Background:
Strokes are a common and devastating medical condition, causing 6.2 million deaths per annum worldwide. Strokes result in the progressive death of brain tissue, which can be fatal, or more commonly leave lasting disability to the stroke survivor. Until recently, the blood clots that cause strokes were unobtainable as stroke treatment always involved dissolving these culprit blood clots via thrombolysis. A surgical procedure called thrombectomy, has become widely used, alone or in combination with thrombolysis. Thrombectomy removes the clot; thereby enabling the possibility for large-scale collection of the occluding clots for the first time.
Research:
Because thrombectomy (and therefore the collection of occluding clots) has only become common recently, research into the composition of the clots causing stroke is at an early phase. Analyzing these previously unobtainable clots could potentially expand our understanding of stroke pathology. Because of the prevalence of stroke, any such improvement could have a tremendous impact on mortality and quality of life of millions of stroke patients.
Key Goal:
This research aims to enhance understanding of the underlying pathology of strokes through analyzing the occluding clots. Clot analysis includes noting gross features of the clots, examining clot histology using H&E and MSB stains, and also identifying biomarkers in the clots with fluorescence/ immunohistochemistry techniques. In particular I will investigate vWF protein expression in blood clots and assess if vWF is colocalised with CD42b (platelets). From the observations formed; correlations may become apparent that could improve our knowledge of stroke pathophysiology.
