Researchers from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have received a $3.2 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases (NINDS) to study stroke recurrence risk using neuroimaging. 

"Compared to our understanding of the risk factors of an initial stroke, we have limited understanding of the factors surrounding recurrent strokes," principal investigator Achala Vagal, MD, associate professor and vice chair of research at the University of Cincinnati's department of radiology, said in a prepared statement.

The team's new study, Assessing Population-based Radiological brain health in Stroke Epidemiology (APRISE), will involve assessing imaging examinations of small and large vessel disease in the brain to make an accurate measurement of the patient’s brain health. The researchers hope to find predictors of prospective cerebrovascular disease.

"The development of a clinical prediction tool, incorporating our full range of modern imaging techniques, will enhance our ability to identify patients at a higher risk for recurrent strokes," Vagal said in the same statement. 

The researchers will source data for the study from the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Stroke Study, a reference for national stroke data. The study, Vagal said, will encompass a racially diverse cohort and include approximately 2,700 cases.