Dr Neil Spratt

Biography

Dr Spratt leads the stroke translation laboratory within the school of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, and also works as a clinical neurologist at John Hunter Hospital. He sees his role primarily as 'bridging the gap' in translational stroke research, with the aims of moving promising therapies from the laboratory into clinical use, and of answering those important clinical questions best addressed with laboratory research. His group is part of the Hunter Medical Research Institute Centre for Brain and Mental Health stroke stream and work closely with clinical, imaging and epidemiological researchers from this stream.

Qualifications

• PhD (Medicine Denistry & Health Sciences), University of Melbourne, 2007
• Bachelor of Medicine (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1995
• Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1993

Research

Research keywords

• Clinical Science
• Enriched Environment
• Experimental Stroke
• Hypothermia
• Neurosciences
• Stroke
• intracranial pressure

Research expertise

• New stroke treatment: Hypothermia
• Intracranial Pressure and CSF flow regulation after stroke
• Leptomeningeal Collateral supply to the stroke ischaemic penumbra - potential therapeutics
• Understanding basic mechanisms of brain injury in stroke role of CaMKII
• Sonothrombolysis for acute stroke.
• Acute stroke clinical trials - new thrombolytics, new therapies for intracranial haemorrhage
• Improved patient selection for stroke therapy with advanced CT imaging
• Evaluation and translation of effective stroke rehabilitation strategies from the laboratory into the rehabilitation hospital:

- Environmental Enrichment

- Improving cardiovascular fitness

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH)

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Brain and Mental Health

Appointments

Administrative

Administrative expertise

Course Co-ordinator Yr 1 Semester 2 Medical Science

Co-chair - Stroke Stream - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Biomedical Sciences - Neuroscience
• Medical Physiology
• Pharmacy - Stroke

Teaching expertise

Neuroscience - Stroke

Pharmacology of Stroke

Medical Science - Physiology

Teaching interests

• Stroke pharmacology, pathophysiology and research – Yr 3 B Biomed Sci
• Laboratory project – Yr 3 B Biomed Sci
• Stroke diagnosis and treatment – Medical and allied health professionals
• Clinical neurology – Yr 4 B Med