The African Stroke Organization Conference 2023
Authors: Fred Stephen Sarfo, Mehari Gebreyohanns, Rufus Akinyemi, Ad Adams Ebenezer, Bruce Ovbiagele, Mayowa Owolabi
Journal: The Lancet Neurology (2024)

The increase in stroke burden on the African continent in recent decades1Feigin VL Roth GA Naghavi M et al.Global burden of stroke and risk factors in 188 countries, during 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.Lancet Neurol. 2016; 15: 913-924Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1078) Google Scholar, 2Sarfo FS Akpa OM Ovbiagele B et al.Patient-level and system-level determinants of stroke fatality across 16 large hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria: a prospective cohort study.Lancet Glob Health. 2023; 11: e575-e585Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar requires homegrown solutions informed by robust research to address this looming public health crisis. The African Stroke Organization Conference (ASOC) was commissioned in 2021 to reduce the burden of stroke in Africa through translational research, capacity building, and advocacy.3Gebreyohanns M Akinyemi RO Owolabi MO Sarfo FS Tagge R Ovbiagele B The African Stroke Organization Conference 2021: building capacity, careers, collaborations, and contributions.J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2022; 31106385 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar The third ASOC was successfully held in Ibadan, Nigeria from Nov 2 to Nov 3, 2023. The hybrid programme, which was attended by 108 participants in person and 101 registrants virtually, was themed Promoting Brain Health through Stroke Prevention and Control. We want to highlight the ensemble of presentations by eminent scholars on topical issues relating to stroke, abstract and poster sessions, recognition of scholars advancing stroke research and clinical care on the continent, and mentoring sessions for young investigators that took place at this exciting event. The policymaker address was delivered by Dr Tarun Dua, Director of the WHO Brain Health Unit, and was preceded by a keynote address by a representative of the Nigerian Ministry of Health on the country's efforts to curtail stroke and other non-communicable diseases. For the first time, the winner of the Osuntokun Lecture was an indigenous African researcher. The award recipient, Fred Stephen Sarfo, delivered an inspirational lecture on advancing the frontiers of stroke research in Africa through clinical trials4Opare-Addo PA Sarfo FS Berchie PO Aikins M Ovbiagele B Participation by patients from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in trial evidence supporting secondary stroke prevention guideline recommendations.J Neurol Sci. 2023; 448120641 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar and implementation research to contextualise evidence generation for stroke care in Africa. Professor Foad Abd-Allah was awarded the Stroke Leadership award for pioneering work in stroke advocacy in Egypt that led to improved symptom awareness and reperfusion therapy rates. ASOC 2023 also featured cutting-edge scientific presentations from leaders in the field (appendix). The Hot Topics session featured Tudor Jovin, Robin Lemmens, and Sean Savitz, who presented brief summaries of breakthrough studies that had been also highlighted at the 2023 International Stroke Conference, European Stroke Organisation Conference, and World Stroke Congress, respectively. OB Onimisi (Nigeria) received the best oral abstract award, and the award for the best poster presentation was given to Ahmed Alhefny (Egypt). The Vascular Brain Trust and Moving on Up sessions provided an opportunity for mentorship of early career researchers by senior academics. The conference also featured a World Stroke Organization–African Stroke Organization training course on acute stroke care that was attended by 48 trainees. In our opinion, the pinnacle of ASOC 2023 was a series of five lectures on the World Stroke Organization–Lancet Neurology Commission on Pragmatic solutions to reduce the global burden of stroke.5Feigin VL Owolabi MO World Stroke Organization–Lancet Neurology Commission Stroke Collaboration GroupPragmatic solutions to reduce the global burden of stroke: a World Stroke Organization–Lancet Neurology Commission.Lancet Neurol. 2023; 22: 1160-1206Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (24) Google Scholar The networking opportunities, overwhelming interest by African scholars on the continent and in the diaspora, and international collaborators augur well for the sustenance of ASOC in line with the vision of the African Stroke Organization. We declare no competing interests. The African Stroke Organization is funded by the National Institutes of Health (R13NS115395). The ASOC 2023 Planning Committee members are listed in the appendix. Download .pdf (.52 MB) Help with pdf files Supplementary appendix