The Stroke Research Group is a rapidly developing independent but collaborative group of researchers. Stroke research is a priority area for growth within the Institute of Clinical Neurosciences over the coming years; the group is host to an expanding portfolio of research.

The Stroke Research Group has is closely associated with the clinical stroke service at North Bristol Trust, which provides a comprehensive stroke service including interventional neuroradiology and thrombectomy, vascular surgery, neurosurgery and specialist stroke rehabilitation. The Stroke Research Group uses a range of techniques including:

• MRI (e.g. fMRI, tractography)
• Gaze tracking
• Psychophysics
• Gait tracking
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
• Cognitive testing
• “Off-the- shelf” EEG.

There is also an intention to develop further research areas and techniques, including:

• Mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of stroke
• Genetics and cognition/rehabilitation (MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit)
• MR spectroscopy
• Gait lab with visual environment modulation
• SPHERE project using technology for monitoring health in people’s homes

Current research themes and collaborations

Visual impairment in cerebrovascular disease

• Gait and balance in hemianopia and visuospatial neglect with Prof Simon Rushton and Dr Matt Dunn, University of Cardiff
• Rehabilitation of visual impairment after stroke
  • Perceptual learning and transcranial stimulation for visual rehabilitation with Dr Holly Bridge and Dr Stephanie Larcombe, University of Oxford
  • Gaze tracking during real-world tasks in cerebrovascular visual impairment with Prof Iain Gilchrist, School of Experimental Psychology, and Dr Ailie Turton, University of the West of England

Stroke imaging

• Quantitative stroke MRI, including hyperacute stroke MRI with Dr Michael Knight, University of Bristol, including a Dunhill Medical Trust grant to the group (£200k) to investigate quantitative T2 MR imaging to measure duration of ischaemia and tissue fate in hyperacute stroke, including Universities of Oxford and Glasgow
• Automated segmentation and analysis of brain images for clinical decision support with Dr Robin Holmes, University of Bristol

Cognition and cerebrovascular disease

• Large scale networks and cognition in TIA and cerebrovascular disease with Dr Nina Kazanina, School of Experimental Psychology and Dr Catherine Pennington, ReMemBr Group, University of Bristol
• Cognition in cerebrovascular disease, and links to renal disease and uro-neurology with Prof Pat Kehoe, Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol, Dr Catherine Pennington, ReMemBr Group, University of Bristol, Prof Marcus Drake, University of Bristol and Dr Albert Power, North Bristol NHS Trust

Other collaborative projects include:

• M-MARK, NIHR i4i Grant (£1M) to University of Southampton to develop a garment with internal electronics and tablet-based user interface to aid home-based upper limb rehabilitation