May 27, 2008 (Nice, France) — In the largest European stroke research program ever undertaken, countries in the European Union are joining forces in a unique effort to structure, integrate, and advance stroke research.

Announced at the recently held 17th European Stroke Conference, the initiative, which is known as the European Stroke Network (ESN), will receive €21 million over the next 5 years — funding that is over and above research initiatives supported at the national level individually by each of the 14 participating European Union member states.

“Pooling of competencies and resources promotes cooperation and collaboration among European teams, helps to avoid duplication of effort, and increases our chances of making discoveries that can benefit human health. Research like this will give hope to reduce and eventually prevent strokes and future suffering of patients and their families,” Manuel Hallen, MD, director of health research at the European Commission, told reporters attending a press conference here.

While the study was specifically carried out with stroke survivors, once can presume that it could also be beneficial to help restore full mobility and proper gait to accident victims, surgical recovery patients, and victims of disease.

Newswise — For the more than 700,000 people who experience a stroke each year, many never regain the ability to walk like they did prior to their stroke. But physical therapists, using a specialized treadmill, have discovered a new way to help stroke patients walk again—correctly.

The results of their study, conducted at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR), appear in the April 2008 issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.