The Nepal Stroke Research Workshop convened about 64 multidisciplinary experts to advance stroke research in Nepal. Morning sessions mapped global and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) strategies from the World Stroke Organization (WSO), Nepal Stroke Project (NSP), Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT), Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) and PHASE Nepal. Afternoon breakout groups produced four actionable research proposals, with one receiving 25,000 NPR seed funding – demonstrating strong momentum for collaborative, LMIC‑tailored stroke research.
This workshop was jointly supported by the Nepal Stroke Project (NSP) and the University of Edinburgh, UK, as part of their ongoing collaboration to strengthen stroke research and care in Nepal.
Workshop Objectives
● Network Nepali and international stroke experts (clinicians, researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs))
● Map ongoing initiatives and LMIC‑specific evidence gaps (surveillance, prehospital, acute and rehabilitation care)
● Generate fundable research proposals leveraging local resources for policy impact
Morning Session
First and foremost, heartfelt thanks to Prof. Gillian Mead, the main organizer of the event, who unfortunately could not attend, because of an acute illness and to Dr. Abhishek Man Shrestha, who graciously served as the Master of Ceremonies (EMCEE) for the entire session.
Dr. Raju Paudel delivered the welcome speech, highlighting the importance of advancing stroke research in Nepal and emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts. He underscored how working together across all areas of stroke care both pre- and post-stroke can significantly strengthen stroke research and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
WSO Strategies to Reduce Global Stroke Burden (Prof. Jeyaraj Pandian, President of the World Stroke Organization), presented a global burden map and worldwide incidence data.
Nepal Stroke Association Progress (Dr. Christine Tunkl/ Dr. Lekhjung Thapa): Presentation on the progress of the Nepal Stroke Association (NSA) and NSP.
Experiencing Stroke: Survivor’s Perspective: Several stroke survivors were introduced and their cases and post-stroke-experiences shortly presented, leading up to an in-person interview with a stroke survivor from the Kathmandu region and her family, who started being her caregiver after the stroke.
Palliative Care (Dr. Amrita): Emphasized early palliative-enhanced care humanizing patients/families/communities including spiritual leaders.
Gurkha Welfare Trust: Long-term Stroke Survivor Needs (Dr. Gerda Pohl): UK charity (est. 1969) supports 5,800+ ex-Gurkhas/widows with pensions, medical clinics/residential homes/camps, home-based rehab, carer training, home adaptations
Need for Stroke Research in LMICs (Dr. Raju): Called for Nepal-specific data on surveillance/prevention, prehospital care, acute care, rehabilitation, complications.
Learning from Global NCD Initiatives (Dr. Biraj Karmacharya): Highlighted Dhulikhel Heart Study (2013) as successful Nepal NCD data collection model informing local research priorities.
Stroke Research: From Idea to Impact (Drs. Christine Tunkl/Khechar Paudel): Explained process indicators (resource utilization) vs. outcome indicators (patient improvement) for standardization/ comparability using accessible questionnaires.
PHASE Nepal Research Expertise (Dr. Jiban Karki): NGO (est. 2006) delivers health/education/livelihood services in 6 remote Himalayan districts; research wing (since 2017) focuses NCDs/spinal injury/public health with policy impact.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions: Funded Innovation Format: Four randomly assigned groups had 45 minutes to develope research proposals on assigned topics (awareness, acute care, lifestyle, caregiver burden). Winner receives 25,000 NPR funding (first half post-proposal, second after execution). The criteria were relevant/feasible, innovative, … Exceptional discussions showed strong enthusiasm for joint projects.
Detailed Group Presentations:
Group 1: Public Awareness (Gerda Pohl) – “Identifying an Effective Strategy to Raise Awareness of Stroke Symptoms in Nepal” (Radio vs. posters for Nepali BE-FAST; awareness vs. behavior outcomes
Group 2: Acute Care – “Stroke Unit vs. Non-Stroke Unit care in Nepal (SUCCEED Nepal)” (prospective multicentre observational; mortality/mRS)
Group 3: Lifestyle Modification – “Does lifestyle modification reduce recurrent stroke risk?” (Manipal Hospital cohort; adherence/follow-up challenges)
Group 4: Caregiver Burden (WINNER) – “Burdens experienced by primary caregivers of stroke survivors” (qualitative interviews/FGDs ≥6 months experience) – 25,000 NPR awarded
Overall Group Work Assessment: Very high-quality discussions addressing relevant aspects; palpable desire for collaborative research projects.
Afternoon Presentations on Potential Trials in Nepal
Following the breakout sessions, three additional presentations explored promising clinical trials for Nepal: ACT GLOBAL (Dr. Nishita Singh) on acute stroke interventions, I-CATCHER (Dr. Xia Wang) focusing on innovative stroke management, and Community BP Management for Stroke Prevention (Dr. Bishnu Marasaini), highlighting blood pressure control strategies to reduce stroke incidence in LMIC settings.
Research Workshop Outcomes and Summary
Extremely positive day with exceptional networking across disciplines, comprehensive mapping of Nepal’s stroke research landscape, and tangible outputs through four innovative proposals – capped by Group 4’s funded caregiver burden study. The results of 4the study are to be presented at the next Stroke Research Workshop in 2026. Strong enthusiasm for joint projects emerged, positioning Nepal for LMIC-leading stroke research; next steps include proposal implementation, another stroke research workshop for 2026, and sustained collaboration among WSO/ NSP/ GWT/ PHASE/ NHRC partners.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Dr. Rachana Nakarmi and Dr Abhisehk Man Shrestha, without whose management of major organizational aspects this event would not have been possible. Sincere gratitude also to Dr. Lekhjung Thapa, Dr. Raju Paudel, Dr. Christine Tunkl , Ms. Harriet Koch and Ms. Nooma Sharma for their constant positive input and strong support throughout.
And finally a big thank you to all participants, whose engagement through thoughtful questions and high-value contributions made this workshop as productive and inspiring as it turned out to be!
