German Stroke Trials Network (GSTN)

The German Stroke Trials Network is member of the European Stroke Organisation Trials Alliance (ESOTA) being a European ‘network of networks’ to support stroke trials in Europe.

The burden of stroke

Stroke is a major challenge to clinicians, researchers, and society. Globally, stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability, the second leading cause of death, and also a major cause of dementia.

There have been substantial advances in the treatment of acute stroke, most notably with the introduction of stroke units, thrombolytic therapy, and mechanical thrombectomy. Nevertheless, there is much room for improvement, as the majority of stroke patients stilkl  remain without effective specific treatment.

The need for clinical trials

Clinical trials are crucial to advance stroke treatment. Without randomized trials there is no progress in stroke research and treatment. Over the past years, we have witnessed tremendous progress in stroke treatment by clinical trials, just to mention thrombectomy and intravenous thrombolysis in the extended time window.

Trials demonstrating the benefit of these treatment have changed clinical practice and improved the outcome of stroke patients worldwide.

The role of trial networks

Clinical trials usually require many trials centers to enroll large numbers of patients and to provide representative results. Stroke research networks improve planning and running of clinical trials and patient access to new treatments.

The German Stroke Trial Network (GSTN)

Germany has an excellent organisation of stroke care with a dense network of certified stroke units. The German Stroke Trial Network (GSTN) is a network of stroke centers who actively participate in clinical stroke trials, including trials of acute stroke treatment, secondary prevention, and rehabilitation. The network was built in order to supports stroke research collaboration with a focus is on randomised clinical trials, both investigator-initiated and industry-funded trials. The German Stroke Trial Network (GSTN) represents a first contact point for researchers or companies who are looking for active stroke centers in germany as potential sites for clinical trials.

European and international cooperation partners 

The German Stroke Trials Network (GSTN) is member of the European Stroke Organisation Trials Alliance (ESOTA) being a European ‘network of networks’ to support stroke trials in Europe. The German Stroke Trial Network (GSTN) is also member of the Global Alliance of Independent Networks focused on Stroke trials (GAINS), that was created to connect stroke trial networks and support stroke trials worldwide.