Cilostazol to prevent repeat strokes in Africa

CiLostAzol for pReventIon of recurrent sTroke in Africa (CLARITY-Africa)

NIH-funded research Northern California Institute/res/edu · NIH-11406605

This project will give stroke survivors in sub‑Saharan Africa cilostazol alongside usual care to see if it lowers their chance of another stroke.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthern California Institute/res/edu NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11406605 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you survived a stroke and live in sub‑Saharan Africa, researchers will add cilostazol (a twice‑daily pill) to standard antiplatelet treatment such as aspirin or clopidogrel. The trial will enroll people at participating sites across Africa and actively follow them to record repeat strokes, heart events, bleeding, and side effects. Doctors and study staff will monitor safety and collect health outcomes over months to years to learn whether cilostazol reduces recurrent stroke and improves survival. The project also aims to strengthen local stroke research capacity in the region.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults who have survived an ischemic stroke, are receiving care at participating sites in sub‑Saharan Africa, and are medically eligible to take cilostazol alongside standard antiplatelet therapy.

Not a fit: People with recent brain bleeding, significant heart failure or other contraindications to cilostazol, or those who live outside the participating study sites are unlikely to benefit from joining this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, cilostazol could substantially reduce repeat strokes and major heart events in stroke survivors in sub‑Saharan Africa using a relatively low‑cost medicine.

How similar studies have performed: Previous trials, mainly in Asian populations, showed cilostazol reduced major cardiovascular events including recurrent stroke without increasing major bleeding, but it has not been well studied in African populations.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.