Driving innovation in stroke care and sustainable clinical trials

Two groundbreaking projects led by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health have secured funding to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare—improving outcomes for patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and reducing the environmental impact of cardiovascular clinical trials.

Reducing the carbon footprint of cardiovascular trials – Dr Ben Talbot

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is the leading cause of death globally. While recent therapeutic advances have improved outcomes, the growing complexity of clinical trials in this space brings significant environmental and resource challenges. Clinical trials are essential for advancing care, but they also have unintended consequences, including a substantial carbon footprint.

Dr Ben Talbot’s research will provide new understanding of the environmental impact of CKM trials and explore how innovative trial designs can reduce emissions. The study will assess strategies such as centralised trial monitoring, efficient participant assessments, and platform trials with multiple domains to evaluate interventions and combinations of therapies.

These insights will inform more sustainable approaches to clinical research, ensuring that the pursuit of better health outcomes does not come at the expense of the environment.

Transforming acute intracerebral haemorrhage outcomes – Dr Menglu Ouyang

Acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the most devastating and least treatable form of stroke, accounting for nearly 20% of all stroke cases worldwide. With a one-month mortality rate of around 40% and most survivors living with significant disability, care for ICH patients lags far behind that for ischaemic stroke, due to a lack of proven therapies and standardised care.

Dr Menglu Ouyang’s project aims to close this gap by implementing a comprehensive Care Bundle—a time-sensitive, evidence-based package of interventions—across NSW hospitals. The bundle includes early management of blood pressure, glucose, and temperature; rapid reversal of anticoagulants; avoiding premature care limitations; and timely referral to neurosurgery or critical care. Using a hybrid implementation–effectiveness design, the study will not only test the effectiveness of the Care Bundle but also determine the best ways to embed it into routine daily practice.

As a part of an international collaboration, this project will build NSW research capacity, create a central data repository for quality improvement, and drive meaningful practice change. The ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for thousands of Australians and provide globally relevant insights into translating evidence into practice for acute stroke care.