Stroke Trials Network-Regional Coordinating Center University of Pittsburgh (STN-UP)

Abstract Bridge funding is being requested to support our NIH StrokeNet Regional Coordinating Center (RCC) at the University of Pittsburgh (STN-UP) during the gap in funding that would otherwise occur between the current award (U24NS107216) ending on 7/31/2023 and the proposed new RCC award (RFA-NS-23-010) starting on

12/1/2023. Continued NIH support during this time will be essential for the STN-UP RCC to continue delivering regulatory efficiency, academic expertise, and oversight of high-quality performance in StrokeNet trials of stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery across our regional network. The leadership, supervision, management, and

direct support provided by the RCC PI, Marcelo Rocha, Co-Is, Clif Callaway and Dana Cummings and RCC Manager, Jason Weimer is key to continued participation and enrollment into the ASPIRE, CAPTIVA, MOST, SATURN, SleepSMART, TRANSPORT2 and VERIFY trials. Core leadership will be instrumental to the timely

start-up and multi-site initiation for the upcoming RHSPSODY-2, FOCAS and SISTER trials across research network partner sites, which will be occurring during the time of the potential gap in funding. FOCAS is the first NIH pediatric stroke trial that the STN-UP RCC will be participating in at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of

Pittsburgh. Our RCC PI and Research Manager meet monthly with our regional satellite sites to help optimize trial start-up and efficient enrollment across the network. STN-UP will continue to build on its successful infrastructure and experience from previous funding cycles to support regulatory efficiency, academic expertise,

and high-quality performance in StrokeNet trials focused on stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery. Our large STN-UP research network includes University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and St. Luke’s University Health hospitals, covering large urban, suburban, and rural areas of Pennsylvania, to support trial

recruitment of stroke participants with diverse backgrounds. The specific aims of the STN-UP RCC during the the gap between awards is to: 1. To continue our collaborative and administrative structure to rapidly implement StrokeNet trials and enroll patients across a wide range of adult and pediatric populations. 2. Foster participation

of physicians, patients, and patient support groups with equitable representation of women and minorities to meet or exceed accrual requirements.