New AIS guidance leads advances at conference
American Heart Association's President, Stacey Rosen, MD, FAHA, speaking at International Stroke Conference (Todd Buchanan/American Heart Association)
The 2026 International Stroke Conference (ISC26)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window) in New Orleans brought together more than 6,000 professionals from 59 countries to highlight the latest advances in cerebrovascular science. The conference showcased the release of the updated acute ischemic stroke guideline from the American Heart Association/Stroke Association.
The guideline(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window) recommends mobile stroke units where available, expanded thrombolysis options and broader eligibility for clot-removal procedures. It also considers pediatric care for the first time.
Global collaboration was a central theme of the meeting. International roundtables and a robust slate of joint symposia connected experts across continents to address equitable systems of care, novel recovery strategies, hypertension management, AI-driven innovation and regional challenges in care delivery.
ISC26 also celebrated worldwide excellence in stroke science, recognizing investigators from Japan and China for significant contributions to research and clinical care.
One high point was the International Welcome Reception, which provided a collegial setting to build relationships, exchange knowledge and strengthen the global stroke science community.