Led by the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia
(AQuAS), ICTUSnet involves 10 European partners from Spain, France and
Portugal. The project was awarded by Interreg Sudoe Programme, which is
financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Strokes are an urgent medical condition caused by a sudden alteration of
blood flow in the brain that often leaves the brain permanently damaged.
Quick diagnosis and treatment of strokes can avoid death or disability of
affected population. The complexity of stroke chain of care and the need to
deliver ultrafast expert care require every region to have a
well-stablished stroke strategy that provides evidence-based management and
equal access to stroke care. Unfortunately, there is huge variability in
the provision of stroke care in south-western European regions.
Strokes are the second cause of death in Europe and among leading causes of
disability and dementia in adults, which entails high social and economic
impact. Appropriate treatment has demonstrated to reduce disability and
economic resources; hence it is crucial that patients have access to proper
diagnosis techniques and effective treatments.
The absence of population-based high quality registries in many regions
hinders the capacity to understand the medical condition, the variability
of healthcare practices and the real-world difficulties to overcome the
laboratory-to-practice gap. In this context, use of new technologies
(Artificial Intelligence) and big data analysis could potentially improve
stroke care strategies by sharing best practices and avoiding inefficient
administrative and clinical procedures.
ICTUSnet has the mission to create a network of collaboration between
different regions of southern Europe formed by patients and
professionals from different areas related to stroke, covering an area
of 20 million inhabitants.
At the same time, ICTUSnet aims to create research infrastructures that
incorporate innovative data analysis technologies to improve stroke care
systems and subsequently reduce the impact of the disease on the
population.
The consortium is formed by 10 healthcare and research institutions from
the regions of Catalonia (AQuAs, Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Fundació Ictus and Open Evidence), Aragon (Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud), Balearic Islands (Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears), Navarra (Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet), North of Portugal (Administração Regional de Saúde do Norte) and Occitanie (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tolouse). Additionally, the consortium counts on the interest of 33 associated partners from all over Europe.
ICTUSnet project has three objectives, namely;
- To use innovative big data technologies available to extract and
analyse information and explore new perspectives on stroke care
strategies. - To undertake a deep analysis of collected information and stroke care
strategies on patients, with attention to the different health and
profile characteristics. To study, agree and plan measures to enhance
effectivity in stroke care strategies on severe stage and
post-evaluation procedures, to reduce impact on stroke consequences. - To foster international and regional cooperation by exchanging good
practices, peer learning and implementing a common advanced training
programme.
ICTUSnet aims to reach better knowledge on stroke care strategies. The
project seeks to transform lives of stroke patients and improve their
life quality, to push forward stroke awareness and knowledge, and to
enhance the quality of care strategies.
Project details
Project code: SOE2/P1/E0623
Start date: April 2018
Project duration: 36 months (3 years)
Project website: http://www.ictusnet-sudoe.eu/
Project twitter: @ICTUSnet
Contact: Sònia Abilleira (Project Coordinator): sabilleira@gencat.cat