Aims

We aim to substantially expand the Stroke Prevention Research Unit (SPRU) to create a new Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia in the first phase of the establishment of an Institute for Preventive Neurology. SPRU has trained several outstanding early career researchers who now require the space to develop their own programmes, exploiting our unique cohort studies, biobanks and imaging facilities. The Centre will provide 1000 square-metres of new research space (laboratory, clinic, offic e), bringing all current SPRU staff together and allowing a major expansion of our programmes. The Centre will house 50 staff at the heart of the hospital, linked directly to areas of patient care and to our Acute Vascular Imaging Centre and will incorporate other key infrastructure, including the Oxford Vascular Study. The research will continue to focus on better understanding of known risk factors and more effective use of existing treatments, developing cost-effective preventive strategies t hat will impact quickly on clinical practice. The Centre will facilitate further integration with other groups in Oxford, including Neuroimaging (Jezzard), Neuroplasticity (Johansen-berg), Experimental Psychology (Husain), Vascular Physiology (Leeson), Bioengineering (Tarassenko) , Global Health (Woodward), Old Age Psychiatry (Lovestone), Primary Care (Hobbs/Lasserson) and Health Economics (Luengo-Fernadez).