Research Grant Funding Opportunities

Research

The Foundation of Our Work

The American Heart Association is the largest non-profit, non-governmental funder of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research in the U.S. Many research programs are offered annually, while others are one-time grants. The Heart Association funds basic, clinical, population and data science research. Some programs require pre-proposals, with full proposals by invitation only. Watch this page for additional funding opportunities and proposal deadlines. Visit the Application Resources page for policies and restrictions, application preparation, and general guidelines.


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Open Requests for Proposals


Open Topic Research Funding Opportunities
 
 Additional programs for funding to begin in 2027 will be announced.

Predoctoral Fellowship
Proposal deadline: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Enhances the training of promising students in pre-doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global health and wellbeing.

Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through the AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards, Autism Speaks, the Barth Syndrome Foundation, the California Walnut Commission, and the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.

Postdoctoral Fellowship
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Enhances the training of postdoctoral applicants who are not yet independent. The applicant must be embedded in an appropriate investigative group with the mentorship, support, and relevant scientific guidance of a research mentor.

Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards, the AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award, Autism Speaks, the Barth Syndrome Foundation, the California Walnut Commission, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
This award is made to qualified institutions that can offer a meaningful research experience that supports the AHA mission that encourages undergraduate college students from all disciplines to consider research careers.

Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)
Proposal deadline: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Stimulates research at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees related to scientific research training. Eligible institutions may not have been major recipients of NIH support. Awards provide funding for small-scale research projects related to cardiovascular diseases and brain health, enhancing the research environment at eligible institutions, and exposing students to research opportunities.

Career Development Award
Proposal deadline: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Supports highly promising healthcare and academic professionals in the early years of first professional appointment to assure the applicant’s future success as a research scientist in the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease research.

Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through the California Walnut Commission and the AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award.

Registry Research
See Quality Programs Research Using National-Level Data opportunities.
2026 American Heart Association holidays:
Jan. 1, Jan. 19, March 27, May 25, July 3,
Sept.7, Nov. 26 & 27, Dec. 21-25

2026 Altum/ProposalCentral holidays:
Jan. 1, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, May 25, June 19, July 3,
Sept. 7, Oct. 12, Nov. 26 & 27, Dec. 28-Jan 1
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