Improved targeting of stroke prevention by enhanced phenotyping of trends, risk factors, symptomatology, aetiology, and outcome: Oxford Vascular Study

Background: Life expectancy in the UK has increased dramatically, but there has been less success in prevention of age-related morbidity. The number of older people suffering from stroke, dementia and other chronic disabling vascular conditions has therefore risen steeply. Yet researchers have neglected the practical research necessary to determine how best to prevent these common diseases in everyday practice. Approach: I founded the Stroke Prevention Research Unit in 2000 to improve prevention of stroke in older people. I now have 40 research/support staff and have set-up several cohort studies in collaboration with 100 local GPs. In 2019, I established a new purpose-built Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia that will focus on better understanding of known risk factors and more effective use of existing treatments. Impact: I have a strong track record of identifying/evolving new cost-effective preventive strategies that impact quickly on the effectiveness of prevention in routine practice.