Dear Colleague:
This is a very exciting time in the field of cerebrovascular disease. The rate of discovery of new diagnostic and therapeutics for stroke has never been greater. On behalf of the American Stroke Association and the ISC Program Committee, we welcome you to join us at the International Stroke Conference. ISC will take place Feb. 22–24 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
Our program emphasizes basic, clinical and translational sciences as they evolve toward a better understanding of stroke pathophysiology with the goal of developing more effective therapies. Stroke systems of care, quality and outcomes are also key. This premier conference is intended for a wide range of healthcare professionals and investigators including adult and pediatric neurologists; neurosurgeons; neuroradiologists and interventional radiologists; physiatrists; emergency medicine specialists; primary care physicians; hospitalists; nurses and nurse practitioners; rehabilitation specialists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; pharmacists; and basic researchers spanning the fields of cerebrovascular function and disease.
ISC provides unique opportunities to meet and network with colleagues from around the world with wide-ranging research interests and expertise in stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. We anticipate more than 4,500 professional attendees, as well as exhibitors displaying new stroke products and services. We are truly dedicated to the international nature of this conference with attendees, presenters and faculty coming from all corners of the world.
The 2017 program offers three specialized pre-conference symposia: the State-of-the-Science Stroke Nursing Symposium; the ISC Pre-Conference Symposium I: Stroke in the Real World: Thinking from the Heart – Management of Cardiac Disease to Improve Stroke Outcomes, which will focus on the management of cardiac disease in order to improve stroke outcomes; and the ISC 2017 Pre-Conference Symposium: Bridge Over Troubled Water: Issues in Translational Stroke Research.
The main days of ISC include invited symposia, debates, oral scientific abstract presentations, scientific abstract posters and special lectures on recent advances and state-of-the-science technologies.
The Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing has planned another extraordinary pre-conference symposium. The State-of-the-Science Stroke Nursing Symposium 2017 program will include topics in: facilitating admission, progression and discharge for stroke; evidence-based strategies for preventing stroke and stroke complications; collaborations to improve quality of life across the care continuum; and strategies for assessing and managing cognitive, emotional and sleep issues related to stroke.
The ISC 2017 Pre-Conference Symposium I: Stroke in the Real World: Thinking from the Heart – Management of Cardiac Disease to Improve Stroke Outcomes highlights scientific advances in cerebrovascular disease while emphasizing their application in the real world. This year’s symposium will focus on the management of cardiac disease to improve stroke outcomes.
Topics include: should interventional cardiologists be doing endovascular procedures in acute stroke; what lessons can neurologists learn from cardiac trials on lysis vs endovascular procedures; should we be closing PFOs; left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation; what are the indications for prolonged monitoring of AF and whether duration matters; understanding the use of antiplatelet and triple therapy use in cardiology; what is the best approach to the use and selection of novel anticoagulants from both a cardiology and neurology perspective; and monitoring anticoagulation in patients with NOACS from both a cardiology and neurology perspective.
There will also be a series of challenging breakout sessions. Participants can have an informal lunch with the faculty to discuss questions or challenging stroke cases.
The ISC 2017 Pre-Conference Symposium II: Bridge Over Troubled Water: Issues in Translational Stroke Research will discuss the challenges and opportunities in moving basic science research into efficacious and well-designed clinical trials. This half-day symposium brings together leading stroke researchers across the basic and clinical spectrum to discuss potential avenues for improvement in pre-clinical modeling, using human samples to bridge the translational gap, and sharing experiences in successful translation to clinical trials.
Examples from research in ischemic stroke, vascular dementia and intracerebral hemorrhage will be discussed. In addition, speakers will address the new NIH requirements for rigor and transparency in the efforts to improve reliability of preclinical research discoveries and experiences in successful academic-industry partnerships in stroke therapy trials. We will conclude the session with a networking reception to allow for informal discussions on topics of interest to participants in greater depth and allow for opportunities for junior investigators to interact with senior stroke investigators with clinical and basic expertise.
The main days of ISC will have more than 1,500 presentations of exhilarating special symposia, compelling debates and stimulating abstract presentations that will focus on numerous topics from 21 stroke-related categories. Sessions in clinical categories will center on community risk factors; emergency care; acute neuroimaging; acute endovascular and acute nonendovascular treatment; diagnosis of stroke etiology; cerebral large artery disease; in-hospital treatment; clinical rehabilitation and recovery; and health services, quality improvement, and patient-centered outcomes. Sessions in basic science categories focus on vascular biology in health and disease; basic and preclinical neuroscience of stroke recovery; and experimental mechanisms and models.
Further specialized topics include pediatric stroke; intracerebral hemorrhage; nursing; preventive strategies; vascular cognitive impairment; aneurysms; subarachnoid hemorrhage; neurocritical care; vascular malformations; and ongoing clinical trials.
This year, not only will you have the opportunity to experience exceptional education and networking with more than 4,500 cerebrovascular research and practice experts from around the globe, you will also have the chance to experience the many multicultural aspects and warm Southern hospitality of sunny Houston, Texas!
Please join us for the International Stroke Conference 2017 and be a part of this exceptional and illuminating experience. We look forward to seeing you in February. The International Stroke Conference – Education, Inspiration. Illumination.
Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, FAHA
Chair, International Stroke Conference 2017 Program Committee