Using Dogs to Help Children with Brain Injuries Engage in 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-11141715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $354,268 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD106416-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 4-21 who are currently receiving inpatient rehabilitation for an acquired brain injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for an acquired brain injury would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
We are looking at whether animal-assisted therapy, specifically with dogs, can make physical and occupational therapy more engaging for children recovering from a brain injury. Children will participate in a crossover approach, meaning they will experience both regular therapy and therapy sessions that include a dog. We will compare how well they engage in both types of sessions to understand if the presence of a dog makes a difference. This helps us learn if animal-assisted therapy can improve how children use their rehabilitation time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make rehabilitation more enjoyable and effective for children with acquired brain injuries, potentially leading to better long-term recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While animal-assisted therapy has shown promise in various settings, this specific crossover approach to understand its mechanisms in pediatric acquired brain injury rehabilitation is a novel and focused effort.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Narad, Megan — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Narad, Megan
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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.