METRO-STROKE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Metabolic Predictors for Treatment Response and Outcomes in Stroke: A Study using Blood, Thrombus, and Imaging Biomarkers
IRAS ID
359277
Contact name
Ferdia Gallagher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Mechanical thrombectomy (MT), a procedure that removes blood clots from large brain arteries, is an effective treatment for certain types of strokes. However, many patients still have poor recovery even after the clot is successfully removed. This suggests we need to better understand what happens in the brain and body after treatment.
Some possible reasons for poor recovery include chemical imbalances in the brain, inflammation, and damage caused when blood flow returns to the brain (called reperfusion injury). This research aims to better understand these processes by looking at changes in the blood and the clots before and after treatment. It will also use advanced brain imaging to see how brain chemistry changes in the first few days after a stroke.
The study will collect blood and clot samples from up to 100 patients treated with MT, and brain scans from 12 of these patients. We will also study up to 100 healthy people and scan 12 of them for comparison. The samples and scans will help us track changes in inflammation and metabolism that could predict how well a patient recovers.
We believe that certain proteins related to inflammation and blood clotting will temporarily increase after the blood flow is restored, and that these changes might be linked to a patient's recovery. We’ll use detailed protein analysis to find these markers, and compare levels in the blood and the clot.
In imaging studies, we’ll use advanced MRI techniques to measure chemicals like glucose and lactate in the brain after stroke. These measurements may help predict who will recover better.
Overall, this research hopes to find new blood or imaging markers that can predict how well someone will recover from stroke. This could help doctors tailor treatments, improve rehabilitation, and potentially lead to new therapies or devices that improve outcomes for stroke patients.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0218
Date of REC Opinion
7 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion