In a groundbreaking achievement, Wang Yongjun, a renowned clinical scientist from the Chinese mainland, has been honored with the William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke at the 2025 International Stroke Conference (ISC) held in Los Angeles.
The Feinberg Award, established by the American Stroke Association, stands as the highest accolade in stroke clinical medicine. This year marks the first time an Asian scientist has received this prestigious award in its 34-year history – a testament to Wang's remarkable contributions to stroke research.
As the president of Beijing Tiantan Hospital and the Chinese Stroke Association, Wang has led his team to produce 12 pivotal pieces of evidence over the past three decades that have revolutionized clinical guidelines and practices in stroke treatment.
\"It is very fortunate that our team has been a major force in providing evidence of intravenous thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke,\" Wang remarked. He added that ongoing clinical trials, including studies on thrombolysis with Tenecteplase for minor ischemic strokes and thrombolysis for ischemic stroke at very late time windows, continue to push the boundaries of stroke management.
Wang's team has notably expanded the intravenous thrombolysis time window from 4.5 hours to 24 hours using advanced imaging and artificial intelligence technologies. This breakthrough allows 90% of acute ischemic stroke patients to receive life-saving thrombolytic therapy, reducing disability rates by 8.8% without increasing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage.
Additionally, their development of a treatment combining aspirin and clopidogrel has lowered global stroke recurrence rates from 11% to 6%, benefiting nearly one million stroke patients in China alone.
Emphasizing the power of collaboration, Wang highlighted the role of teamwork in their success: over 2,400 hospitals across China are part of their extensive clinical research network.
Facing a significant stroke burden, China's scientific community, led by dedicated researchers like Wang, continues to tackle global challenges in stroke prevention and treatment. Over the past decade, medical scientists from Beijing Tiantan Hospital have completed more than 50 national clinical studies, with 14 providing Chinese solutions to international stroke prevention and treatment.
The Feinberg Award honors the legacy of the late William M. Feinberg, a pioneering stroke clinician and researcher who advanced the comprehensive understanding of stroke causes.
The three-day ISC event, attended by around 4,000 professionals, showcased the latest advancements in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation worldwide.
Reference(s):
Chinese scientist Wang Yongjun wins Feinberg Award for stroke research
cgtn.com
