UC Researcher Receives $2.5M NIH Grant
A five-year federal award will fund a wellness program for caregivers of people with traumatic brain injury.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Stroke
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University of Cincinnati emergency physician Natalie Kreitzer received a $2.5 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health. The funding supports the CG-Well 2 trial, which tests a structured wellness program for families in the first six months after a loved one's brain injury.
Why it matters
Traumatic brain injury often thrusts family members into demanding caregiving roles while they manage their own anxiety, depression and burnout. For Cincinnati residents, the study offers a potential support model developed by a local researcher.
The NIH grant totals $2.5 million over five years to test a program that could enroll up to 354 patient-caregiver pairs across four academic medical centers. The trial's effectiveness has not yet been measured, and enrollment is not expected to begin until early 2027.
The players
Natalie Kreitzer
Kreitzer is an emergency physician and vice chair of research in the University of Cincinnati's department of emergency medicine, leading the CG-Well 2 study.
National Institutes of Health
The NIH is the primary federal agency for biomedical and health research in the United States, and it funded the grant.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the study's lead researcher is based.
The details
The CG-Well 2 program pairs online wellness modules with regular phone coaching. It covers workplace leave policies, transitions from intensive care to rehabilitation, and preparing the home for a loved one's return after injury.
Timeline
Six months after injury: the critical period the wellness program is designed to support families.
Five-year period: duration of the NIH grant funding the study.
Early 2027: expected start of trial enrollment.
Health Landscape
The study extends NIH-funded caregiver research by building on an earlier, smaller trial and expanding it across four academic medical centers. It addresses a gap in support for family members who take on caregiving roles after severe brain injuries from crashes, falls, assaults and gunshot wounds.
Families of people with traumatic brain injury may eventually have access to a structured program covering workplace leave, hospital-to-rehabilitation transitions and home preparation. The program is still in the research stage, and enrollment is not expected to begin until early 2027.
The takeaway
Caregivers of people with brain injuries face sudden demands alongside their own emotional strain, so structured support in the first six months may matter. Families interested in similar resources can ask their care teams about caregiver programs during rehabilitation.
Further reading
Explore more on Stroke to see how brain injury recovery and caregiving fit into the broader health picture in Cincinnati.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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