Highlights from Stroke 2018

In the lead-up to the World Stroke Congress kicking off on Wednesday in Montreal, we look back at the Stroke 2018 conference held this August in Sydney. Run by Smart Strokes and the Stroke Society of Australasia, the conference brought together 900 of Australia's brightest minds in stroke.

We spoke to three researchers who attended about the highlights of the conference.

Katherine Sewell

Katherine is a PhD student in the Neurorehabilitation and Recovery group. She won best poster for ‘Pre-existing comorbidities are independently associated with recovery outcomes within the first-year post stroke’.

Stroke 2018 was the first conference that I have attended as a PhD student. After attending, I felt inspired and motivated to plunge further into my stroke research regarding stroke recovery outcomes and the effect of post-stroke depression on functional outcomes.

It was fascinating to glimpse into current stroke research and how it informs clinical practice outside of Australia, particularly in the United Kingdom and Canada. Further, I am interested in the implementation and outcomes of the HOME rehabilitation clinical trial, as presented by Natasha Lannin. This trial seeks to determine the effectiveness of pre-discharge home visits and is the largest clinical trial of its kind. This trial, amongst other promising research projects and advances presented at the conference, was of great interest and I look forward to hearing how they progress and influence practice and outcomes for stroke patients.

It is difficult to select only one favourite speaker. Keynote speakers Avril Drummond and Janice Eng set the standard very high with interesting and engaging presentations. Natasha Lannin, stepping in last-minute to present a key note address, was an inspiration. Lastly, bias aside, I am continuously impressed by the work and natural presentation styles of Leeanne Carey, Brendon Haslam and Liana Cahill from the Florey.

Brendon Haslam,

Brendon is a PhD student in the Neurorehabilitation and Recovery group, looking at chronic pain after stroke.

I’ve been to a few conferences and was lucky enough to present at this one. It’s a great opportunity for learning and meeting other people. I think the area of pain has been neglected in stroke, so it was really pleasing that a number of people came forward to ask questions after my presentation. Establishing collaborations both within Australia and worldwide gives us opportunities to look outside of Australia and outside of our own institution. International collaboration from conferences like this allows us to think bigger and open up doors.

The personal highlight for team was when Katherine Sewell won best poster as part of her PhD. I was also inspired by Avril Drummond’s plenary talk – she emphasised the need to get the studies right the first time. When you’re developing a study, make sure you measure everything you need because you only get one shot: it’s hard to repeat a study just because you didn’t measure everything.

There are so many exciting advances in stroke research right now –from acute stroke management, with clot retrieval and the stroke ambulance, to understanding the role of exercise as a therapy, and the influence of the environment.

The most pressing issue in stroke that I saw at the conference was the problem of implementation: how do we get research and evidence into clinical practice? As well as making it more appealing to the clinical community, we need to give stroke survivors a greater role and voice at these conferences.

Sharon Kramer

Sharon has recently completed her PhD, focusing on cardiovascular fitness training after stroke.

I’ve been to several conferences, but I like Stroke 2018 because there was a good program on allied health research and rehabilitation after stroke.

I presented on a systematic review that I’ve done, looking at all the exercise research for stroke survivors within the first three months after stroke. The presentation was short, so I had to convey lots of information in very little time, but it went well!

The highlight was Professor Avril Drummond talking about what she learned throughout her career doing large randomised controlled trials. You assume the sites where your trial is being run will deliver according to the protocols, but this not always the case – you have to check they are following the protocols!

I think the most pressing issue in stroke rehabilitation is targeting different subgroups of stroke survivors. I don’t think we have a good grasp yet of who will respond to a particular therapy and who won’t. Once we have a greater understanding, we can make treatment targeted.