Plenary Speaker

Professor Neil Spratt

Neil Spratt PhD, FRACP is a research-focussed neurologist and basic scientist (FRACP, 2003; PhD, University of Melbourne, 2007). Professor Spratt is head of the translational stroke research laboratory at the University of Newcastle, co-directs the Hunter Medical Research Institute Heart and Stroke Program, is a senior staff specialist neurologist and former director of acute stroke services and co-director of the Dept Neurology, John Hunter Hospital. He was the host site PI for the recently completed TASTE international RCT of tenecteplase v alteplase for stroke thrombolysis in perfusion-imaging selected patients, and was senior investigator of the multicentre AREISSA trial of environmental enrichment for post-stroke recovery. CIA Spratt’s work spans the basic science/clinical interface and is characterised by its strong focus on making a difference for stroke patients. In the 17 years since completing his PhD, Professor Spratt has built a strong and productive laboratory team. Professor Spratt has published in all of the leading journals in stroke, and in leading Neurology and general journals - Neurol., Ann. Neurol., Brain, N Eng J Med. Professor Spratt is senior author of an invited review in the leading journal in stroke (Stroke) on intracranial pressure and hypothermia (CIB first author).

Research Support: Total career grant/fellowship funding >$18M, including: NHMRC postgraduate scholarship 2003-2006, NHMRC Health Professional Research Fellowship 2007-2011, NHMRC Career Development Fellowships 2012-2015 and 2016-19 (levels I and II), NSW Ministry of Health Senior Researcher Grant, NSW Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program, 2020-2023.

Contributions to Field of Research: (I) Stroke Fundamental Research. CI Spratt’s laboratory team have made important improvements to experimental stroke models (original method modification, 71 cites) and have discovered the hitherto unrecognised major 24 hour ICP response (7 recent papers; 3 in the leading stroke basic science journal, and invited review in the leading clinical stroke journal), and it’s prevention by hypothermia;. Collaborations: CI Spratt’s recognition is apparent from a record of collaboration with leading researchers nationally and internationally, including productive research collaborations with researchers from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Canada and China.

Supervision and/or Mentoring: Six current PhD, 13 completed PhD, 11 completed Honours students.

Personal: Neil was born in Brisbane, to Canadian parents, but raised mostly in Canberra. He undertook his undergraduate medical degree in Newcastle, internship and residency in Gosford, and Physician/Neurology training in Newcastle and Melbourne, where he did his PhD. He and wife Melissa are proud parents to 3 University-aged children, and Neil loves mountain biking, bouldering, hiking, travel and food.

Saving the Penumbra

pipes, pressure, and cooling

My research career has been largely devoted to identifying and saving the ischaemic penumbra – the threatened but potentially salvageable brain tissue after ischaemic stroke. Over this period, scientific thinking has evolved from intense scepticism in some quarters about its very existence, to an era where patient selection for life-changing therapies is based on penumbral imaging. In my daily working life, I am fortunate enough to witness patients who, thanks to treatment advances that have arisen from better pathophysiological understanding, will have the opportunity to go on to lead a normal life, rather than spending the rest of their lives dependent on others for everyday activities. My laboratory team has been focussed on advancing knowledge of stroke pathophysiology, always with a view to the potential to develop new therapies. We discovered and have characterised a previously unsuspected transient elevation of intracranial pressure after stroke that may impede blood flow to penumbra and cause expansion of the stroke. Additionally, we have identified and are developing 2 novel potential therapeutic approaches that may prevent the intracranial pressure rise, and/or improve blood flow to the ischaemic region through alternate “collateral” vessels. I will expand on these findings, and also reflect on my own perspectives as a clinician scientist for fostering future research success in our field.

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