StrokeNet Thrombectomy Endovascular Platform (STEP): A Catalyst for Stroke Research

Endovascular thrombectomy is a critical treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Challenges remain in extending treatment windows, refining patient selection, optimizing posttreatment interventions, and expanding endovascular thrombectomy indications. Traditional stroke trials have played a pivotal role in advancing care but are hindered by inefficiencies, rigid designs, high costs, long timelines, and slow enrollment. The StrokeNet Thrombectomy Endovascular Platform (STEP) represents an innovative paradigm shift in stroke research, offering a more agile, cost-effective, and flexible trial design. Here, we explore the architecture of STEP and its implications on stroke research.