Stroke Overview
Stroke is a leading cause of adult death and disability in Canada. There are an estimated 50,000 Canadians who experience a stroke each year – that is one every 10 minutes.
At the Stroke Program at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre we are working to restore the brain health of those who have experienced a stroke and discovering better ways to prevent them.
In 2004, we discovered the process by which brain cells die from stroke. Research identified a special channel on the surface of brain cells that was triggered to produce toxins, destroying cell components when a person experiences a stroke. This finding is leading to the development of drugs that interrupt the toxic reaction and prevent damage.
Designated as one of the first provincial Regional Stroke Centres, the program provides leadership to the province in best practices for stroke care, research and professional education.
Prompt emergency care immediately following a stroke can greatly improve outcomes. Our Acute Stroke Program team members are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a ‘Code Stroke’ is called, the team gathers and assesses the stroke patient and begins treatment within minutes.
Both the human and health care costs of stroke can be dramatically reduced with better prevention and treatment. With your help, the Stroke Program at UHN will be poised to shape the future of stroke care in Ontario.
There’s always and answer. We’ll find it.
Opportunities to support the Stroke Program include investing in capital projects such as Laboratory Set-Up costs and state-of-the-art equipment. In-perpetuity funding for Chairs and Fellowships support our people, enabling them to pursue innovative research.
For more information and how you can help us find the answers, please contact:
Louise Aspin
Vice President, Advancement
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
T: 416-340-3632
E: louise.aspin@uhn.on.ca
