MENA-SINO

02/12/2026

Listen to new circle of Willis podcast series
Roundtable discussion in Strokd and Neurointervention

Mission Thrombectomy
Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
WLNC - World Live Neurovascular Conference
Society of Vascular and Interventional NeurologyEuropean Stroke Organization
ESO - European Stroke Organisation
MENA-SINO

Welcome to The Circle of Willis, the definitive podcast for the neurointerventional community, brought to you by MENA-SINO. Join host Dr. Syed Irteza and a panel of leading international experts as they step into the angio suite to dissect the most complex and controversial topics in neurovascular m...

02/12/2026

Headline: Is it time to rethink AVM risk? 🧠🎧

In the latest episode of The Circle of Willis, we go beyond the ARUBA trial to explore the new biology of Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) risk stratification.

We are breaking down the latest research from JNIS 2026 with the people who know it best:

🎙️ Host: Dr. Syed Irteza
📖 Author: Dr. Ali Alaraj (discussing his paper with Brunozzi)
🌍 Regional Expert: Dr. Ibrahim Elnaami

They discuss the nuances of unruptured AVMs and what the future of treatment looks like.

Listen now: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-nita-mena-study/2544026
Read the paper: https://jnis.bmj.com/content/18/2/306

Welcome to The Circle of Willis, the definitive podcast for the neurointerventional community, brought to you by MENA-SINO. Join host Dr. Syed Irteza and a panel of leading international experts as they step into the angio suite to dissect the most complex and controversial topics in neurovascular m...

02/10/2026

Headline: Real-World Data vs. Clinical Trials: What's the Future of Thrombectomy for Distal Vessel Occlusions in MENA? In our latest MENA Health Focus episode, we sit down with Dr. Ossama Mansour and Dr. Nadia Hammami to discuss their groundbreaking paper on the real-world outcomes of thrombectomy for distal medium vessel occlusions (DMVOs) in the Middle East and North Africa. While recent randomized trials have yielded neutral results, the data from clinical practice tells a more nuanced story. We explore the clinical and economic implications of these findings and look ahead to the new data from the DISTAL study, to be presented at ISC 2026. Join us for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of stroke care in the MENA region. Listen to the full episode here: https://urladda.com/iWRtj

02/09/2026

Epidemiology of Young Stroke in MENA: Findings from the First Multicenter Study

Title: Epidemiology of Young Stroke in MENA: Findings from the First Multicenter StudyDescription: Stroke incidence in young adults (18–45) is rising globally, but until now, the Middle East and North Africa lacked unified data to understand the regional nuances.In this episode, we host Dr. Amal A...

02/06/2026

Epidemiology of Young Stroke in MENA: Findings from the First Multicenter Study https://urladda.com/MaRCc via -SINO
read published work at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1653599/abstract

02/05/2026

Saving Brains In MENA region Title: Bridging the Gap: The NITA-MENA Study & The Future of Stroke CareDescription: Mechanical thrombectomy is the gold standard for treating acute ischemic stroke, yet access to this procedure varies wildly across the MENA region. The bottleneck? A lack of standardized training pathways.Host Salma is joined by Prof. Ossama Yassin Mansour, a leading figure in Interventional Neurology, to dissect the NITA-MENA (Neuro-Interventional Training Academy) study.In this episode, we cover:The current landscape of neuro-interventional capacity in the Middle East.The objectives of the NITA-MENA study in standardizing fellowship training.How creating a structured educational pipeline can directly improve patient outcomes.The role of international collaboration in local capacity building.Join us for a deep dive into the data and the drive behind building a stronger medical workforce. https://urladda.com/bAgJG

01/27/2026

We are pleased to announce that our collaborative research, adapting the global MTAS framework specifically for the MENA region, has been accepted and published in Frontiers in Neurology!

📝 Title: MTAS-MENA: Adapting the Stroke Access Barrier Index (SABI) to Enhance Mechanical Thrombectomy Access in the Middle East and North Africa Region

🔗 Read the full study here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1727476/abstract

What we accomplished:
We successfully adapted the global framework to create a region-specific tool—the Stroke Access Barrier Index (SABI). This tool is tailored to the unique healthcare landscape of the Middle East and North Africa, offering a more accurate picture of the challenges we face.

Key Highlights & Findings:
Based on data from 102 facilities across 17 MENA countries, our study reveals critical insights:

📉 The Gap: The median SABI score for the MENA region is 18.5, significantly lower than the global median of 22.0, highlighting substantial hurdles in access.
🚑 Universal Barriers: Regardless of country income level, EMS utilization and health literacy emerged as consistently low scoring areas.
🏙️ Disparities: We identified a sharp divide between urban facilities (median score 20.5) and rural facilities (median score 13.0).
🚧 Specific Hurdles: Physical and sociocultural barriers remain the most prominent obstacles to care.
Why this matters:
This isn't just data; it is a call to action. By identifying these specific bottlenecks—particularly in EMS usage and rural access—we now have an evidence-based roadmap to guide future interventions and policy changes in the region.

A huge thank you to my co-authors and the facility directors who participated in this vital research.

Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Mission Thrombectomy
Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
WLNC - World Live Neurovascular Conference
World Health Organization (WHO)

Background and Purpose: We developed and preliminarily validated the Stroke Access Barrier Index (SABI), adapted from the global MTAS framework, then applied...

12/16/2025

congratulations May Nour

12/16/2025

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Prof. Adnan Siddiqui from the University at Buffalo on receiving the MENA-SINO Honorable Mention Award on behalf of the MENA+ region. This distinguished recognition serves as a heartfelt expression of our appreciation and gratitude for his tremendous career, unwavering guidance to the entire neurointervention community, and his visionary and innovative ideas that have made our field practice easier and more effective. We celebrate this remarkable achievement and wish him continued success.

12/16/2025

We are honored to congratulate Prof. Rene Chapot from Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, on receiving the MENA-SINO Honorable Mention Award on behalf of the MENA+ region. This prestigious recognition serves as a heartfelt expression of our appreciation and gratitude for his tremendous career, unwavering guidance to the entire neurointervention community, and his visionary and innovative ideas that have made our field practice easier and more effective. Our warmest congratulations on this outstanding achievement.
ESMINT Society
Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology
ESO - European Stroke Organisation
Egyptian stroke society
MENA-SINO

12/16/2025

12/16/2025

🎉 Day 3 Highlights of the MENA-SINO Congress 2025! 🎉
The final day of the 10th MENA-SINO Congress in Jeddah was nothing short of spectacular, filled with riveting discussions and a celebration of the latest advancements in stroke and neurointervention.

Key Sessions and Highlights
Session 13: Aneurysms & Trauma
Debate on Bifurcation Aneurysms: A lively discussion on the merits of flow diversion versus intrasaccular devices showcased innovative treatment strategies.
Case Presentations: Engaging cases on traumatic vascular injuries emphasized the importance of timely intervention in preventing complications.
Session 14: The Horizon of Stroke Care
Future Innovations: Experts highlighted neuroprotection strategies and the role of artificial intelligence in stroke management, sparking discussions about integrating AI into clinical practices.
Debates: Engaging conversations revolved around whether AI should replace human decision-making in acute stroke scenarios, fostering an enriching dialogue.
Session 15: Complex Decision-Making in Neurovascular Interventions
A deep dive into managing small unruptured aneurysms and posterior circulation thrombectomy pushed the boundaries of current practices, urging attendees to consider personalized treatment approaches.
Closing Ceremony
The Congress wrapped up with an inspiring Presidential Session, where Ossama Mansour presented the MENA-SINO Progress Report, reflecting on the remarkable achievements over the years. The Award Ceremony celebrated the best abstracts and innovative contributions from participants, reinforcing the spirit of excellence and collaboration within the community.

Looking Ahead
As we conclude this year’s congress, we express our heartfelt gratitude to all speakers, participants, and sponsors who made this event a resounding success. We are excited to see you all in 2026 for another groundbreaking edition!

Together, let’s continue to advance the field of neurointervention and improve patient outcomes across the MENA region. Until next time! 🌍💖

-SINO2025