What is the best way of treating people who have had a stroke when they have a long journey before receiving treatment? Grethe Andersen, Professor at Aarhus University Hospital, is investigating this question based on a grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation of DKK 4.8 million. The grant is one of a number of grants being awarded for the first time under the Foundation’s new Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials research programme established in autumn 2017.
“Patients with a major stroke in the brain have little time to spare. They need a thrombectomy to remove the clot via a catheter in the groin without delay. But should the ambulance drive directly to one of the three treatment centres that can perform thrombectomy in Denmark or to the nearest thrombolysis centre first to start treatment as soon as possible? We are hoping that our research project will answer these questions and thus contribute to improving treatment for people experiencing a stroke,” says Grethe Andersen.
Clinical trials are vital for improving treatment. Nevertheless, researchers and doctors have had difficulty in funding this type of trial.
The Foundation has awarded another grant to Anders Perner, Professor at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, of DKK 10.4 million for a project on improving the intensive treatment of patients with septic shock, which is characterized by life-threatening circulatory failure resulting from an infection such as pneumonia.
“Septic shock is the third most frequent cause of death globally, but knowledge is limited on the optimal treatment other than administering antibiotics rapidly. All patients with septic shock receive fluids intravenously. Our goal is to examine the benefits of administering more or less fluid. The results will improve treatment and possibly survival after septic shock,” say Anders Perner.
The Foundation has awarded DKK 77.7 million in grants for nine projects. This was almost DKK 18 million more than budgeted because of many qualified applications. The Foundation received 60 applications, and the applicants applied for a total of DKK 542 million.
The new research programme aims to boost the opportunities to carry out clinical trials in Denmark.
“Through this new programme, the Foundation wants to improve the treatment of patients by developing new drugs, new types of surgery and new diagnostic devices. We received many outstanding applications and are looking forward to monitoring the projects in the years to come,” says Niels-Henrik von Holstein-Rathlou, Head of Research and Innovation Grants, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The grants under this new research programme are awarded in open competition following a call for applications, which the Foundation’s Committee on Clinical and Translational Medicine assesses.
See a list of the grants and the names of the grant recipients and their projects here.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Christian Mostrup Scheel, Senior Press Officer, Novo Nordisk Foundation, phone: +45 3067 4805, [email protected]
