The Randomized Evaluation of Long Term Anticoagulant Therapy with dabigatran was initiated to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of dabigatran in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism. The International Journal of Stroke spoke to investigator Dr Stuart Connolly, Professor of Medicine and Director, Division of Cardiology at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.