Experts assemble in Calgary to share the latest research advances in stroke, and get a glimpse of the future at the 2024 Canadian Stroke Congress
More than 500 leaders in stroke prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation gathered in Calgary November 28-29 to explore innovative new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat a disease that affects at least 109,000 Canadians a year, and their families. As part of a strategy to facilitate Patient Engagement, People with Lived Experience of stroke were also invited to the Congress as both speakers and attendees. Their involvement rooted sessions in the perspectives of those who are set to benefit from the research.
“The Canadian Stroke Congress brings together speakers across the clinical spectrum of stroke — from stroke prevention to acute treatment to rehabilitation and from preclinical and clinical research,” says co-chair Dr. Sean Dukelow, Medical Director of Stroke Rehabilitation for the Calgary Stroke Program, a partnership between the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services.
“This Congress highlighted the amazing work that many Canadians and international colleagues are doing to bring innovative technologies to the forefront of stroke research to advance stroke care in Canada and globally,” says co-chair Dr. Jodi Edwards, Director of the Brain and Heart Nexus Research Program at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Established in 2010, the Canadian Stroke Congress is Canada’s go-to meeting in the area of stroke research and innovation. This is the third time the meeting has been in Calgary, an internationally recognized stroke research hub, and was held at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre in the heart of the city. This year marks the return of the Congress as it was last hosted in 2019 by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Stroke Consortium, and the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery. This year’s event was co-hosted by CanStroke Recovery Trials Platform, funded by Brain Canada, and the StrokeCog Clinical Trials Training Platform, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Highlights included the inaugural Dale Corbett Translational Lectureship, delivered by Dr. Dale Corbett in recognition of his 35 years of transformative contributions to the stroke recovery community, pioneering novel forms of stroke rehabilitation, including identifying the optimal dose of exercise and other therapeutics to promote neuroplasticity. The Congress also continued the legacy of the prestigious Ramon J. Hnatyshyn and Louise and Frank Nieboer Stroke Lecture Awards. Dr. Moira K. Kapral presented the prestigious Hnatyshyn Lecture, recognizing her remarkable career as a leading stroke health services researcher and her influential contributions to advancing stroke systems of care across Canada. Sandie and Larry Varcoe delivered the Nieboer Lecture, sharing their deeply personal experiences with stroke and their tireless dedication to supporting others on similar journeys.
Advancing Canada’s capacity for stroke clinical trials internationally is the Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium, working to create a single national distributive research ethics board and promote the collaboration of Canadian biotech and academic researchers. Global stroke trials were also on full display at the Congress including the ACT GLOBAL (A multi-faCtorial, mulTi-arm, multi-staGe, randomised, gLOBal Adaptive pLatform trial for stroke) platform trial jointly led by the Calgary Stroke Program and The George Institute for Global Health (Australia).
“The Congress provided excellent networking opportunities for researchers, healthcare professionals, People with Lived Experience and trainees to discuss novel ideas, develop new collaborations, and obtain valuable feedback”, says Farrell Leibovitch, Platform Director for CanStroke and StrokeCog Platforms.
“It was the most fantastic experience of my research journey to learn and share. I felt that I am more engaged in our research community,” says a graduate trainee. With designated time for networking opportunities, including poster sessions, oral presentations, Brag & Steal pitches and hands-on virtual reality demos, attendees undoubtedly left the meeting energized about the future of stroke care and research. The event’s success was reflected in its high attendance, with over 500 participants after being announced only seven months prior, and the enthusiastic response to the meeting’s return underscored the strong desire for a Canadian Stroke Congress.
