Contributor biography

Studied Medicine at the University of Oxford, and undertook his postgraduate clinical training in Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Oxford and Liverpool, followed by a visiting academic fellowship at McMaster University Canada. His initial research was on the epidemiology of stroke in Oxfordshire, and in clinical trials of stroke prevention.

He set up and ran the first International Stroke Trial (IST-1), the first ‘mega-trial’ in acute ischaemic stroke from 1991-1997.19,453 patients were recruited within 48 hours of stroke onset from 467 hospitals in 37 countries. He was the Co-Chief Investigator of IST-3, the largest-ever trial of ‘clot-busting’ thrombolytic therapy for acute ischaemic stroke with 3035 patients. He has a major interest in clinical trials, systematic reviews and Evidence-Based Medicine.

His main academic activities in retirement relate to clinical trial research governance though membership or Chairmanship of Trial Steering Committes and Trial Data Monitoring Committees.