Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 11753-11772; doi:10.3390/ijms130911753 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Review Neuroprotection for Stroke: Current Status and Future Perspectives Jens Minnerup 1,2,†,*, Brad A. Sutherland 3,†, Alastair M. Buchan 3 and Christoph Kleinschnitz 4 1 Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany 2 Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster 48149, Germany 3 Acute Stroke Programme, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford 38655, UK; E-Mails:
[email protected] (B.A.S.);
[email protected] (A.M.B.) 4 University Clinic of Würzburg, Department of Neurology, Würzburg 97080, Germany; E-Mail:
[email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +49-251-83-48196; Fax: +49-251-83-48181. Received: 29 July 2012; in revised form: 6 September 2012 / Accepted: 7 September 2012 / Published: 18 September 2012 Abstract: Neuroprotection aims to prevent salvageable neurons from dying. Despite showing efficacy in experimental stroke studies, the concept of neuroprotection has failed in clinical trials. Reasons for the translational difficulties include a lack of methodological agreement between preclinical and clinical studies and the heterogeneity of stroke in humans compared to homogeneous strokes in animal models. Even when the international recommendations for preclinical stroke research, the Stroke Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) criteria, were followed, we have still seen limited success in the clinic, examples being NXY-059 and haematopoietic growth factors which fulfilled nearly all the STAIR criteria.