AHA Research Grant Funding Opportunities

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.

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:
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, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER), and the AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award. See co-funded opportunities details.
Innovative Project Award
Pre-proposal deadline:
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.
Ralph L. Sacco Scholars Program
Proposal deadline: Thursday, January 30, 2025
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. 
International Visiting Professorship Award
Applications due:
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.

Implementation Science Award
Proposal deadline:
For early and mid-career investigators proposing innovative implementation science studies that align with AHA’s mission and provide optimal approaches to improving public health. Implementation science uses evidence-based theories and frameworks to identify strategies that facilitate the uptake of evidence to improve health. Implementation science studies can use qualitative studies, mixed-methods, quasi-experimental designs, randomized controlled trials, and community-based participatory research.
Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Science
Proposal deadline:
To enable current AHA awardees to identify and serve as mentors for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups in science and medicine.
Transformational Project Award
Proposal deadline:
Supports highly innovative, high-impact projects that build on work in progress that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research. Research deemed innovative may be built around an emerging paradigm, approaching an existing problem from a new perspective, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities.

AHA Predoctoral Fellowship
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
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.

AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
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.
Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
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)
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
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.

Established Investigator Award
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
Supports established investigators in rapid career growth phase, with records of accomplishments and showing extraordinary promise. Candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular science disciplines that support the AHA’s mission, as indicated by funding and publication history and scientific accomplishments. Candidates should propose an innovative/novel research direction that challenges existing paradigms and employs novel concepts, approaches, or technologies.

Collaborative Sciences Award
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
Fosters innovative collaborative approaches to research projects that propose novel pairings of investigators from at least two broadly disparate disciplines. The proposal must focus on the collaborative relationship, such that the scientific objectives could not be achieved without the efforts of at least two co-principal investigators and their respective disciplines.
Merit Award
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025
Funds investigators with stellar track records of accomplishment, demonstrated by federal or equivalent funding from multiple sources and excellent publication records with substantial impact, who have the potential to move a field of science forward with creative approaches that are aligned with the AHA's mission.

Topic-focused Funding Opportunities

Topic Focused Research Funding Opportunities

Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome: Heterogeneity in Women
Required pre-proposal deadline has passed
This initiative will support a collaborative network of researchers whose collective efforts will address critical questions and stimulate significant advances in our understanding of Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome in women and the related contributing factors. CKM Syndrome is a health disorder due of connections among heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. Health outcomes are poor and affect multiple organ systems, and the considerable heterogeneity seen in CKM is not well understood. Outcomes from the SFRN should facilitate improved approaches for both prevention and treatment of CKM.
Healthcare by Food Initiative
The American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food™ initiative is building the evidence needed to show clinical and cost effectiveness so patients with acute or chronic disease or with risk factors for disease can access cost-effective food is medicine programs as a covered benefit through public and private health insurance. Future grants will be announced.

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
*For invited applicants only
Two opportunities to apply: Deadlines on and

Applicants will leverage one of the AHA Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) datasets (AFib, CAD, Stroke, HF, or Resuscitation) in the Precision Medicine Platform to ask new and innovative questions regarding the role of social determinants of health in cardiovascular disease and stroke.

*Sign up to attend an upcoming GWTG Data Bootcamp at the International Stroke Conference 2025. Add the GWTG Data Bootcamp to your conference registration under “Special Ticketed Events”.

Identifying Predictors of Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Among Individuals with Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease on GLP-1 Medications
Deadline has passed for this grant program

We invite proposals focused on identifying predictors of cardiovascular risk reduction among individuals with obesity who are using GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. Proposals are encouraged to leverage data sources including de-identified claims data, electronic health records and prospective cohort studies.

AHA Registry Research

National Level Program Data Research Opportunities

Using AHA Get With the Guidelines® Research Data in the Precision Medicine Platform to further address current gaps in our understanding of cardiovascular disease
*For invited applicants only
Two opportunities to apply: Deadlines on January 15, 2025 and April 4, 2025

Applicants will leverage one of the AHA Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) datasets (AFib, CAD, Stroke, HF, or Resuscitation) in the Precision Medicine Platform to ask new and innovative questions regarding the role of social determinants of health in cardiovascular disease and stroke.

*Sign up to attend an upcoming GWTG Data Bootcamp at the International Stroke Conference 2025. Add the GWTG Data Bootcamp to your conference registration under “Special Ticketed Events”.

2024 Holidays

AHA offices will be closed:
Jan. 1 Sept. 2
Jan. 15 Nov. 28 & 29
May 27 Dec. 23-27
July 3-5
Altum/Proposal Central will be closed:
Jan. 1 July 4
Jan. 15 Sept. 2
Feb. 19 Oct. 14
May 27 Nov. 28 & 29
June 19 Dec. 23-27

2025 Holidays

AHA offices will be closed:
Jan. 1 Sept. 1
Jan. 20 Nov. 27 & 28
May 26 Dec. 22-26
July 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 >