Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, M.D., Ph.D.

Ensuring that stroke patients receive the latest and most effective treatment is the research goal of CAPS scholar and assistant professor of neurology Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, M.D., Ph.D. Her multidisciplinary research focuses on understanding the aspects of stroke care that contribute to improved patient outcomes and developing models for improving the quality of acute stroke care in healthcare facilities.

Her research in this area began when she was a resident at Hennepin County Medical Center. Using a stroke database maintained by HCMC, Lakshminarayan conducted two studies examining diagnoses and care of stroke patients. The first looked at myocardial injury and its implications for stroke outcomes. Her second project led to an optimal vascular imaging protocol for ischemic stroke, adopted by HCMC as standard protocol.

She continued her research during a two-year clinical research training fellowship at the University. By examining data from two large population- based datasets—the Project for the Improvement of Stroke Care Management in Minnesota and the Minnesota Stroke Survey—she discovered that results from clinical trials were failing to make their way into practice. “By quantifying the evidence-practice gap, I wanted to provide useful feedback to hospitals on how to improve care,” she says.

Her current research will examine determinants of adherence and non-adherence to evidence-based guidelines, leading to interventions to improve delivery of evidence-based care. The factors involved are complex, and as such, Lakshminarayan uses a multidisciplinary approach involving neurology, epidemiology, health services, and biostatistics.

As a CAPS scholar, Lakshminarayan is allocated 75 percent protected time for research. She works closely with her research mentors: Russell Luepker, M.D., professor, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health; David Anderson, M.D., professor, Department of Neurology, Medical School; Beth Virnig, Ph.D., associate professor, Division of Health Services Research and Policy, School of Public Health; and David Jacobs, Ph.D., professor, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health.