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	Acute Stroke Imaging Standardization Group - Japan (ASIST-Japan) is a group that conducts medical research projects dedicated to the standardization of brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the clinical setting of acute cerebral stroke. It is supported by a cardiovascular research grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The roster comprises neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and other scientists with expertise in cerebrovascular imaging and related sciences.
	This web page is managed by the Committee for Public Information in order to present the results of our ongoing research activities.

Purpose
	There is no doubt that CT and MRI play a major role in the diagnosis and selection of optimal therapeutic strategies in cases of acute cerebral infarction. However, it is true that there is a wide variation in the scanning protocols as well as data analysis procedures; these differences in imaging studies could translate into a lack of control over therapeutic strategies, thereby undermining the quality of clinical practice. It is obvious that standardization of imaging procedures is mandatory; however, so far, no such project has been conducted either at home or abroad.
	The principal purposes of ASIST-Japan are as follows: (1) to optimize the imaging diagnostic procedures in acute cerebral infarction, (2) to establish a systematic method for the evaluation of image quality as well as an efficient training system for the evaluation of acute stroke images, (3) to validate and enhance the quantitative capabilities of perfusion and diffusion imaging, (4) to develop a practical guideline for imaging procedures in acute cerebral infarction, and finally, (5) to make this information available to the international stroke imaging community.

Clinical significance
	With this project, we will be able to enhance and standardize the quality of CT and MRI studies in the setting of acute cerebral stroke, thus minimizing disparities that occur in deciding indications for thrombolytic therapy and preventing adverse events in acute stroke management.
	We will also be able to provide practical know-how and high-quality imaging techniques for multi-institutional studies and contribute toward the establishment of highly credible clinical evidence.

Background of the project
	The members of this project include the principal investigator and researchers in charge of the imaging standardization program of the MCA-Embolism Local Fibrinolytic Intervention Trial project (MELT-Japan); the director of the cerebrovascular imaging guidelines committee of the Japanese Society of Radiology (JSR); the imaging scientists who are developing a unique validation system for CT/MR perfusion imaging; and other neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists, all of whom have wide experience in the standardization of acute stroke imaging. Each member has been publishing papers and guidelines on imaging standardization and is equipped with practical know-how and techniques to lead multi-institutional studies for developing clinical guidelines.
	The solid backgrounds and performance of these members will aid ASIST-Japan in advancing the standardization program of CT and MRI in acute cerebral stroke.

Research plan
	Several multi-institutional working groups will be organized for multiple research projects. Each working group will conduct its own research while closely exchanging information. The research projects include standardization of noncontrast CT, diffusion-weighted imaging, CT/MR perfusion imaging, and other imaging modalities.

Ethics and safety consideration
	We endorse the Declaration of Helsinki for the ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. All research involving human subjects will be conducted based on the Guidelines of Good Clinical Practice (GCP). We will abide by the Personal Information Protection Act while processing the personal information of the subjects. A security audit committee, including outside members, has been formed to discuss every ethical and legal aspect of the project.