Chinese clinical scientist Wang Yongjun has made history by winning the William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke at the 2025 International Stroke Conference held in Los Angeles. This prestigious award, established by the American Stroke Association, recognizes Wang's groundbreaking contributions to stroke research and management, marking the first time an Asian scientist has received this honor in its 34-year history.
As the president of Beijing Tiantan Hospital and the Chinese Stroke Association, Wang has led his team over the past three decades to produce 12 key pieces of evidence that have revolutionized stroke treatment guidelines globally. Notably, their pioneering work expanded the intravenous thrombolysis time window from 4.5 hours to 24 hours by integrating imaging and artificial intelligence technologies. This advancement enables 90% of acute ischemic stroke patients to receive life-saving thrombolytic therapy, decreasing disability rates by 8.8% without elevating the risk of intracranial hemorrhage.
In addition to this, Wang's team developed a combination treatment of aspirin and clopidogrel, which has halved the global stroke recurrence rate from 11% to 6%. This breakthrough has benefited nearly one million stroke patients in China alone. Emphasizing the power of collaboration, Wang highlighted that over 2,400 hospitals across China are part of their expansive clinical research network.
Facing a significant burden of stroke in China, Wang and his team have been at the forefront of addressing global challenges in stroke prevention and treatment. Over the past decade, Beijing Tiantan Hospital has spearheaded more than 50 national clinical studies, with 14 offering Chinese solutions to international stroke prevention and treatment strategies.
The William M. Feinberg Award commemorates the legacy of the late Feinberg, a distinguished stroke clinician and researcher who advanced the understanding of stroke causes. The International Stroke Conference, which hosted around 4,000 professionals, showcased the latest developments in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation worldwide.
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Chinese scientist Wang Yongjun wins Feinberg Award for stroke research
cgtn.com
