Clinical Hub Aberystwyth
Your Health Matters
Welcome to the EASE Study
Metabolomic Testing Approaches to Aid Stroke Diagnosis and Recovery
Stroke can have life changing effects on mobility, independence and quality of life. Researchers at Aberystwyth University and Hywel Dda University Health Board are working together to improve the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of stroke.
By combining expertise in stroke medicine, metabolomics and artificial intelligence, the EASE study aims to develop new approaches that support earlier diagnosis, more personalised care and better outcomes for stroke survivors.
About the Study
Why better stroke biomarkers matter.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. While advances in treatment have improved outcomes for many patients, it remains difficult to accurately predict stroke severity, recovery potential and the risk of future stroke events for an individual patient.
The EASE Study aims to address these challenges by investigating whether detailed biochemical (“metabolomic”) analysis of blood samples can improve stroke diagnosis and provide new tools to help predict recovery and recurrent stroke risk.
Study Objectives
EASE aims to identify blood biomarkers linked to four key questions.
01
Stroke severity
How serious a stroke is for each individual patient.
02
Functional recovery
How well patients regain function in the months following stroke.
03
Stroke subtype
Whether a stroke is ischaemic (a blockage of blood flow to the brain) or haemorrhagic (bleeding within the brain).
04
Recurrent stroke risk
Which patients may be at increased risk of another stroke.
By combining metabolomic data with clinical information, researchers will develop artificial intelligence (AI) models designed to support healthcare professionals in diagnosing stroke, predicting recovery outcomes and identifying patients who may be at increased risk of future stroke events.
A further aim is to investigate whether novel blood testing could rapidly distinguish between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Faster identification of stroke type could help clinicians make more timely treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes.
Who Is Leading the Research?
Dr Helen Tench
Chief Investigator, Hywel Dda University Health Board
The study is led by Dr Helen Tench in collaboration with Professor Luis Mur and colleagues at the high resolution mass spectrometry lab in the Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University.
The collaboration brings together expertise in stroke medicine, metabolomics, biomarker discovery, artificial intelligence and data science, with a shared commitment to improving outcomes for stroke patients and their families.
The high resolution mass spectrometry lab, Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University
How Will the Study Work?
From hospital admission through nine months of follow up.
01
Recruitment and blood samples
Patients admitted to hospital with a stroke are invited to take part. Blood samples are collected during the acute phase of treatment and at several follow up visits over the next nine months.
02
Clinical assessments
Information on neurological function, mobility, cognition, disability and overall recovery is collected and compared with metabolomic measurements from the blood samples.
03
Metabolomics and AI
Advanced machine learning and AI approaches identify patterns within these data, revealing biological signatures linked to diagnosis, recovery and long term outcomes, and building predictive models to support future clinical decisions.
How Could This Research Benefit Patients?
Earlier, more accurate diagnosis
New tests may help clinicians rapidly identify stroke subtype, supporting faster treatment decisions during the critical early stages of care.
Better prediction of recovery
AI models could give more accurate estimates of likely recovery, helping clinicians, patients and families make informed decisions about treatment and rehabilitation.
Personalised treatment planning
Understanding the biological factors behind recovery may enable more tailored rehabilitation and care plans for individual patients.
Prevention of future strokes
Biomarkers linked to recurrent stroke risk could support earlier intervention and more targeted prevention.
Better use of healthcare resources
Predictive tools may help healthcare teams allocate rehabilitation services and specialist support more effectively.
Our Vision
A future where a rapid blood test and AI powered decision support can guide stroke care from the moment symptoms begin, improving diagnosis, recovery and prevention.
The EASE Study is an important step towards more personalised stroke care. In the future, discoveries from this research could help develop simple, rapid blood tests used at the point of care, including in ambulances on the way to hospital.
These tests could help healthcare professionals quickly determine whether a patient is having an ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, estimate stroke severity, predict recovery and identify those at increased risk of another stroke, so that patients across Wales and beyond receive the right treatment at the earliest possible stage of care.