• neurointerventional surgery
• science

The long history of the field of neurointerventional surgery1 2 entered its modern period with the development of the detachable coil.3 Since that time, the explosion of medical device and imaging technologies has led to profound improvements in clinical outcomes of patients with cerebrovascular disease.4–13 The recent landmark trials of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke represent perhaps the most impressive treatment effect in modern medical interventions. Much of this effort was funded by the private sector. Ironically, the first publication of modern stent-retriever thrombectomy was described as a little-known result of a National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering-funded project.14 However, the impressive innovations and accomplishments in neurointerventional surgery have been achieved primarily with collaborations between physician-scientists and industry to develop techniques and devices to treat cerebrovascular disease through a minimally invasive approach.

Today I entered ‘endovascular’ and ‘stroke’ to the NIH reporter query that returned 14 projects. Given the impact of stroke on our healthcare system coupled with the impressive patient outcomes of intra-arterial …