ESOC is the leading forum in Europe for advances in research and clinical care of patients with cerebrovascular diseases, as demonstrated by the huge attendance at ESOC 2019, and an increasing number of abstracts submitted year on year, with more than 3050 abstracts received in 2020, our joint meeting with WSO, being the largest yet.

The graph on the right, with the increasingly steep trajectory, showcases the participant numbers from previous ESOC meetings 2015-2019.

This is an important time to be in stroke research. Stroke researchers have made huge progress in preventing and treating acute stroke, and are now making inroads into the many other ways in which vascular disease affects the brain, including dementia.

Despite the global disruption since spring 2020 due to COVID-19, ESOC 2021 will see presentations of major clinical trials, a packed scientific programme with state-of-the-art seminars, proffered scientific communications of the latest research, and debates about current controversies.

Stroke affects the brain in diverse ways: we encourage all clinical and preclinical researchers and clinical service providers, from all disciplines working in stroke care and research, to attend – there will be something for all, and knowledge about stroke will advance faster with the widest inclusion. The meeting is shaped by you, for you.

We look forward to you all joining us in September 2021 – it will be a delight to meet all friends and colleagues, network and forge new collaborations, and be able to focus on the many diverse aspects of cerebrovascular diseases and improving the care of our patients.