Thomas Brott, M.D., receives 2017 Research Achievement Award from American Heart Association

Thomas Brott, M.D. (N ’98), was selected to receive the 2017 Research Achievement Award from the American Heart Association (AHA). The recognition rewards distinguished lifetime scientific achievement in the field of cardiovascular research. The AHA gave the honor to Dr. Brott for his pivotal role in the development of lifesaving interventions that have revolutionized treatment of acute ischemic stroke, with enormous consequent benefits dramatically reducing stroke death and disability in the world’s population.

According to John Warner, M.D., president of the American Heart Association, “Dr. Brott has been at the forefront of an international medical revolution in dealing with stroke. He was a leading investigator in the early studies that identified tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) as an effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke. He played a key role in designing the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Dr. Brott’s studies also looked at intercerebral hemorrhage and determined that the bleeding in the brain often continues during the first minutes and hours, offering opportunities for urgent treatment.”

Dr. Brott’s work also investigated the efficacy and complication rates of various stroke treatments, including looking at complication rates of the surgery known as endarterectomy. In recent years, Dr. Brott has served as principal investigator for major multi-institutional clinical studies, comparing two major treatments for stroke. He developed and led the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST), which followed patients at more than 100 medical centers throughout treatment and 10 years afterward.

Dr. Brott is the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Professor of Neurosciences at Mayo Clinic in Florida.