AIIMS Delhi has advanced stroke care in India by conducting a dedicated clinical trial of a new brain stent designed for severe stroke patients. The GRASSROOT trial tested the Supernova stent by Gravity Medical Technology and showed excellent safety and effectiveness, officials confirmed.
Published in the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery (JNIS), AIIMS Delhi served as the national coordinating centre and lead enrolling site for this trial of a next-generation stroke device.
Dr Shailesh B Gaikwad, Professor and Head of the Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Neuroradiology at AIIMS Delhi and National Principal Investigator of the GRASSROOT trial, called it a significant step for stroke treatment in India.
The Supernova stent demonstrated strong results in clot removal and restoring blood flow in severe stroke patients. Data from the GRASSROOT trial were submitted to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), after which the device received approval for routine use across India—based entirely on domestic clinical trial data.
Conducted across eight centres, the trial also contributes to the Make-in-India initiative and strengthens India’s capabilities in advanced stroke care.
Dr Ashutosh Jadhav, Chief Scientific Officer at Gravity Medical Technology, noted that the study produced high-quality clinical evidence in India and created a foundation for future large-scale trials. Dr Deepti Vibha, Professor of Neurology at AIIMS Delhi, emphasized the role of patients and families in making advanced and affordable stroke treatments accessible.
Dr Shashvat M Desai, Chief Technology Officer at Gravity Medical Technology, highlighted that the approval demonstrates India’s ability to conduct globally relevant clinical trials, improving access to advanced therapies.
The Supernova stent, designed for India’s diverse patient population, addresses the challenge of strokes occurring at a younger age than in Western countries. The device has already treated over 300 patients in Southeast Asia.
Dr Dileep Yavagal, Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Miami and Global Principal Investigator of the GRASSROOT trial, said it will now be manufactured in India at affordable prices, offering new hope to the 1.7 million Indians affected by strokes each year.
