Introduction

Abstract

Currently we use knowledge from clinical trials, meta-analysis of clinical trials, observational studies and clinical experience in order to take clinical decisions. Unfortunately, we are yet quite weak to identify which individuals will benefit most from an intervention or even more to detect those who will be harmed or experience significant adverse events. Precision medicine is the next step in the scientific approach to the practice of clinical medicine. Precision medicine's final aim is to identify for each disease a tailored diagnosis and therapy for each individual. Such an aim can be achieved through a collection of a multitude of clinical, biological and imaging data points and by the synthesis of individualised data into clinical usable end points. Refinement of statistical approaches, namely using artificial intelligence techniques, will allow the individualised prediction of recurrence risk, medication effects and recovery. Slow, but already significant, progresses have been achieved in applying precision medicine in stroke. This book's main purpose is to cover the current and future applications of precision medicine in stroke.