Required Application Documents
- Required Documents - The Applicant (PI) is required to submit specific documents, which vary for each award program. In addition, other individuals (called Third Parties) associated with the application will provide supporting documents. All required documents must be uploaded into ProposalCentral by the applicant before the proposal can be submitted to the AHA. The lists displayed below are only for award mechanisms with pending submission deadlines.
- Reference Reports/Letters - Several programs require reference reports or letters. Referees will upload their documents into ProposalCentral by using a link that will be sent to them via a system-generated email message. Referees must upload their documents before the proposal can be submitted. Applicants should communicate deadlines (both institutional and AHA) to those providing reference letters.
- Instructions - For items below that are not hyperlinked, instructions are contained in the Application Instructions (PDF). The maximum number of pages permitted for each item is listed below.
- ProposalCentral - Submission of proposals for AHA research funding is done entirely online, using ProposalCentral. Paper submissions are not accepted. Only the required documents can be submitted; there is no mechanism for supplemental materials.
- View AHA policies governing all research awards including Open Science Policies.
AHA Predoctoral Fellowship and AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Applicant
- Proposed Research Plan (5 pages)
- Biosketch/Personal Statement (5 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel
Referees:
Sponsor/Mentor and Co-Sponsor/Co-Mentor:
- Biosketch of Sponsor (5 pages)
- Biosketch of Co-Sponsor, if one has been named (5 pages)
** For each of the following three items, AHA requires one document from the sponsor/mentor that also includes information for the co-sponsor/co-mentor, if one has been named. **
- Past and Current Trainees of the Sponsor and Co-Sponsor (3 pages per sponsor)
- Training Plan of Sponsor and Co-Sponsor (3 pages)
- Research Project Environment of Sponsor and Co-Sponsor (no page limit)
Optional third-party personnel:
Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training
Applicant (program director)
- Implementation Plan (12 pages)
- Biographical Sketch (5 pages)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel, if listed in application
Career Development Award
Applicant
- Research Plan (8 pages)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Career Development Plan (3 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOC) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification (DOC) (2 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (if applicable, no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel
Department Head Letter (5 pages)
Primary Mentor:
- Mentor's Training Plan (4 pages)
- Mentor's Past/Current Trainees (3 pages each)
- Mentor's Biosketch (5 pages)
Secondary Mentor
- Mentor's Past/Current Trainees (3 pages each)
- Mentor's Biosketch (5 pages)
- Mentor's Letter (3 pages)
Additional Mentors (up to two)
Optional Third Parties:
AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)
Applicant
- Research Plan (8 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOC) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (if applicable, no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel
- Provost's Letter of Institutional Eligibility (1 page)
Optional third-party personnel:
Established Investigator Award
Pre-Proposal
(letter of intent)
- Pre-proposal (letter of intent) (2 pages)
- List of 15 most impactful and/or foundational publications relevant to proposal or this program (2 pages)
- Applicant/PI Biosketch (5 pages)
INVITED FULL PROPOSAL:
Applicant
- Abbreviated Proposal (8 pages)
- Biosketch/Bibliography (5 pages)
- Budget Justification template (DOC) (2 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Research Project Environment Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (if applicable, no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel
Merit Award
Letter of Intent
- Letter of Intent (2 pages)
- 15 Top Bibliography (2 pages)
- Biographical Sketch/Bibliography (5 pages)
Research Supplement to Promote Diversity
Fellow/Trainee
- Proposed Research Plan (3-page limit)
- Biographical Sketch (5 pages) -- NIH OMB No. 0925-0001 and 0925-0002 (Rev. 03/2020 approved through 02/28/2023). No need to reformat to AHA page specifications.
- The fellow is expected to prepare the lay summary. The lay summary is not a document to be uploaded, rather it is entered through form fields in Proposal Central. We list it here, so the fellow may be aware.
Mentor
- Biosketch of Mentor and Co-Mentor, if applicable (5-page limit per Mentor)
- Past and Current Trainees (3 pages per mentor)
- Research Project Environment (no page limit)
- Training Plan of Mentor (and Co-Mentor, if named) (3 pages total)
Refer to Sponsor/Mentor Information page for details.
Collaborative Sciences Award
Pre-Proposal
- Pre-proposal (letter of intent) (3 pages)
- Biosketch from each proposed Co-Principal Investigator (5 pages per Co-PI)
INVITED FULL PROPOSAL:
Initiating Co-PI
- Research Plan (10 pages)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOC) (2 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects, if applicable (no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Additional Co-PIs
- Biosketch
- Research Project Environment (DOC) (2 pages)
Other Third Party Personnel
(if applicable)
Strategically Focused Research Network
CENTER Required Documents
- Applicant/PI Biosketch (5 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Department Head Letter (5 pages)
- Literature Cited (5 pages)
- Center Science Vision and Synergy (8 pages)
- Center Collaboration (5 pages)
- Current Postdoctoral Training Program (no limit)
- Proposed Multidisciplinary Training Program (8 pages)
- Center Director Qualifications (2 pages)
- Center Administrative Structure (2 pages)
- Publications (up to 3 separate uploads, with no page limits)
- Project PI Letter of Support (2 pages)
- Partnering Institution Letter (2 pages)
PROJECT Required Documents
- Applicant/PI Biosketch (5 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Department Head Letter (5 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOC) (2 pages)
- Publications (up to 3 separate uploads, no page limits)
- Research Plan (17 pages)
- Literature Cited (5 pages)
- Center Director's Vision and Synergy (8 pages)
- Third-Party Personnel Documents
Innovative Project Award
Pre-proposal
(letter of intent)
- Pre-proposal (letter of intent) (1 page)
- List of 15 most impactful and/or foundational publications relevant to proposal or this program (2 pages)
- Applicant/PI Biosketch (5 pages)
Applicant
- Abbreviated Proposal (5 pages)
- Biographical Sketch (5 pages)
- Research Project Environment Form - Word template (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects, if applicable (no page limit)
Third Party Personnel
Transformational Project Award
Applicant
- Proposed Research Plan (8 pages)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Research Project Environment Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOC) (2 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (if applicable, no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)