Tue, 20 Oct
|AMRF Auditorium 505-011, FMHS UoA
Keeping a cool head: The future of stroke trials in New Zealand
When a stroke strikes, every minute matters. Learn more about a clinical trial for a cooling cap that could help protect the brain while patients travel to receive clot-removal treatment. This work is happening right here in Auckland.
Time & Location
20 Oct 2026, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
AMRF Auditorium 505-011, FMHS UoA, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
About the Event
Stroke can cause devastating and lasting disability. Although clot-removal treatment can restore blood flow to the brain, it is often a race against time. The longer treatment takes, the greater the risk of irreversible brain injury.
Dr Douglas Campbell will introduce COOLHEAD-2, a clinical trial investigating whether early head cooling can slow brain injury during transfer to Auckland City Hospital. The study uses a cooling cap during ambulance or helicopter transport, continuing until the brain artery is unblocked.
This approach is designed to make the most of the precious time between stroke onset and definitive treatment. Dr Campbell will also explain how this trial reflects the future of clinical research in New Zealand: treatment delivered within routine care, supported by efficient data capture and practical collaboration across health services.
Join us for an accessible and engaging evening exploring how local researchers are looking for new ways to protect the brain, reduce disability and improve outcomes for people affected by stroke.