World Stroke Academy

From Paper to Practice: Ep.5 - Stroke and Climate Change

Welcome to the fifth episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the World Stroke Academy and the International Journal of Stroke. Join Dr. Ahmed Nasreldein and Prof. Anna Ranta as they discuss the recently published paper, Stroke and Climate Change. How is climate change influencing stroke risk and outcomes worldwide? What role do rising temperatures, air pollution, extreme weather events, and environmental inequities play in the growing global burden of stroke? In this episode, we explore the emerging evidence linking climate and cerebrovascular health, the populations most at risk, and what clinicians, researchers, and policymakers can do to address one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time.

Ep.4: What Comes Next After OCEANIC-Stroke for Stroke Prevention - Prof. Jeffrey Saver

Episode 4 of the World Stroke Academy vodcast series: 'Rethinking Secondary Stroke Prevention - The Factor XI-XIa Inhibition Era'. What Comes Next After OCEANIC-Stroke for Stroke Prevention with Prof. Jeffrey Saver interviewed by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto. Supported by an unrestricted grant by Bayer AG.

Ep.3: From Trial to Clinic: Applying OCEANIC-Stroke in Practice - Prof. Valeria Caso

Episode 3 of the World Stroke Academy vodcast series: 'Rethinking Secondary Stroke Prevention - The Factor XI-XIa Inhibition Era'.From Trial to Clinic: Applying OCEANIC-Stroke in Practice with Prof. Valeria Caso interviewed by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto. Supported by an unrestricted grant by Bayer AG.

Ep.2: Inside OCEANIC-Stroke: Design, Results and Key Insights - Prof. Mike Sharma

Episode 2 of the World Stroke Academy vodcast series: 'Rethinking Secondary Stroke Prevention - The Factor XI-XIa Inhibition Era'. Inside OCEANIC-Stroke: Design, Results and Key Insights with Prof. Mike Sharma, interviewed by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto. Supported by an unrestricted grant by Bayer AG.

Ep.1: A New Era in Stroke Prevention: Why OCEANIC Stroke Changes The Game - Dr. Ashkan Shoamanesh

Episode 1 of the World Stroke Academy vodcast series: 'Rethinking Secondary Stroke Prevention - The Factor XI-XIa Inhibition Era'. Supported by an unrestricted grant by Bayer AG.

Spasticity Unlocked - Expert Insights: Ep.4 Managing the Patient Journey

In the final episode of the Spasticity Unlocked series, we shift the focus to what matters most: the patient. Episode 4: Managing the Patient Journey brings the conversation full circle by featuring both expert insight and lived experience. Dr. Emily Stevens is joined by patient Gerard Sewell, offering a powerful and personal perspective on navigating life with spasticity. Together, they explore the full patient journey, from diagnosis to long-term management, highlighting the real challenges, needs, and opportunities for better care. Gerard’s story underscores the importance of truly listening to patients, while Dr. Stevens provides clinical context on how care teams can better support individuals in their journey. This closing episode reinforces a key message: effective spasticity management isn’t just about treatment, it’s about understanding the person behind the condition. Don’t miss the powerful conclusion to our Spasticity Unlocked series! Supported by Ipsen.

Spasticity Unlocked - Expert Insights: Ep.3 Treatment Pathways

Part of the Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights for Clinical Practice series, this episode focuses on treatment pathways and decision-making in spasticity care. Join Dr. Li Khim Kwah and guest expert Prof. Richard Zorowitz as they take a practical, patient-centered approach to treatment, covering when to initiate therapy, how to select appropriate interventions, and how to tailor strategies based on individual patient needs and goals. From rehabilitation approaches to pharmacological and interventional options, the discussion highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary framework and timely intervention to optimize outcomes. Key considerations around treatment sequencing, goal-setting and long-term management are also addressed. Supported by Ipsen.

Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights – Ep.2 Clinical Diagnosis: Tools, Scales and Red Flags

Part of the Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights for Clinical Practice series and building on the foundational concepts from Episode 1, this episode sets the stage for a deeper understanding of spasticity clinical diagnosis. Join Dr. Shamala Thilarajah and guest expert Dr. Theodore Wein as they unpack the key tools and clinical scales used in the assessment of spasticity, with a strong focus on identifying important red flags that should not be missed. The conversation goes beyond checklists, exploring how clinical reasoning, patient presentation and subtle warning signs come together to guide accurate diagnosis and timely intervention. Common challenges, potential pitfalls, and real-world considerations are addressed to support more confident and effective decision-making. Supported by Ipsen.

From Paper to Practice: Ep.4 - Stroke & HIV: Emerging mechanisms & management in a changing epidemic

Welcome to the fourth episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the World Stroke Academy and the International Journal of Stroke. In this episode, Assoc. Prof. Vasileios Lioutas and Dr. Laura Benjamin explore the latest insights from the recently published paper “Stroke and HIV: Emerging mechanisms and management in a changing epidemic.” As antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV into a chronic condition, stroke has emerged as a significant and often under-recognized complication. People living with HIV face an increased risk of stroke, often at a younger age, driven by a complex interplay of factors including HIV-associated vasculopathy, chronic inflammation, opportunistic infections, and traditional vascular risk factors accelerated by HIV and its treatment. This conversation bridges cutting-edge research with real-world clinical practice, offering practical insights for clinicians navigating this evolving field.

Reference: Phiri TE, Holroyd KB, Bernard Healey SA, Mallon DH, Benjamin LA. Stroke and HIV: Emerging mechanisms and management in a changing epidemic. International Journal of Stroke. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/17474930261424713, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17474930261424713

Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights – Ep.1 Understanding Spasticity Beyond Basics

Part of the Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights for Clinical Practice series, this episode sets the stage for a deeper understanding of spasticity in clinical care. Join Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto and Dr. Gerard Francisco as they explore the fundamentals of spasticity, going beyond definitions to unpack its underlying causes and mechanisms. The discussion highlights the often-overlooked impact of spasticity on patients’ daily lives, function, and quality of life, emphasizing why early recognition and understanding are essential. Designed for healthcare professionals, this episode provides a strong clinical foundation to support better assessment, decision-making, and patient-centered care—preparing you for the practical insights covered in the rest of the series. Supported by Ipsen.

From Paper to Practice: Ep.3 - Addressing sex and gender differences in stroke risk and management

Welcome to the third episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the World Stroke Academy and the International Journal of Stroke. Join Dr. Ana Claudia de Souza and Dr. Cheryl Carcel as they discuss the recently published scientific statement, Addressing sex and gender differences in stroke risk and management: A scientific statement from the World Stroke Organization.

How do biological sex and gender-related factors influence stroke risk, treatment, and outcomes? Why do women face unique risk factors—such as pregnancy-related conditions, menopause, and hormone therapy—and why are they often less likely to receive timely acute stroke treatment? In this episode, we explore the evidence behind these disparities and discuss what clinicians, researchers, and health systems can do to deliver more equitable stroke prevention and care worldwide.

Carcel C, Sandset EC, Ali M, et al. Addressing sex and gender differences in stroke risk and management: A scientific statement from the World Stroke Organization. International Journal of Stroke. 2026;21(3):303-323. doi:10.1177/17474930251393009

From Paper to Practice: Ep.2 - The rising incidence of stroke in the young

Welcome to the second episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the International Journal of Stroke and the World Stroke Academy. Join Dr. Christine Tunkl and Dr. Linxin Li as they discuss the recently published IJS paper on 'The rising incidence of stroke in the young: Epidemiology, causes and global impact'. Why is stroke increasing in the young? Are traditional risk factors enough to explain it, or are emerging factors, such as stress, air pollution, and lifestyle changes, playing a role? We explore the latest evidence and what it means for prevention and public health.

Reference: Nehme A, Li L. The rising incidence of stroke in the young: Epidemiology, causes and global impact. International Journal of Stroke. 2025;21(1):14-23. doi:10.1177/17474930251362583, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17474930251362583

From Paper to Practice: Ep.1 - WSO Vascular Dementia Factsheet 2026

Welcome to the first episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the International Journal of Stroke and the World Stroke Academy. Join Dr. Ahmed Nasreldein and Dr. Vera Yuan Cai as they discuss the recently published WSO Vascular Dementia Factsheet 2026 and why vascular dementia is a critical - and often overlooked - clinical and public-health priority. With dementia prevalence rising rapidly worldwide, vascular pathology plays an increasingly central role in determining who develops cognitive impairment, how early it appears, and how preventable it may be. Drawing on the latest evidence, this episode explores the true global burden of vascular dementia, its frequent coexistence with neurodegenerative diseases, and the urgent need for better recognition, standardized diagnosis, and stronger prevention strategies.

Reference: Cai Y, Mok VCT, Markus HS. Vascular dementia: World Stroke Organization fact sheet 2026. International Journal of Stroke. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/17474930251404243: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17474930251404243

Accessible Stroke Training for all: Voices from the WGSP on the new Core Skills e-Learning Modules

In this episode, we spotlight an inspiring collaboration within the Wessex Global Stroke Partnership (WGSP), a long-standing initiative connecting stroke clinicians in the UK, Ghana, Zambia and The Gambia. Listeners hear directly from the teams behind the new Core Skills E-Learning Modules, developed to strengthen stroke care and make training accessible for clinicians and caregivers in low- and middle-income settings. Access the modules here: https://wgstrokemodules.org/

Meet the Trialist: Dr. Sampaio Silva on Trial designs and the Future of Stroke Prevention

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Gisele Sampaio Silva shares valuable insights on Factor XI inhibitors and their potential to transform stroke prevention. Interview conducted by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto, Editor-in-Chief of the World Stroke Academy. This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant by Bayer AG. #WSC2025 #StrokePrevention #FactorXI #MeetTheTrialist #WSCtvStudio

Meet the Trialist: Dr. Ashkan Shoamanesh on Factor XI Inhibitors and the Future of Stroke Prevention

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Ashkan Shoamanesh shares valuable insights on Factor XI inhibitors and their potential to transform stroke prevention. Interview conducted by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto, Editor-in-Chief of the World Stroke Academy. This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant by Bayer AG. #WSC2025 #StrokePrevention #FactorXI #MeetTheTrialist #WSCtvStudio

Meet the Trialist: Dr. Mike Sharma on Factor XI Inhibitors and ongoing trials for Stroke Prevention

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Mike Sharma shares valuable insights on Factor XI inhibitors and their potential to transform stroke prevention. Interview conducted by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto, Editor-in-Chief of the World Stroke Academy. This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant by Bayer AG. #WSC2025 #StrokePrevention #FactorXI #MeetTheTrialist #WSCtvStudio

RES-Q+: Global Registry for Stroke Care Improvement - Interview to Prof. Mikulik by Prof. Pontes

How can stroke care be improved globally through real-time data? In this episode, Prof. Robert Mikulik speaks with Prof. Octavio Marques Pontes-Neto about the RES-Q Registry of Stroke Care Quality+, a global initiative to support quality improvement in stroke care by collecting and analyzing performance data. Learn how real-time data collection and benchmarking are helping stroke centers worldwide enhance outcomes and performance. Learn more here: https://stroke.qualityregistry.org/

Time Matters in ICH: New Pooled-Analysis Backs Early Intensive BP Lowering - Interview to Prof. Craig Anderson by Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto

In this insightful interview, Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto speaks with Prof. Craig Anderson about the latest pooled analysis on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), offering compelling evidence that early and intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering significantly improves outcomes. They discuss key findings, the implications for acute ICH management, and how this evidence supports the urgency of BP control in the hyperacute phase. A must-watch for clinicians and researchers involved in stroke care and emergency medicine.

Tenecteplase Before Thrombectomy - A New Bridge or Just a Detour? - Interview to Prof. Raul Nogueira by Prof. Octavio Marques Pontes-Neto

Join Prof. Octavio Pontes and Prof. Raul Nogueira as they delve into the latest advancements in stroke care, focusing on mechanical thrombectomy. In this insightful episode, Prof. Nogueira discusses the BRIDGE-TNK trial, collaboratively led by experts from Chongqing, China, which investigates the efficacy of Tenecteplase (TNK) as a pre-thrombectomy treatment.

Listeners will gain an understanding of the rationale behind using TNK over Alteplase, highlighting significant findings from major clinical trials, including insights from the EXTEND-IA-TNK trial. Discover the potential benefits and risks of thrombolytic agents for patients with proximal artery occlusion and how these studies influence current medical practices, as well as ongoing trials, such as the Resilient Direct TNK trial in Brazil, and the importance of diverse demographic participation in research.