# StrokeBelt StrokeNet

> **NIH NIH U24** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $298,500

## Abstract

The proposed StrokeBelt StrokeNet (SBSN) RCC will benefit from the established infrastructure, basic science and
clinical stroke expertise, and stroke clinical trial experience at UAB, and work with established partner institutions
in the Southeastern US, including Children’s of Alabama, the UAB/Lakeshore Research Collaborative, the University
of Mississippi Medical Center, and the University of South Alabama. Each institution has its own network of referral
hospitals, clinical trial infrastructure and experience enrolling in stroke clinical trials. The result is that a large part
of the Stroke Belt will have access to StrokeNet Clinical Trials. The SBSN will succeed by leveraging key attributes of
our region and network. First, the SBSN RCC will offer combined access to nearly 3,500 acute stroke patients
annually, many of them minorities, in an underserved part of the US. As in our NeuroNext program, we will
aggressively pursue the inclusion of underrepresented and minority populations in our clinical trials through
collaboration with the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) and Strengthening
Translational Research in Diverse Enrollment (STRIDE). Second, UAB and its partners have a track record of patient‐
oriented stroke research and successful stroke clinical trial recruitment. Over the last 3 years, UAB alone has
participated in 20 NIH‐ or industry‐sponsored multicenter phase 1, 2 and 3 trials in stroke treatment, prevention,
and recovery, enrolling 401 patients. We were nationally‐leading recruiters in the TUCSON, CUFFS, CLOTBUST‐HF,
SAMMPRIS and CLEAR III trials. We actively enrolled in the first StrokeNet trial, DEFUSE3, are currently enrolling in
CREST‐2, and preparing for participation in ARCADIA and CREST‐H. We are the leading recruiting center in MyRIAD
and the second leading center for MISTIE III. Over the last 3 years, SBSN institutions/investigators have participated
in a total of 37 trials in stroke treatment, prevention, and recovery, and enrolled a total of 2050 subjects. Third, we
have extensive experience in stroke recovery with specific expertise in stroke‐related aphasia
recovery/rehabilitation, TMS and imaging, motor recovery, tele‐rehabilitation and robotics. Fourth, our proposed
network will be strengthened by the already‐strong connections between the UAB Center for Clinical and
Translational Science (CCTS) and our partner institutions. All of the institutions in our proposed network are already
our partners, and already have experience with master IRB reliance agreements. Fifth, our research program will
build upon our already‐successful recruitment by applying a performance improvement approach to enhance
clinical trial screening, enrollment and retention. Strategies include specific screening, enrollment and retention
methods; rigorous and continuous monitoring and performance improvement of trial implementation and subject
screening, enrollment and retention; training and sharing of best pract...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246503
- **Project number:** 5U24NS107223-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Toby Gropen
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $298,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246503

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246503, StrokeBelt StrokeNet (5U24NS107223-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246503. Licensed CC0.

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