Stroke study wins $20.8 million grant renewal to explore disparities

Award puts REGARDS study in a position to generate groundbreaking stroke research and understanding

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The nation’s largest study aimed at exploring regional and racial differences in stroke illness and stroke death has earned a $20.8 million grant renewal.

The funding renewal puts the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, which has enrolled more than 30,200 U.S. study participants, in a position to inspire and generate data for groundbreaking research on understanding stroke and improving prevention, screening and treatment, said researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke has awarded UAB a $20.8 million renewal of its REGARDS study.

“REGARDS study leaders and volunteers deserve this honor and much more,” said Max Michael, M.D. dean of the UAB School of Public Health, which houses the research and data-collection team for the study.

“Usually such studies involving careful follow-up of large numbers of people come from within the National Institutes of Health. UAB researchers have shown they have the forethought and expertise needed for such a historic project,” Michael said.

The $20.8 million grant will focus primarily on determining the reason for higher stroke death rates in eight southeastern states known as the Stroke Belt — Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee – and explore why stroke death rates are higher among African-Americans than whites. Thousands of study participants live in those eight states, with 44 percent of participants living in other states.

Another focus of REGARDS will be to explore the genetic, environmental or lifestyle factors that impact personal stroke risks. REGARDS investigators also are examining post-stroke changes in cognitive abilities, public perception of stroke symptoms and what are the signs for undiagnosed ‘whispering’ strokes.