UofL and UofL Health launch multidisciplinary clinical trial to improve recovery after traumatic brain injury

The University of Louisville and UofL Health have launched a new clinical trial aimed at improving survival and brain recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI), one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the U.S. The study, called FLUID-TBI, will examine whether the type of intravenous fluid given in the first hours after severe head injury can influence neurological recovery.

“After a traumatic brain injury, every early decision matters,” said Akshitkumar Mistry, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery at UofL, neurosurgeon with UofL Health – Brain & Spine Institute and lead investigator of the trial. “IV fluids are given to nearly every patient with severe head injury, yet we don’t know which option best protects the injured brain. This trial is designed to answer a question that affects patient care every single day across multiple disciplines.”

Nearly 190 people die each day in the U.S. from traumatic brain injury, and many survivors face lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Maintaining blood flow to the brain after injury is critical, but it remains unclear whether different IV fluids may also shape brain function, organ injury and recovery long after the initial trauma.

“FLUID-TBI focuses on a simple, real-world treatment decision that spans the emergency department, operating room and intensive care unit,” said Emily Payne Sieg, MD, director of neurotrauma and chief of neurosurgery at UofL Health – UofL Hospital, associate professor of neurosurgery at UofL and co-principal investigator of the trial. “By studying therapies already in routine use, we can generate evidence that is immediately applicable at the bedside and strive to prevent secondary injury.”

The trial is co-led by investigators from neurosurgery, anesthesiology, critical care and trauma, including UofL Health CEO Jason Smith, MD, Adam Ross, MD, and Rainer Lenhardt, MD, reflecting a coordinated UofL Health effort to improve early brain injury care. Patients treated for severe traumatic brain injury at UofL Hospital will be enrolled and followed to evaluate neurological recovery and survival.

“This study reflects our commitment to patient-centered, system-wide research that improves care where it matters most,” said Jiapeng Huang, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer of UofL Health and associate dean for clinical research at the UofL School of Medicine. “FLUID-TBI brings clinicians and researchers together across specialties to answer a critical question in brain injury care.”

The Louisville Clinical and Translational Research Center, a statewide initiative announced in 2025 with $24 million in combined NIH and institutional funding, expanded clinical trial infrastructure at UofL and UofL Health, strengthened research staffing and made it possible to conduct complex, real-world studies such as FLUID-TBI, within everyday patient care.