Advancing Stroke Care: An intraarterial stem cell delivery system

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Stroke is a grave medical emergency that arises when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted or reduced, ultimately leading to the demise of brain cells. It is a global leading cause of mortality and long-term disability, with over 100,000 cases diagnosed annually in the United Kingdom alone - meaning a stroke victim is reported every five minutes. Shockingly, more than 1.3 million stroke survivors are currently living in the UK, coping with the most extensive range of impairments presented by any disease. The National Health Service in the UK allocates an astonishing £3 billion annually towards stroke treatment and management, with an additional £4 billion economic cost due to stroke-related disability, lost productivity, and informal care.The focus of our project is to develop a ground-breaking solution for delivering stem cells to the brain following a stroke, which is a major global health issue leading to fatalities and disabilities. The recovery of stroke patients could be revolutionised by exploring stem cell therapy; however, the challenge lies in finding a way to accurately deliver the stem cells to the affected area of the brain, as current methods are inefficient and carry high risks. Our team aims to create a cutting-edge method of delivery that uses a microcatheter guided by imaging techniques to deliver stem cells and medication directly to the damaged part of the brain, ensuring precision and safety. The successful implementation of our innovative approach could potentially be extended to other medical fields, including cardiac repair and cancer immunotherapy.