NIH-funded research R01 grant

Helping patients with acute brain injuries and their caregivers build resilience together

Official title: Recovering Together: Building resiliency in dyads of patients with an acute brain injury admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit and their informal caregivers

Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11090444 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is for patients who have had a brain injury, like a stroke, and their caregivers, and it offers a friendly program called 'Recovering Together' to help them cope with stress and support each other while they heal in the hospital.

More Brain Injury research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startAugust 6, 2021
Project endMay 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$649,365
NIH project number5R01NR019982-05
Project IDNIH-11090444 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit due to an acute brain injury.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have an acute brain injury or those who are not accompanied by a caregiver may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on patients who have experienced an acute brain injury, such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury, and their informal caregivers. It aims to address the emotional distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms that often arise during hospitalization in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. The study involves a brief, structured intervention called 'Recovering Together,' which includes both in-person and video sessions designed to enhance resilience and emotional well-being. By participating, patients and caregivers can learn coping strategies and support each other during recovery.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the emotional health and recovery outcomes for patients with acute brain injuries and their caregivers.

How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results for similar interventions, indicating potential for success in this larger trial.

Where this research is happening

  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Vranceanu, Ana-Maria — Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Vranceanu, Ana-Maria

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Tailoring blood pressure to protect brain blood flow during and after heart surgery

    Aims to see if monitoring each person's brain blood-flow limits and personalizing blood-pressure targets during and after heart surgery reduces delirium and longer-term memory and thinking problems.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11310140

  • Support for caregivers of patients with severe brain injuries

    This study is creating a supportive program to help family caregivers of patients with serious brain injuries manage their stress and emotions through mindfulness and coping techniques, making sure it fits their specific needs.

    NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11004617

  • Understanding brain blood flow and its effects on recovery after heart surgery

    This study is looking at how blood flow to the brain after heart surgery can affect your thinking and memory, and it aims to find the best ways to manage your blood pressure during recovery to help prevent problems like confusion and memory loss.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-10883892

  • Phthalate Exposure and How It Affects Newborns in the NICU

    This grant looks at how chemicals called phthalates in the NICU environment may affect the health and development of newborns, especially those born prematurely.

    NIH research Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · Manhasset, United States · NIH-11594454

  • Improving care for opioid use disorder in the ICU

    This project helps hospital staff in intensive care units provide better care for patients with opioid use disorder.

    NIH research Mainehealth · Portland, United States · NIH-11477142

  • Sleep patterns predicting recovery after acute brain injury

    Researchers will look at brain sleep signals to see if certain sleep patterns can forecast when patients who are unconscious after a brain injury may start to wake up and recover.

    NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11458485

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.