GAIN_UCL study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Predicting response to intensive upper limb training after stroke
IRAS ID
240665
Contact name
Nick WARD
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2014/11/24, data protection reference number: ; on going, Data Protection number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 3 days
Research summary
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. About 55-75% patients fail to regain functional use of their impaired upper limb. The main treatment is rehabilitation but resources are limited so that most patients receive only small amounts of therapy. Moreover, there will be some who respond better to treatment than others for the same amount of therapy. In particular, the structural and functional organization of a person's brain is likely to play a major role in determining the success of rehabilitation after stroke. Understanding this will be important in developing personalised treatment strategies for all.
This pilot study will be based in the Queen Square Upper Limb Neurorehabilitation programme where patients receive 3 weeks of intensive training. In this study, we will determine the brain characteristics that predict a good response to treatment. Prior to treatment, patients will undergo the following investigations using non-invasive tools: (i) structural MRI to look at which parts of the brain are affected by the stroke, (ii) Electroencephalography (EEG) at rest and during sensory stimulation of the hand to look at the functional organisation of the brain, (iii) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to test the integrity of the corticospinal tract connecting brain to muscles.
This approach will help (i) to target high dose therapy to those most likely to respond, thereby deploying resources more efficiently, and (ii) identify brain configurations important for recovery that could in future be the substrate of new treatment approaches.REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
18/WA/0196
Date of REC Opinion
29 May 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion