CMC creates history in Neurology Research in country

Ludhiana, April 11, 2018: Stroke or brain attack is the leading cause of death and disability in the world. It is also the leading cause of death in certain parts of India. In Ludhiana city alone, more than 1500 new stroke cases occur for 1 lakh population every year.

Seeing the huge burden of stroke in the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has funded a new innovative initiative for the first time called Indian Stroke Clinical Trial Network (INSTRuCT). INSTRuCT is the brain child of Professor Jeyaraj D Pandian, Principal, Christian Medical College Ludhiana, who is an internationally renowned stroke expert. Speaking at the press conference, Dr Pandian stated that INSTRuCT is a network of 27 stroke centers in the country. CMC Ludhiana is the National Coordinating center. Stroke trials which are relevant to our country will be conducted in this network.

Dr Meenakshi Sharma, Senior Scientist from Non-Communicable Diseases of ICMR inaugurated the INSTRuCT network. Speaking to the reporters she said that ICMR is currently supporting two stroke trials in the network. More centers will be added this year to the existing network. We are hoping to answer many of the issues related to stroke which are relevant to our country through this multicentre collaboration. In addition to India centric stroke trials global trials also will be done in this network.

Dr William Bhatti, Director appreciated the efforts of CMC Neurology department and the ICMR in creating this infrastructure for stroke clinical trials in the country.

Dr Mahesh Kate who is the Co-Principal Investigator for the SPRINT India trial stated that text, video messages and work book will be used to modify behavior to reduce the burden of second stroke. In this trial 4900 patients will be recruited across the nation (27 centers) over the next 4 years.

Dr Pandian added that another trial called RESTORE in which the effectiveness of Ayurvedic Treatment (PANCHKARMA) will be tested in the recovery of stroke patients after 1 month of stroke. This trial will be done in three centers in the country (CMC Ludhiana, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, AIMS, Kochi and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences, SCTIMST, Trivandrum).

INSTRuCT network is also collaborating with the Global Alliance of Networks in Stroke (GAINS) which includes NIH Strokenet USA, Canadian stroke consortium, UK stroke network and Australia stroke trialists network. Dr.Deepti Arora and Dr. Shweta Varma are the national coordinators and Mr Rahul is the IT System Analyst for INSTRuCT.