ROYAL Perth Hospital Stroke Unit head and UWA School of Medicine and Pharmacology clinical professor, Graeme Hankey, has been recognised for his work in stroke research with the ‘premier’s prize for achievement in science’ at the Premier’s Science Awards held earlier this month. Since 1999, Professor Hankey has led one of the world’s most comprehensive clinical trials. Taking in a network of clinicians and research patients in 100 medical centres in 20 countries, the VITAmins TO Prevent Stroke (VITATOPS) trial is the only study comparing the effect of B-vitamin supplements with a placebo in preventing a recurrence of stroke. The professor is also involved with the Perth community stroke study, which tracked a group of stroke survivors for more than a decade. It is one of only two such studies in the world.