follow-up of acute ischemic stroke are conducted using diagnostic imaging. CT and MRI are routinely employed. Evaluation of novel stroke treatments and procedures as part of a clinical study requires detailed planning of all the imaging visits required to assess, treat, and follow up with patients. The imaging schedule provides an outline of the appropriateness and timing of the imaging modalities needed to assess the safety and efficacy of the treatment. Imaging-based endpoints, such as the degree of recanalization and revascularization, have been shown to have a direct correlation with clinical outcomes.

During this presentation, Dr. Mayank Goyal will provide attendees with an overview of the imaging modalities for the evaluation of acute ischemic stroke along with the timing of the imaging. Dr. Goyal will also provide his thoughts on the imaging-based endpoints that are suitable to evaluate treatment efficacy. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion between Ryan Bouchard (Vastrax) and Dr. Goyal that will further address the role of imaging in acute ischemic stroke studies.

Register for this webinar to learn about the various modalities of acute ischemic stroke imaging and how to choose the most appropriate imaging-based endpoints for trials.

Speakers

Mayank Goyal, MD, Professor of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary; Director of Imaging and Endovascular Treatment at the Calgary Stroke Program

Dr. Goyal is a Professor in the Department of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary and also the Director of Imaging and Endovascular treatment at the Calgary Stroke Program. Dr. Goyal’s passion and main research interest are acute stroke imaging, workflow, and intervention. Dr. Goyal is world-renowned for his groundbreaking work in efficiency and workflow in acute stroke intervention, including over 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

With the success of ESCAPE and SWIFT PRIME, Dr. Goyal has been an integral part of changing stroke care across the world and helping thousands of patients have a good outcome from what is an otherwise devastating disease.

He is also leading a meta-analysis (HERMES) consisting of the recent 7 positive trials published in NEJM. Dr. Goyal continues to push the boundaries of stroke research and is the Co-PI for the ESCAPE-NA1 trial (partially funded by CIHR) testing the added usefulness of neuroprotection in addition to endovascular stroke therapy and co-PI of a worldwide study of understanding variance of decision making in acute stroke (UNMASK EVT).

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Ryan Bouchard, President, Vastrax

Ryan Bouchard has been leading Vastrax since its founding in 2018. As President of the company, he provides the vision, leadership, strategy, and management to the organization with a focus on making Vastrax the partner of choice for vascular development programs.

Prior to Vastrax, Ryan spent 18 years working in the medical device and product engineering fields and led Ora’s Medical Devices division from 2010 to 2020. He has been involved in numerous MedTech regulatory approvals and product launches globally.

He earned a Master of Business Administration, General Management, at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Bates College in Maine.

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