Patients with acute stroke lose millions of neurons every hour. Yet, effective treatments remain limited. In only a subset of patients can an occluded blood vessel be reopened in time. One major reason for the lack of additional therapies is the limited understanding of the biological processes unfolding during a stroke.

Tiedt plans to close this gap with his ERC project SURPASS (Super high-frequency multi-omics and ultrasensitive point-of-care testing towards a molecular classification of acute stroke). He will analyze blood samples collected from patients throughout the critical first 48 hours after stroke at an unprecedented molecular depth and temporal resolution. The project seeks to identify biomarkers that reflect the progression of brain injury, distinguish biologically different forms of stroke, and help predict recovery. By integrating these molecular data with brain imaging and detailed clinical information, SURPASS aims to develop a new molecular classification of acute stroke. The most promising biomarkers will then be validated in clinical studies, with the aim of developing ultrasensitive tests for routine clinical use that allow continuous monitoring of brain damage.

“By making the biological evolution of stroke measurable, SURPASS could change how we understand, diagnose and treat acute stroke”, says Tiedt.