2017 Research Grant

We are pleased and proud to announce the 5th annual

“KAT-Walk & Karo-5K Research Grant for 2017”

was awarded to Dr. Anand Rughani, Neurosurgeon with Maine Medical Partners at the Brain Aneurysm Awareness event on September 9, 2017 in Portland, Maine.

Dr. Rughani and his team have developed an artificial neural network (ANN) that has demonstrated accurate prediction of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following ruptured aneurysm in a population of patients treated at a single hospital. This past research project yielded promising results and he is now ready to validate the hypothesis that an ANN can accurately predict those patients at risk for developing cerebral vasospasm, and this model can be generalized to all patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Patients with a ruptured brain aneurysm are at risk for developing cerebral vasospasm, a condition that develops when the leaked blood irritates the surrounding brain tissue and blood vessels. After a ruptured aneurysm, patients are monitored closely to watch for any potential developing vasospasm, which can in turn cause further brain injury one to two weeks after the aneurysm ruptures.

It can be difficult to accurately predict which patients are at risk for developing cerebral vasospasm. Artificial neural networks are a modeling tool for capturing large amounts of information, and even “learn” the interactions that might happen between different variables. Neural networks have been shown to be more accurate at predicting certain outcomes than clinicians.

Dr. Rughani previously showed that a neural network could accurately predict cerebral vasospasm. This new study is a validation of that model and demonstrate that it didn't just work on one small group of patients, but that it can be reliably reproduced. Dr. Rughani’s neural network technology innovation could be developed into tools that aid physicians to more accurately predict those at risk, and lead to increased positive outcomes in patients suffering from cerebral vasospasm, a common serious complication following ruptured aneurysm.

Thank you to everyone who donates and supports our efforts to increase Brain Aneurysm Awareness and Research. We look forward to continuing to help provide funds for critical Brain Aneurysm research that is being done in Maine and northern New England.