STEP: StrokeNet Thrombectomy Endovascular Platform

The StrokeNet Thrombectomy Endovascular Platform (STEP) is conducted within NIH StrokeNet at 38 comprehensive stroke centers across the US. The primary goal is to optimize all aspects of care of acute ischemic stroke patients with a large or a medium vessel occlusion. The platform trial operates under an overarching Master Protocol in an inferentially integrated framework. The platform trial is designed to support the studies of three broad categories of therapeutics: expansion of endovascular treatment (EVT) indications, innovative EVT devices and concomitant medical therapies, and novel pre- and early-hospital technologies and systems of care. As new interventions are put forth, they will be added to the Master Protocol as a new Domain or part of an existing Domain. STEP utilizes a flexible Bayesian design with frequent adaptive analyses to assess whether a given intervention is superior, inferior, or equivalent either within a Domain or for specific populations within the Domain.