IST-3 is a large-scale, international randomised controlled trial of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for patients with acute ischaemic stroke. The study will run for 5 years and seeks to recruit 6000 patients from up to 400 centres worldwide. There is no upper age limit for the study providing patients were independent prior to the stroke. The study is coordinated from the Neurosciences Trials Unit, Edinburgh and the Chief Investigators are Prof Peter Sandercock (University of Edinburgh) and Prof Richard Lindley (University of Sydney). It is an independent 'academic' study, and is funded in the UK by the MRC, the Stroke Association & the Health Foundation.

Overseas funding is at present from the Heart Foundation of Australia, the Norwegian Research Council & AFA insurances (Sweden).

It will be important for there to be significant UK
participation in the study, and we hope that members of the BGS will support the trial. Full details of the study are available from the study website: www.ist3.com (where you can also register your interest in joining the study), and can be obtained by sending an email to the email address found in the printed newsletter

Richard Lindley would be happy to answer any questions from BGS members regarding this study. Email him at the email address in the printed newsletter

Prof Richard I Lindley
Moran Foundation for Older Australians Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Geriatric Medicine
Westmead Hospital
Westmead NSW2145 Australia