The SpecTRA project (Spectrometry for TIA Rapid Assessment) is an emergency medicine and neurology project designed to reduce the occurrence of stroke through early detection of early warning signs. Stroke accounts for the greatest use of acute and chronic care beds in Canada, with large economic and social costs associated with treatment and rehabilitation. The goal of the project is to develop a multi-protein blood test for use by emergency physicians to rapidly detect transient ischemic attacks (TIA). The team will develop clinical decision support tools that would use both clinical symptoms and protein information to aid diagnosis and patient care pathways. For every real TIA in the emergency room there are 10 other patients with conditions such as migraine that mimic TIA. A decision tool would help manage high patient volume that places undue pressure on limited neuroimaging capacity and specialist consultations.
ActiveHealthTechnology Platforms
GlycoNet Integrated Services
Competition/Funding OpportunityGenome Canada - Technology Development
Project Lead(s)/Co-Lead(s)Warren Wakarchuk (University of Alberta)