The purpose of a University of Michigan Regional Coordinating Stroke Center (UM RCC) is to continue to participate fully in the NIH StrokeNet clinical trials network through clinical trial development, enrollment, and implementation, and the training of early stage investigators in stroke research. The University of Michigan has a long track record of clinical science excellence, expertise in clinical stroke management, excellence in creating stroke systems of care, expertise in stroke clinical trial design and implementation, and a proven ability to recruit subjects. The UM RCC includes affiliate spokes in a geographically focused region with which UM has a history of collaboration, and provides access to a large and diverse stroke patient population. UM has tremendous infrastructure for the conduct of clinical trials including a CTSA-funded Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, and Clinical Trial Support Units, both of which directly benefit the UM RCC. Moreover, the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Neurology at UM are fully supportive of the continuation of a UM RCC. The applicants are part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team of investigators who are experienced in stroke clinical trials and enthusiastic to continue working collaboratively on Network trials and offer enrollment to all eligible patients. Also included are world-class experts in stroke basic science who can continue to contribute to the leadership and training within a UM RCC and the overall network. The UM RCC has proposed and will continue to propose trials for conduct in the Network. One UM RCC proposed clinical trial has been approved for funding. The University of Michigan is already home to the NINDS-funded Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) National Clinical Coordinating Center (PI: Barsan) and its prior incarnation, the Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials (NETT), and thus has tremendous experience with the design and conduct of clinical trials within networks. Equally as important to the successful conduct of clinical trials within a UM RCC, the UM Stroke Program has a proven track record for developing academic clinical researchers in stroke, as this is the primary mission of its fellowship program. Unique resources are available at UM for formal didactic training in clinical research through its nationally recognized School of Public Health and its Clinician Scholars Program. Trainees within a UM RCC also benefit tremendously from the mentorship of a highly integrated multidisciplinary faculty with significant expertise in stroke clinical trials and clinical stroke research. The initial years of the UM RCC have proven its success in clinical trial enrollment, early investigator training, multi-level network engagement, and clinical trial proposal development.
The University of Michigan (UM) proposes the continuation of a UM Regional Coordinating Stroke Center (RCC) to participate fully in StrokeNet. The RCC will facilitate enrollment in stroke clinical trials within the University of Michigan and at affiliate sites. The RCC will also train early stage investigators in stroke-related research and promote their career development, and will continue to propose stroke clinical trials.
