The Stroke Program has a broad research agenda from molecular biology to community based participatory research. Researchers are investigating genetic syndromes that pre-dispose to stroke syndromes. Vascular biology and possible neuro-toxicities of medications used to treat stroke are also being investigated.

The group has a fundamental interest in health disparities and uses the disease stroke as a common, expensive and severe model disease to look at the impact on minority populations and women. The U-M Stroke Program is the home of two stroke surveillance studies: the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study. In addition to epidemiology, behavioral interventions are conducted by the group to reduce the impact of disease, particularly through a community-based participatory research approach in partnership with the Flint community.

The intersection of sleep apnea and stroke is a critically important research focus of the stroke group. The role of sleep apnea as an explanatory variable in health disparities is a part of this investigation. In addition, the U-M Stroke and Sleep Medicine Programs are conducting a definitive trial, called Sleep SMART, to evaluate whether treating sleep apnea reduces post-stroke disability or helps prevent another stroke, ACS, or death. Finally, the team is exploring the role of stroke and dementia and brain health.