Evaluating driving safety in older adults recovering from critical illness
Official title: Driving Rehabilitation and Innovation for Evaluating Risk in Post-Intensive Care Unit Survivors (DRIVE-PICS)
Funded at Baylor Research Institute · NIH-10813218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how serious illnesses can affect older adults' driving skills, and it aims to create helpful tools to keep them safe on the road while also improving their overall well-being after their hospital stay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $236,573 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG080339-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10813218 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who have recently survived a critical illness and are experiencing cognitive or physical impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not recovering from critical illness or do not have driving capabilities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of critical illness on the driving abilities of older adults, who may experience cognitive and physical impairments known as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). The study aims to develop and implement in-vehicle assessments to monitor driving safety and identify risky behaviors among these individuals. By utilizing innovative cloud-data collection technology, the research seeks to provide tailored rehabilitation strategies to improve driving safety and overall quality of life for ICU survivors. The approach combines both in-vehicle assessments and virtual monitoring to ensure comprehensive evaluation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the driving safety and independence of older adults recovering from critical illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using driving assessments for individuals recovering from strokes and dementia, indicating a promising approach for this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor Research Institute
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Danesh, Valerie — Baylor Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Danesh, Valerie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.