Dr. Maha Barakat, Assistant Minister at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visits Johns Hopkins Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute, Marking Six Years of Groundbreaking Advancements in Stroke Care, Launched Through a Gift from the UAE

In celebration of the sixth anniversary of the Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute (SKSI) at Johns Hopkins University and to mark World Stroke Day, Dr. Maha Barakat, Assistant Minister at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland (US) for consultations with physicians and faculty who are fundamentally transforming care for those affected by stroke and improving patient outcomes.

The SKSI, which operates in Baltimore and the UAE, draws on Johns Hopkins’ vast leadership in stroke diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, including biomedical research; innovative technology design; acute medical and surgical treatment; brain repair and neuroplasticity; behavioral recovery; stroke systems of care; prevention and public health.

Through its Centers of Excellence, SKSI’s programs and research are addressing unmet needs in stroke research and care that could positively benefit patients’ outcomes. For example, the Center of Excellence in Stroke Detection and Treatment is using artificial intelligence (AI) to search for markers in the genome that impact stroke risk as well as recovery. The center is also using AI to examine diagnostic images routinely collected from stroke patients — research that will eventually help doctors determine which patients are good candidates for thrombectomies past the currently recommended window of three to four hours.

SKSI medical staff have also helped Tawam Hospital in Abu Dhabi achieve American Heart Association (AHA) certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and are working with other UAE medical centers to achieve AHA certification as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals.

The SKSI was established through a transformative gift from the UAE and is revolutionizing stroke prevention and treatment for patients around the world. Its work builds on a longstanding relationship between the UAE and Johns Hopkins Medicine. For nearly five decades, Johns Hopkins has provided specialized care to Emiratis and has helped enhance health care delivery in the UAE. In 2012, the Sheikh Zayed Cardiovascular and Critical Care Tower was inaugurated at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

“It has been an honor to witness the growth and progress of this groundbreaking center over the past six years. In its short history, the Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute has transformed stroke care – shifting the focus from acute therapeutics to prevention and recovery,” said Assistant Minister Dr. Barakat. “I cannot wait to see what the Institute accomplishes next.”

Joined by Alia Alsuwaidi, UAE Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Assistant Minister Dr. Barakat also had the opportunity to meet with Emirati patients receiving care at the facility. The officials also participated in a celebration hosted by UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba, which included Johns Hopkins University and SKSI leadership, as well as US political and business leaders.

“The Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute is transforming care and creating better outcomes for stroke patients,” said Ms. Alsuwaidi. “We are grateful for the collaboration between physicians and researchers from the UAE and US who are leading this effort, and proud of the Emirates’ longstanding partnership with Johns Hopkins.”

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