Funded projects

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  Dr William Diprose

  Health NZ Te Toka Tumai Auckland

  Project grant - $299,167 - Funding Round: 2025 A

  Head cooling in ischaemic stroke patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy: A phase 2 randomised controlled trial (COOLHEAD-2b)

  Co-Principal Investigators: Professor Alan Barber and Dr Doug Campbell
  
  Ischaemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, causing brain damage, disability, and even death. Clot retrieval, a procedure to pull out the clot, can save lives, but delays in reaching specialised hospitals in New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch) often lead to irreversible damage. Lowering a patient’s brain temperature in the ambulance or helicopter on the way to hospital may slow this damage. This study will test whether using a cooling cap during transport and during the clot retrieval procedure itself can protect the brain, reduce long-term disability, and improve outcomes for stroke patients.