Contact information
+44 (0) 1865-611277
Research groups
Colleges
Collaborators
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Peter Rothwell
Founding Director of the Wolfson Centre for the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia and Action Research Professor of Neurology
Linxin Li
DPhil
NIHR Advanced Fellow
Research Summary
My main research focuses on understanding the epidemiology, aetiology, and prognosis of strokes at younger ages.
Our previous work has shown a doubling of stroke incidence under the age of 55 in the UK and in other high-income countries in the last decade. Yet the mechanistic driver remains unclear. I currently lead a fully phenotyped regional study (Thames Valley Young Stroke Study) and a national study (National Young Stroke Study) to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and long-term impact of strokes at younger ages. My long-term goal is to understand the causes of stroke in younger adults and to develop improved risk stratification and prediction models, with the ultimate aim of advancing stroke prevention and management in this population.
The other projects I'm working on include studying the association between blood pressure and cerebral small vessel disease, temporal trends of stroke incidence and outcome, and the risks and benefits of aspirin.
Awards
- Sloane-Robinson Foundation Graduate Award, Lincoln College, Oxford (2010-2013)
- Young Investigator Award, European Stroke Conference (2014)
- Young Investigator Award, European Stroke Organisation (2016)
- Emerging Aspirin Investigator Science Award, Aspirin Foundation (2017)
- Early Career Researcher Prize, NDCN, Oxford (2018)
- Fulford Junior Research Fellow, Somerville College, Oxford (2017-2019)
- Medical Research Foundation (MRF) fellowship award (2019-2024)
- NIHR Advanced Fellowship award (2024-2030)
Key publications
Association of Younger vs Older Ages With Changes in Incidence of Stroke and Other Vascular Events, 2002-2018
Journal article
Li L. et al, (2022), JAMA, 328, 563 - 563
Risks of recurrent stroke and all serious vascular events after spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: pooled analyses of two population-based studies
Journal article
Li L. et al, (2021), The Lancet Neurology, 20, 437 - 447
Age-specific risks, severity, time course, and outcome of bleeding on long-term antiplatelet treatment after vascular events: a population-based cohort study
Journal article
Li L. et al, (2017), The Lancet, 390, 490 - 499
Biases in detection of apparent “weekend effect” on outcome with administrative coding data: population based study of stroke
Journal article
Li L. and Rothwell PM., (2016), BMJ, i2648 - i2648
Incidence, outcome, risk factors, and long-term prognosis of cryptogenic transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke: a population-based study
Journal article
Li L. et al, (2015), The Lancet Neurology, 14, 903 - 913
Recent publications
Systemic Inflammation and Recurrence After Atrial Fibrillation-Related Stroke: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.
Journal article
McCabe JJ. et al, (2026), Neurology, 106
Rates and risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after stroke due to intracerebral hemorrhage: Systematic review and study-level meta-analysis.
Journal article
Putri VP. et al, (2026), Int J Stroke
Potential of earlier primary care health checks for prevention of cardiovascular events in younger age groups: population-based study in the United Kingdom
Journal article
Scott CA. et al, (2026), BMC Medicine, 24
The rising incidence of stroke in the young: Epidemiology, causes and global impact
Journal article
Nehme A. and Li L., (2026), International Journal of Stroke, 21, 14 - 23
Stroke Mechanism and Severity After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Insights From the LAAOS III Randomized Clinical Trial.
Journal article
Katsanos AH. et al, (2026), JAMA Neurol, 83, 76 - 82