Faster, better-coordinated stroke care for rural communities
Official title: Regionalization of Acute Stroke Care for Rural Populations: A Systems Modeling Approach
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11289361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses computer models to find smarter ways for emergency responders and hospitals to get faster stroke treatment to people in rural areas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $506,223 |
| NIH project number | 7R01MD018031-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This work is focused on people living in rural U.S. communities who might experience an acute stroke and the EMS/hospitals that care for them, rather than enrolling individual patients directly.
✕Less likely to help
Patients already served quickly by nearby comprehensive stroke centers or those not affected by acute ischemic stroke may see little direct benefit from this systems-level work.
What this research studies
If you live in a rural area and are at risk for stroke, this work looks at how emergency medical services (EMS), local hospitals, and specialized stroke centers can work together to shorten time to treatment. The team builds a decision-analytic systems model that combines real-world data on EMS routing, hospital capabilities, transfer times, and patient outcomes. They run many virtual scenarios to compare different EMS triage and transport strategies and how those choices affect access to clot-busting and clot-removing treatments. The results aim to guide regional planners and health systems on which system designs could save more lives and reduce long-term disability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to faster treatment and fewer deaths or disabilities from stroke for people in underserved rural areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs that routed suspected stroke patients directly to stroke centers have reduced treatment delays, but the best triage and transport strategies across diverse rural regions remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Mehul D. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Patel, Mehul D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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In-bed wearable rehab robot to help stroke survivors recover movement
A wearable robotic device will be developed to help adults who recently had an acute stroke regain movement while still in the hospital.
-
When people are most at risk of another stroke after a minor stroke or TIA
Researchers are combining past trial data to find the timing of highest risk for a second stroke after a minor stroke or TIA so treatments can be better timed.
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Improving Participation after Stroke: Self-Management Rehab for Sub-Acute Stroke
A doctor- and patient-friendly program delivered virtually helps people who recently had a stroke feel more confident, stay active at home, and improve quality of life.
-
Targeting a brain inflammation regulator to protect cells after a stroke
Aims to test a new approach that tampers with a key brain cell regulator to reduce inflammation and protect brain tissue after a stroke, potentially lowering disability.
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Predicting brain tissue outcome after acute stroke using AI
A researchers at Stanford are testing an AI system that uses brain scans and clinical data to predict which parts of the brain will recover after an acute stroke and how treatment might help.
-
Helping brain recovery for people with severe paralysis after a recent stroke
This project builds a wearable in-bed robot to give gentle movement and sensory training to adults with severe weakness right after a stroke.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.