CREST-2 coordination for preventing strokes from carotid artery narrowing

CREST-2 Statistical and Data Coordinating Center - SDCC

NIH-funded research University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11145185

This effort helps compare intensive medical treatment alone versus adding carotid surgery or carotid stenting to prevent strokes in adults with severe carotid artery narrowing.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145185 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This coordinating center manages the data and statistics for two large, parallel trials comparing intensive medical management alone to adding carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting in people with severe (≥70%) carotid narrowing. Eligible patients are randomly assigned to one of the treatment approaches and followed closely for early complications (including stroke or death within 44 days) and longer-term ipsilateral stroke. The center oversees data collection from many participating hospitals, monitors quality and safety, and performs the analyses that will guide treatment recommendations. As a patient, you would enroll at a participating site and have your imaging, treatments, and outcomes recorded and shared with the coordinating center.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with severe (≥70%) narrowing of the carotid artery who do not have a recent disabling stroke and are being considered for surgery or stenting.

Not a fit: People without significant carotid narrowing, those with recent disabling stroke, or those ineligible for revascularization are unlikely to benefit from joining this effort.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify which approach best lowers stroke risk and help patients avoid unnecessary procedures or get the procedure that offers the greatest protection.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier trials from the 1980s–1990s showed benefits of carotid revascularization, but improvements in medical therapy mean this question is being reexamined in modern patients.

Where this research is happening

Birmingham, 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.
Conditions Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
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.