Uncovering the hidden half

NWO Veni · 2026

Uncovering the hidden half: image-based decision support beyond technical stroke treatment success

Ischemic stroke is a major global disease, imposing significant and growing burdens on patients, families, and healthcare systems. Despite major advances in treatment, about half of patients do not recover functional independence even after a technically successful procedure. This “hidden half” of stroke outcomes remains poorly addressed.

In this research, we will develop new methods to understand brain blood flow characteristics, gain insights from images and clinical data, and link them to stroke recovery. By translating these insights into explainable AI models, this project aims to support personalized treatment strategies and improve recovery and quality of life for stroke patients.

  • Funding: NWO Veni, Dutch Research Council (NWO)
  • Host: Eindhoven University of Technology
  • Awarded: 2026 (news)
Quantitative perfusion maps (CBV, CBF, MTT, Tmax) derived from digital subtraction angiography, an example of the blood flow characteristics studied in this project.