2. Stroke Prevention & Brain Health Program
  3. Research & Key Studies

Research & Key Studies

OVERVIEW
The Stroke Prevention & Brain Health Program conducts and supports research focused on stroke prevention, risk reduction, recovery, and long-term brain health. Studies range from community-based interventions to clinical trials and virtual research initiatives designed to expand access and participation.

★ STEP Program
For more than a decade, the Stroke Transitions Education and Prevention Program (STEP) has served over 12,000 individuals through education, care transitions support, and risk factor monitoring and management in the STEP Clinic. STEP integrates health service research with comprehensive post-stroke care to improve outcomes for individuals at risk for stroke.

★ Current Active Studies

  • Video-Based Intervention to Reduce Treatment and Outcome Disparities in Adults Living with Stroke (VIRTUAL)– PI Sharrief (closed for enrollment)
  • Community Brain Health Collaborative (CBHC) – PI Sharrief 
  • Vivistim System Registry for Paired VNS Therapy (GRASP)– site PI Sharrief – active enrolling 
  • Digital Biomarkers for Vascular Cognitive Decline in Patients with Minor Stroke ( – MPI)Marsh/Mosher – active enrolling; Sharrief site PI  
  • Race/Ethnicity, Hypertension, and Prevention of VCID After Intracerebral Hemorrhage (REACH-ICH) – site PI Sharrief – active enrolling 
  • Research on Evidence-Based Nutrition Interventions to Promote Brain Health and Wellness After Stroke (RENEW) – MPI Sharrief, Sharma Yamal (closed for enrollment)
  • BehavioraL ActIvation for the PreVention of Post-strokE Depression in LoW-incomE Older Stroke Survivors (LIVE-WEL)– PI Beauchamp- active enrolling 
  • Comparison of Anti-coagulation and anti-Platelet Therapies for Intracranial Vascular Atherostenosis Randomized (CAPTIVA MRI) – site PIs Sharrief/Jeeverajan

★ Pending / Upcoming Studies

  • The Fourth Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study (LAAOS-4)

★ Prior (Completed) Studies

  • Regulating Blood Pressure Control During from Intracerebral Hemorrhage (REDUCE)
  • Sleep for Stroke Management and Recovery Trial (SLEEPSMART)
  • Atrial Cardiopathy and Atherothrombotic Drugs in Prevention After Cryptogenic Stroke(ARCADIA)
  • Atrial Cardiopathy and Atherothrombotic Drugs in Prevention After Cryptogenic Stroke Cognition and Silent Infarcts(ARCADIA-CSI)
  • Stroke Transitions Education and Prevention for Blood Pressure Reduction (STEP)Clinical Ttrial 
  • Stroke Telemedicine Outpatient Program for Blood Pressure Reduction (STOP)
  • Resilience and Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors
  • Speech and Language Processing of People with Aphasia
  • A Global, Phase-2, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study BMS-986177 (Axiomatic-SSP)
  • Multicentered, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Active-comparator, Event-driven, Superiority Phase-3 Study(NAVIGATE-ESUS)
  • V-STOP 
  • Meditation for Post-Stroke Depression (MEND) – PI Beauchamp

★ Community Engagement

  • BEACON Initiative – Brain Health Education, Access, and Community Outreach Network
    • Advancing Brain Health Through Education and Navigation
      BEACON improves brain health by providing community-based education, resources, and navigation services that help individuals and families better understand, prevent, and manage neurological conditions.
    • Expanding Access to Research and Innovation
      BEACON promotes participation in clinical research by partnering with trusted community organizations and advisory boards to reduce barriers, increase representation, and ensure that research is culturally relevant and accessible to diverse populations.
    • Building Community Through Brain Cafés and Workshops
      BEACON’s signature Brain Cafés bring together survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and community members in welcoming, interactive settings. These educational events focus on topics such as stroke prevention, memory and cognitive health, healthy aging, and advances in neurological care. Participants can engage directly with experts, receive health screenings and educational resources, learn practical strategies for maintaining brain health, and build supportive connections that promote long-term wellness and recovery.
    • Find out more: Email [email protected] for more information or to sign up to receive beacon updates and newsletters.

★ Other Collaborations

CONNECT Consortium – Collaboration to Improve Outcomes, Preventive Care, and Care Transitions After Stroke

  • The CONNECT Stroke Consortium is a national, multidisciplinary collaborative dedicated to improving the lives of stroke survivors and their families. Founded by Dr. Sharrief at UTHealth, CONNECT brings together patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, community organizations, and healthcare systems to advance evidence-based strategies for stroke prevention, recovery, care transitions, and long-term wellness. Through research, education, advocacy, and community engagement, CONNECT works to identify gaps in care, amplify the voices of people with lived experience, and develop innovative solutions that improve outcomes and quality of life after stroke.

Find out more: Visit the CONNECT website to learn about upcoming educational programs, research initiatives, community partnerships, and opportunities to get involved.

★ Key Publications and Presentations
Peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, and conference presentations generated by members of our program.

  • Sex differences in etiologies, risk factors, and outcomes among young adult patients with acute ischemic stroke
    • Ekta G Shah, Manish Bhojwani, Kelly Chang, Deepa Dongarwar, Nicole R Gonzales, Erica Jones, Audrey Sarah Cohen, Anjail Z Sharrief
    • PMID: 40532771
    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2025.108380
  • Video-based Intervention to Reduce Treatment and Outcome Disparities in Adults Living with Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (VIRTUAL): protocol for a randomized controlled trial
    • Munachi Okpala, Chigozirim Izeogu, Mengxi Wang, Charles Green, Gabretta Cooksey, Thuy Nguyen, Sarah Cohen, Latonya Bryant, Daphne C Hernandez, Elmer V Bernstam, Michael Gonzales, Rhonda Conyers, Olasimbo Chiadika, Kristin Varacalli, Sean I Savitz, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Anjail Z Sharrief
    • PMID: 40796883
    • PMCID: PMC12344908
    • DOI: 1186/s13063-025-09003-5
  • When Access Is Not Enough: The Role of Utilization Barriers in Nutrition Security and Cardiometabolic Risk
    • Maha Almohamad, Ruosha Li, Natalia I Heredia, Jayna M Dave, Eric E Calloway, Anjail Z Sharrief, Shreela V Sharma
    • PMID: 40573142
    • PMCID: PMC121595690
    • DOI: 3390/nu17122031
  • Telehealth Trials to Address Health Equity in Stroke Survivors