Project Summary
The University of Iowa (UIowa) is poised to advance the field of cerebroprotection in patients with acute
ischemic stroke by remaining as a site for the NIH Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN)’s
translational research infrastructure to efficiently conduct rigorous and innovative comparative studies of
cerebroprotection in the context of reperfusion. UIowa-SPAN has consistently followed a rigorous, clinical
trial-like approach to avoid the methodological mistakes of past cerebroprotection research. Specifically, we
use randomization, blinded intervention, independent outcome adjudications, and intention-to-treat analyses
to interpret and report our animal studies. We also address the effect of sex and comorbidities to increase
the translational value of our research. UIowa-SPAN brings together a team of basic and translational
scientists that integrates technical expertise with logistics. This has resulted in the top performance during
the first iteration of SPAN, consistently leading the enrollment efficiency of the network while producing the
highest quality data based on the metrics. We aim to maintain or exceed this performance if selected as a
site in the new iteration of the network. Notably, the goals of UIowa-SPAN are aligned with those of UIowa’s
regional coordinating center for StrokeNet, a NIH clinical trial network with the mission of identifying and
testing promising stroke therapies. We are also proposing innovations to multiple aspects of the SPAN,
including minimizing overall data variability, technical improvements in the embolic clot rodent model, and
improvements to the internal validity of the current outcome measures, using artificial intelligence to
interpret corner tests and alternative computation methods for the grid walk test. Our goal is to rigorously
and efficiently identify which cerebroprotective interventions are likely to succeed in clinical trials in order to
improve the outcomes of the 800,000 Americans who suffer a stroke and are currently treated with
reperfusion strategies that have limited effectiveness.
