Cincinnati (June 23, 2025) – The Lindner Family and American Financial Group, Inc. have collectively donated $10 million to support the expansion and renovation of The Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital Health Network. This bold investment will significantly enhance The Christ Hospital Health Network’s capacity to conduct worldclass cardiovascular research, accelerate innovations, bring new and novel treatments to the community and strengthen Cincinnati’s role as a national destination for scientific discovery.
The renovation will modernize and expand the physical footprint of the Lindner Research Center, enabling the Heart & Vascular Institute to meet the growing demand from clinical research partners, expand physician-led studies, and secure leading clinical trial participation from across the globe. The expansion project will include the creation of a dedicated research laboratory, enhanced clinical exam rooms, advanced digital and data storage infrastructure and flexible space for growing teams of clinical investigators and support staff.
“This is a game-changing investment in the future of cardiovascular research,” said Debbie Hayes, President & CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Lindner Family and American Financial Group, we will have the facilities and infrastructure necessary to drive innovation, continue to attract top-tier researchers, and bring groundbreaking treatments to this community faster than ever before. Our work will serve not only this region but will benefit patients across the world.”
The Lindner Research Center has long been recognized as one of the nation’s leading community-based cardiovascular research centers. In the last year alone, the Lindner Research Center enrolled more than 3,000 patients in clinical trials and hosted more than 190 active clinical studies. The Lindner Research Center has played a central role in pioneering “first-in-the-world” and “first-in-the-U.S.” treatments that are changing the landscape of care for heart failure, structural heart disease, surgical innovations, and women’s cardiovascular health.
“Our family believes in the power of research to improve lives,” said S. Craig Lindner and Carl H. Lindner III, Co-CEOs of American Financial Group. “We are proud to help ensure that the physicians and researchers at The Lindner Research Center have the state-of-the-art space and tools they need to continue pushing the boundaries of medical science right here in Greater Cincinnati.”
The renovation and expansion project reflects the Heart & Vascular Institute’s strategic vision to be a national leader in research and innovation. It is designed not only to support current clinical activity but to position the Lindner Research Center for growth in physician-initiated research and advanced trials in the years ahead.
“The Lindner Research Center has been ranked by independent analysis to be in the top 3% of all clinical cardiovascular research centers in the U.S. and this gift will give us the foundation we need to expand our capabilities as well as support high-impact, investigator-led clinical studies,” said Dean Kereiakes, MD, Chairman of the Heart & Vascular Institute at The Christ Hospital Health Network.
"At the Lindner Research Center, we've introduced new medications or medical devices globally 25 times and within the United States 45 times and counting," stated Tim Henry, MD, Medical Director, The Lindner Family Distinguished Chair for Clinical Research and former Chief of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "This generous gift will further strengthen the Lindner Research Center's international reputation, and we are incredibly grateful."
The enhanced Lindner Center Research will also serve as a magnet for recruiting the next generation of physician-scientists and clinical fellows. By investing in space that fosters collaboration, discovery, and continuous learning, The Christ Hospital is strengthening its position as a destination for research excellence in the Midwest and beyond.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, eight ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For 135 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 7,200 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2025.