AHA's Commitment to Research
Funding research is a cornerstone of the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission - a pillar of our foundation and a key to our future. Since 1949, the AHA has made significant annual investments in research which have led to breakthroughs in cardiovascular and stroke discovery, translation, and clinical application through more 49,000 funded projects. At our core are 12 Essential Elements that guide the AHA's research vision. This year's significant milestones include:
Invested in scientific research since 1949. The AHA is the largest nonprofit, non-governmental supporter of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research in the U.S.
Currently being supported by the AHA. These total $479M in research funding. Of those, 868 were activated in 2022-23, accounting for $178M of funding.
Number of peer volunteers who evaluated 3,775 proposals for AHA funding during the 2022-23 fiscal year.
The Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health
Jointly Funded by American Academy of Neurology and American Heart Association
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Heart Association (AHA) announce a scholarship program to support early career trainees focused on how to maintain a healthy brain over a person's lifetime. The Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health, also known as the Sacco Scholars program, are made possible by a generous bequest to the AAN and the AHA from the late Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS, FAAN, FAHA. Sacco was the only neurologist to have served as president of both organizations. Dr. Sacco passed away in January 2023, due to a brain tumor. The scholarships are the first of their kind to be jointly funded by the AAN and the AHA.
Beginning in 2024, the Sacco Scholars program will award two $150,000 scholarships annually to early career trainees pursuing two-year research or public health service projects focused on prevention of brain disease and/or maintenance of brain health. Applications will open in January 2024, and the recipients will be announced in July.
AHA Funding Opportunities
Funding research is a cornerstone of the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission and a key to our future. AHA has been funding scientific research since 1949, and is continually adding new programs each year for timely, mission-related cardiovascular and neurovascular research.
Application Resources
Tips and tools for preparing and submitting a proposal for research funding. Resources include step-by-step application instructions, live webinars, videos, fact sheets, and helpful web sites.
Research Portal
View current data on investigators, institutions, awards, and resulting publications funded by the AHA since 2001.
Analytic Opportunities
AHA offers access to the Precision Medicine Platform for teams to collaborate and analyze data, including Get With The Guidelines® and Research Goes Red, within a secure cloud computing environment with the power of machine learning.
AHA Research History
See the results of the AHA's $5 billion investment in research, both historic and recent.
Success
Rates
Success rates are the percent funded of the total number of full proposals submitted. These figures should not be used to predict future program performance.
SURE Scholars Program
A unique summer research program for underrepresented college students interested in STEM careers.
Research Insider Signup
Monthly e-newsletter encompassing the latest funding opportunities and news.
Current AHA Research Grant and Funding Opportunities
- AHA-Enduring Hearts Translational Awards in Pediatric Heart Transplantation - due Sept. 28, 2023
- Second Century Early Faculty Independence Award - due Oct. 3, 2023
- Collaborative Sciences Award - pre-proposals due Oct. 4, 2023
- Established Investigator Award - pre-proposals due Oct. 5, 2023
- Second Century Clinical Fellow Research Education Program - due Nov. 2, 2023
- Food is Medicine Initiative - due Nov. 6, 2023
- SFRN on Inflammation in Cardiac and Neurovascular Disease - pre-proposals due Nov. 28, 2023
- Innovative Project Award - due Dec. 1, 2023
- Research Supplement to Enhance Diversity in Science - proposals due by Dec. 5
- Career Development Award - due Dec. 6, 2023
- AHA and Additional Ventures Collaborative Science Awards in Single Ventricle Heart Disease - due Dec. 19, 2023
- Transformational Project Award - due Feb. 15, 2024
- ALL UPCOMING RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Become an AHA
Professional Member Today!
Enjoy instant benefits!
- Access to apply for a research funding award(s)
- Free online access to AHA Scientific Journals
- Affiliate with one or more of our 16 Scientific Councils
- Discounts on Scientific Conference registration and online courses
Get With The Guidelines®
Meet your data submission requirements while tracking and reporting on your hospital's performance.
This tool is a hospital-based quality improvement program designed to close the treatment gap in cardiovascular disease, stroke, and resuscitation. It includes modules in coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke and resuscitation. Each program provides physicians and healthcare providers with materials, information and tools based on relevant evidence-based guidelines.
2023 Holidays
| AHA offices will be closed on the following days: | Altum/Proposal Central offices will be closed on the following days: | |||
| Jan. 2 | July 3 & 4 | Jan. 2 | Sept. 4 | |
| Jan. 16 | Sept. 4 | Jan. 16 | Oct. 9 | |
| Mar. 31 | Nov. 23 & 24 | Feb. 20 | Nov. 23 & 24 | |
| May 29 | Dec. 26 - Jan. 2 | May 29 | Dec. 25 - 29 | |
| July 4 | ||||