AHA 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, and others are one-time grants. Some programs require pre-proposals, with full proposals by invitation only. Watch this page for updates on funding opportunities and proposal deadlines. Please visit the Application Resources page for answers on AHA policies and restrictions, application preparation, and general guidelines.


AHA's Commitment to Research Funding

scientists working in the laboratory
The American Heart Association’s Board of Directors allocated an all-time high for research funding for this year. The Association anticipates funding more than 1,000 new grants, which exceeds the number awarded last year. Due to recent changes in federal funding for biomedical research, our volunteer and staff leadership have assessed and strategically adjusted the Association's research offerings to have the greatest impact at this time.
Read more

Investigator-Initiated Research

For these funding opportunities, applicants initiate the research focus. Qualification for these awards is largely based on the principal investigator’s career stage.
See investigator-initiated research opportunities

Topic-focused Funding

These programs support specific areas of science deemed critical to achieving our mission and strategic objectives. The AHA co-funds some projects with other organizations to advance common goals.
See current topic-focused research opportunities

Data Science Grants

These opportunities fund researchers from anywhere in the world working in the field of data science. Grants support investigators in all career stages, from trainees to senior scientists.
See data science grant funding

AHA Registry Research

AHA/ASA Quality Programs produce data from millions of patient records in vast databases for advancing scientific research. Investigators can submit proposals to conduct research using this data.
See AHA Registry Research Opportunities

Investigator-initiated Research Opportunities


Open Topic Research Funding Opportunities

Career Development Award
Proposal deadline: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
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.
International Visiting Professorship Award
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Novel pilot program to bring internationally based scientists to the U.S. for one week to foster scientific exchange -- to expand research experiences and collaborative opportunities for the awarded Visiting Professor and their U.S.-based host in research that aligns with the AHA mission.

Innovative Project Award
Required Pre-proposal due: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Supports highly innovative, high-impact research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research. The idea proposed here should not have been submitted in whole or in part in a previous proposal for AHA support.

Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through the American Headache Society.
Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
Jointly funded by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, with funds from a generous bequest by Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, this program enables early career trainees to undertake a mentored two-year research project targeting various aspects of brain health. The 2025 awards are for MD or PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) applicants in postdoctoral fellowship training with a focus on brain health as of July 1, 2025. Projects for this cycle must focus on prevention.

AHA Predoctoral Fellowship
Proposal deadline has passed for funding in 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 and the California Walnut Commission.

AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Proposal deadline has passed for funding in 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 and the California Walnut Commission.
Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training
Proposal deadline has passed for funding in 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.
AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)
Proposal deadline has passed for funding in 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.

Topic-focused Funding Opportunities

Topic Focused Research Funding Opportunities

Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease
Pre-proposal deadline: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Proposed projects must address critical questions and stimulate significant advances in valvular heart disease.

Data Science Grants

Using AHA Get With the Guidelines® Research Data in the Precision Medicine Platform to further address current gaps in our understanding of cardiovascular disease
 Proposal deadline: January 15, 2026

The purpose of this RFP is to test the role of SDOH in cardiovascular disease and stroke. The applicant will leverage one of the GWTG datasets (AFib, CAD, Stroke, HF) in the Precision Medicine Platform to ask new and innovative questions regarding the role of SDOH in cardiovascular disease and stroke.  

To be eligible and invited to apply for this award, individuals must have attended a GWTG data bootcamp to learn how to use the GWTG data and received a GWTG Data Bootcamp certificate of completion. A data bootcamp will be offered at Scientific Sessions 2025.

AHA Registry Research

No opportunities at this time.

2025 Holidays

AHA offices will be closed:
Jan. 1 Sept. 1
Jan. 20 Nov. 27 & 28
May 26 Dec. 22-26
July 3 & 4
Altum/Proposal Central will be closed:
Jan. 1 July 4
Jan. 20 Sept. 1
Feb. 17 Oct. 13
May 26 Nov. 27 & 28
June 19 Dec. 22-26
Email our applications team >