AIIMS Delhi Conducts India’s First Indigenous Brain Stent Trial for Severe Stroke

AIIMS Delhi Sets New Benchmark in Stroke Research

AIIMS Delhi has achieved a landmark in India’s healthcare and medical research landscape by successfully conducting the country’s first dedicated clinical trial of an advanced brain stent for severe stroke treatment . The trial, titled GRASSROOT , evaluated the performance of the Supernova stent developed by Gravity Medical Technology and has been hailed as a major step toward self-reliance in high-end neurointerventional care.

First-of-Its-Kind Domestic Clinical Trial

The GRASSROOT trial is significant as it is the first instance where a novel stroke device was clinically tested, validated and approved in India using entirely indigenous data . AIIMS Delhi acted as the national coordinating centre and lead enrolling site. The study was conducted across eight hospitals , focusing on patients suffering from large vessel occlusion strokes , a highly fatal and disabling condition that demands rapid mechanical intervention.

Strong Clinical Outcomes and Approval

Results from the trial demonstrated high safety and effectiveness of the Supernova stent in restoring cerebral blood flow. The findings were published in the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery (BMJ group) , lending international credibility to the research. Based on the trial’s outcomes, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted approval for the device’s routine clinical use, making it India’s first stroke stent approved through a fully domestic clinical pathway.

Designed for India’s Stroke Burden

The Supernova stent has been tailored to India’s epidemiological needs, where strokes often occur at a younger age compared to Western countries. Developed under the Make-in-India initiative , the device has already treated over 300 patients across Southeast Asia . Planned domestic manufacturing is expected to reduce costs significantly and expand access to advanced stroke care.

Boost to India’s Medical Innovation Ecosystem

Medical experts view the GRASSROOT trial as a turning point, proving India’s capability to independently conduct global-standard device trials. The success is expected to inspire further indigenous innovation, improve patient access to life-saving technologies, and strengthen India’s position in advanced medical research.

Exam Oriented Facts

• GRASSROOT is India’s first indigenous clinical trial for a stroke device.

• Coordinated by AIIMS Delhi across eight centres.

• Results published in the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery .

• CDSCO approved the Supernova stent based on Indian clinical data.

• India reports around 1.7 million stroke cases annually .