Neurology - Research - Department of Medicine

The Division of Neurology is committed to providing the best neurology by supporting and advancing research. The division is very research-intensive, particularly in stroke and cognition. Research is incorporated and an important activity in our postgraduate and fellowship programs.

NAVIGATE ESUS was a global trial led by our stroke group at PHRI that tested a factor Xa inhibitor in patients with embolic stroke of an undetermined source.

COMPASS-MIND was an MRI imaging sub-study of the COMPASS trial that evaluated the incidence of clinically silent brain ischemia. AXIOMATIC-SSP is a global phase 2 randomized trial of a novel factor XIa inhibitor for the prevention of recurrent stroke in patients after stroke or TIA.

ENRICH-AF is evaluating the use of a DOAC in high-risk atrial fibrillation patients with previous intracranial hemorrhage.

McMaster-initiated hemorrhagic stroke studies include NASPAF-ICH, CoHESIVE, and SATURN, among others. The stroke group collaborates on many national and international stroke studies.

The MS program contributes to the Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Working Group recommendations. We contribute and work with the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI) in ALS and Dementia. The ALS program is involved in a number of therapeutic drug trials and continues basic research in understanding the biology of ALS. European collaborations are investigating the development of automated methods for EEG seizure detection and the utility of slow-wave activity in EEG in patients with low-grade glioma.

Neurology residents have been very successful in research projects that include, identifying the utility of echocardiography in patients with stroke, investigating the cognitive function of patients with COPD, testing perineural hydrodissection for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, and developing acute ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke registries.

Further details on ongoing and completed research projects on Stroke & Cognition can be accessed on the Population Health Research Institute website.