Stroke Research
At UI Health, our stroke experts are committed to always providing the highest level of stroke care 24/7. Our stroke doctors are at the forefront of stroke research, developing new technologies and therapies for treating stroke and identifying stroke risk. The earlier we can identify the risk of stroke, the better we can treat it.
NOVA
Knowledge of blood flow in the brain is essential to effectively treat stroke victims. NOVA (non-invasive optimal vessel analysis) is a software program that allows doctors to quantify the volumetric blood flow rate in the vessels of the brain.
NOVA incorporates interactive 3D images that provide a fully rotatable, 360-degree view of vasculature that allows for precise identification of each vessel for volumetric blood flow calculation. With NOVA, physicians can evaluate entire vasculatures or pinpoint specific areas within a vessel that may be of concern. And because it can be done outside an operating room, doctors can identify patients who may be at risk for stroke.
NOVA was developed by a team led by Dr. Fady Charbel, head of the Department of Neurosurgery at UI Health.
VERiTAS
The VERITAS study determined patients at a high risk for subsequent stroke based on their distal blood flow. Using NOVA to perform quantitative magnetic resonance angiography, investigators were able to identify risk among symptomatic vertebrobasilar disease patients with distal blood flow compromise. The ability to identify high-risk patients at an earlier stage has important implications for future investigations into therapies for stroke. UI Health neurosurgeon Fady Charbel were the lead investigators of the study.
