Using dogs to help children recover from brain injuries during rehabilitation
Official title: Using Dogs to Promote Therapeutic Engagement During Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury: Understanding Mechanisms and Moderators of Treatment Response
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-10871856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how having dogs join kids in therapy can make their recovery from brain injuries more enjoyable and effective, so if your child is in therapy, this research might help us learn how to make their experience even better!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $354,539 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD106416-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10871856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 4-21 who are undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for acquired brain injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing rehabilitation for acquired brain injuries or are outside the age range of 4-21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs can enhance the rehabilitation experience for children recovering from acquired brain injuries. The study involves integrating dogs into physical and occupational therapy sessions to see if this interaction improves patient engagement and outcomes. Over two weeks, participants will experience both AAT and standard therapy sessions, allowing researchers to compare the effects of each approach. The goal is to understand how AAT can support children's recovery and what factors influence its effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes for children with acquired brain injuries by making therapy more engaging and effective.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown positive outcomes with animal-assisted therapy in various settings, suggesting that this approach may be beneficial for pediatric rehabilitation as well.
Where this research is happening
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Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Narad, Megan — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Narad, Megan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A new telehealth treatment to help people with acquired brain injury
A telehealth program using a cognitive training method called Freeze Frame aims to help adults with acquired brain injury who have trouble paying attention and living day-to-day, with FDA-cleared diagnostic support to improve access to care.
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Using Dogs to Help Children with Brain Injuries Engage in Rehabilitation
This project explores how bringing dogs into therapy sessions might help children aged 4-21 with acquired brain injuries participate more actively in their inpatient rehabilitation.
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A new drug-target approach aims to protect babies’ brains after oxygen deprivation at birth.
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Modulating a brain lipid to reduce injury after newborn brain injury
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This project aims to find out whether traumatic brain injuries make people more likely to develop hardened arteries and heart problems, especially among veterans.
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.