Mark Parsons

Overview

Professor Mark Parsons is an internationally recognized leader in Stroke Medicine and Neurology, holding concurrent professorial positions at UNSW Sydney (South Western Sydney Clinical School), the University of Melbourne (Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences), and adjunct roles at the University of Newcastle and Fudan University (Shanghai). He leads major clinical trials, including the TASTE and ETERNAL trials evaluating thrombolytic therapies.

Educational Background

• B.Med (University of Newcastle)
• PhD (University of Melbourne)
• FRACP (Neurology)
• FAAHMS (Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences)

Research Interests

His work focuses on stroke clinical trials, neuroimaging techniques (CT/MRI), neurological rehabilitation, and stroke ambulance systems. He has pioneered translational research in thrombectomy, perfusion imaging, and telehealth solutions. Key projects include the INSPIRE registry (20+ international centers) and development of mobile stroke units.

Grants & Awards

Secured over $35M in research funding since 2017, including NHMRC grants and industry partnerships (e.g., Siemens, Apollo Medical Imaging). Notable awards include the Leonard Cox Award (2008) and election to FAAHMS (2019). Leads 20+ active trials and has published 563+ journal articles (h-index 72).

Advising & Collaborations

Mentored 16 PhD students (5 current), many now leaders in neurology. Collaborates globally with institutions like Stanford, UCLA, and Cambridge, and maintains strong ties with Chinese universities (Zhejiang, Fudan).

Labs & Teams

Led the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit team (2018 Research Team of the Year). Active in the Australasian Stroke Trials Network and serves on editorial boards for Stroke and International Journal of Stroke.