Eugene L. Scharf, M.D.

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SUMMARY

The research interests of Eugene L. Scharf, M.D., focus on stroke prevention, biomarkers of stroke mechanism, post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia, and providing sustainable, high-value economic models of health care delivery in cerebrovascular disease.

Focus areas

• Stroke mechanism identification. Dr. Scharf investigates the cell injury and death resulting from the interruption of blood supply to the brain during a stroke.
• Biomarkers of post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia. Dr. Scharf is interested in understanding what type, location and severity of strokes are associated with progressive cognitive impairment and dementia.
• Clinical trials. Dr. Scharf participates as an investigator in prospective randomized controlled clinical studies through the federally funded clinical trials consortium, StrokeNet, dedicated to treatments of acute stroke, stroke prevention and recovery.
• Stroke of unknown cause. Dr. Scharf is interested in the study of clinical cases of unknown, unidentified or atypical stroke.
• Economically sustainable stroke care. Dr. Scharf oversees the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative in cerebrovascular disease health care delivery at Mayo Clinic, a model coordinated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Significance to patient care

Understanding the causes and progression of post-stroke cognitive impairment will direct the development of therapeutics to preserve patients' brain health and cognitive status after a stroke. Understanding causes of brain white matter changes in vascular aging reduces the societal impact of stroke and vascular cognitive impairment.