Improving inpatient rehabilitation after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

Comparing Treatment Approaches to Promote Inpatient Rehabilitation Effectiveness for Traumatic Brain Injury (CARE 4 TBI)

NIH-funded research Ohio State University · NIH-11180223

This project compares different inpatient rehab approaches to find which ones help people with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury recover and live more independently.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOhio State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11180223 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project follows people with moderate-to-severe TBI during inpatient rehabilitation at multiple centers to see which real-world therapies and team approaches are linked to better recovery. It uses information collected in routine care, the TBI Model Systems national registry, and electronic medical records, and applies advanced statistical methods to account for differences between patients and hospitals. Care is not assigned by researchers—clinicians provide usual care—and investigators compare outcomes across the range of practices used. Over time the study aims to identify specific therapies or combinations that lead to better physical, cognitive, and community functioning.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury who receive inpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation and can be followed through a participating TBI Model Systems center are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with mild TBI, those who only receive outpatient care, or those treated outside participating centers may not be included or directly benefit from the findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the project could help clinicians choose rehabilitation practices that speed recovery and improve long-term function after TBI.

How similar studies have performed: Randomized trials comparing many rehab approaches are limited, and using large observational registries with advanced statistics is a newer, promising method but not yet proven to definitively identify best practices.

Where this research is happening

Columbus, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.