NEWSFLASH+++NEWSFLASH+++NEWSFLASH+++NEWSFLASH+++
Watch the presentation of the highly positive ECASS 3 thrombolysis trial, presented at the WSC on 25th Sep. 2008 in Vienna.
Welcome
The European Stroke Organisation (ESO): Foundation of a New European Society Against Stroke:
December 16, 2007, Heidelberg (Germany): A new pan-European organisation, the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) was founded today. This was announced by Professor Werner Hacke, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Germany and one of the founding members. The ESO was created from a merger between the European Stroke Council (ESC) and the European Stroke Initiative (EUSI). Its membership consists of stroke researchers, national and regional stroke societies and others with an interest in stroke. Key objectives of the new organisation include the development of public policies to reduce the number of stroke-associated deaths and the reduction of the global burden caused by stroke throughout Europe.
"This is an important development in tackling the current burden of stroke across Europe. The European Stroke Society will be a formidable advocate for the improvement of stroke outcomes and is supported by leading clinicians from across Europe. This will allow us to develop and support policies which will actively tackle the stroke burden." (Professor Hacke, Department of Neurology, Heidelberg).
In addition to raising the profile of stroke on a pan-European scale, the ESO will continue to conduct EUSI's previous successful activities: Most importantly, EUSI has produced European guidelines for the management of ischemic stroke in 1999 and 2003, which were translated into more than ten languages including Chinese and Russian, and for hemorrhagic stroke in 2006. The update of the ischemic stroke recommendations is expected in spring 2008. EUSI has also organised popular stroke summer schools, sponsored a European Master of Stroke medicine program together with the Donau University in Krems, Austria, organised annual symposia on stroke controversies, and implemented standards for stroke care and stroke units in Europe. These activities will continue under the auspices of the ESO.
The founding ceremony for the ESO was attended by more than 40 founding members, and supported many stroke physicians from 25 countries. An interim managing executive committee has been nominated and will hold office until the first official election during the European Stroke Conference in Nice, France, in May 2008. The interim executive committee of the ESO is chaired by Professor Werner Hacke, previously president of both ESC and EUSI. Other members include Professor Michael Brainin, Austria (Secretary), Professor Bo Norrving, Sweden, Professor Ken Lees, Glasgow, Professor Didier Leys, France, Professor Veronika Skovortsova, Russia, Professor José Ferro, Portugal, Professor Markku Kaste, Finland and Professor Rolf Schneider, Germany (Treasurer).
For further information on this announcement please contact:
Prof Werner Hacke M.D.
Dept. of Neurology Heidelberg University
Im Neuenheimer Feld 400
69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Email: werner_hacke@med.uni-heidelberg.de
