About the Stanford Stroke Center
About Us
The Stanford Stroke Center is recognized as a world leader in stroke research and treatment. The Center has consistently been one of the most prolific research groups in the United States. Stanford has pioneered major advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of stroke, neurosurgical techniques for stroke prevention, and interventional neuroradiologic procedures for stroke patients. Our center developed the RAPID stroke imaging software that has made the stroke treatment window transparent and become the worldwide standard for advanced stroke imaging. We designed and directed clinical trials that led to substantially expanding the stroke treatment window and new international guidelines for late window therapy.
Our Neurocritical Care Program has made key advances in the diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage and the prognosis of coma. An innovative TIA program facilitated a new definition of TIA and optimized diagnosis and management. Stanford neuroscientists have helped clarify the basic mechanisms of stroke-induced brain injury and have pioneered several new imaging techniques that enable identification of salvageable ischemic brain tissue many hours after symptom onset. The Stanford Stroke Center has also pioneered the development and testing of stem cell therapies for stroke recovery research.
Education of new generations of stroke specialists is the goal of the Center’s four fellowship programs that are supported by a symbiotic relationship with the Stanford University School of Medicine. The Stroke Center’s fellowships in Vascular Neurology, Vascular Neurosurgery, Interventional Vascular Neuroradiology and Neurocritical Care have trained nearly 100 stroke experts; the majority of these individual have gone on to become national leaders in stroke research and education.
The Stanford Stroke Center was one of the first comprehensive facilities to employ a fully integrated multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat stroke and was the first program in the country to be certified by the Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. The current full-time faculty include 10 board certified vascular neurologists (four with dual certification in neurocritical care and one who runs an NIH funded translational research laboratory), three vascular neurosurgeons, five interventional neuroradiologists and a pediatric stroke neurologist. The center has an active tele-stroke program that provides expert stroke assessment to multiple hospitals in Northern and Central California as well as a young stroke program. In addition, numerous Stanford neuroscientists, neuro-rehabilitation specialists and neuroimaging experts actively collaborate with the Stroke Center’s clinical faculty. Many new stroke treatment and imaging approaches, which were conceived in Stanford laboratories, have transitioned into clinical trials.
However, despite these accomplishments, stroke continues to be a leading cause of death and the most common cause of adult disability. Approximately, 800,000 strokes occur in the United States each year; as our population ages, it is estimated that the number of strokes will increase substantially over the next decade. As we approach the 30-year anniversary of the founding of the Stroke Center, we are seeing new breakthroughs in stroke therapy occurring every year. Our clinical, educational, and research programs are all thriving and we greatly appreciate the tremendous support the Center has received from our community.
Gregory W. Albers, MD
Director, Stanford Stroke Center
Coyote Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Stanford University Medical Center