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.
- Biosketch Special Instructions - The AHA requires all applicants to provide information specific to each award mechanism. Please review carefully the updated Biosketch Instructions and Information Required in Personal Statement Section
- 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.
- Application 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 & Postdoctoral Fellowships
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:
Reference Reports - 3 required (4 pages each)
Sponsor/Mentor and Co-Mentor (if one has been named):
**Each of the following three documents from the mentor should also include the co-mentor's information.**
- Past and Current Trainees (3 pages per mentor)
- Training Plan for the Fellow (3 pages)
- Research Project Environment (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)
- Literature Cited (4 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 (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (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:
- Training Plan for the Applicant (4 pages)
- Past and Current Trainees (3 pages each)
- Mentor's Biosketch (5 pages)
Secondary Mentor
Additional Mentors (up to two)
Optional Third Parties:
AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)
Applicant
- Research Plan (8 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (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
- Pre-proposal/letter of intent (2 pages)
- List of applicant’s 15 most impactful and/or foundational publications relevant to the proposed research focus or this program (2 pages)
- Details of the PI's past five years of research funding (1 page)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
Invited Full Proposal
- Abbreviated Proposal (8 pages)
- Literature Cited in the Proposed (4 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Details of the PI's past five years of research funding (1 page)
- List of applicant’s 15 most impactful and/or foundational publications relevant to the proposed research focus or this program (2-page limit) - Upload the same list you submitted with your pre-proposal or a revised list
- Research Project Environment (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (if applicable, no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel
Merit Award
Letter of Intent
Invited Full Proposal
- Summary of Major Research Achievements (1-page limit)
- Ongoing and Planned Research (8-page limit)
- Literature Cited (4-page limit)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Top 15 Bibliography (2-page limit) - Upload the same Top 15 Bibliography that you submitted with your letter of intent or a revised list.
- Two references are required from those selected to submit full applications. (see below)
Third Party Personnel
Reference Letters
(4-page limit for each)
Two references are required from those selected to submit a full application. This is a confidential communication, to be completed by the person providing a reference. Applicants will invite referees through ProposalCentral, and they will receive email instructions to complete the process and upload (PDF) a respective letter. Each letter is limited to four pages. Reference letters are due by 3 p.m. CST on the proposal deadline date
Third Party Personnel
(if identified in proposal)
- Collaborating Investigator - Biosketch (5 page limit) & Letter (5 page limit)
- Consultant Letter (5 page limit)
Research Supplement to Promote Diversity
Fellow/Trainee
- Proposed Research Plan (3-page limit)
- Literature Cited in the Proposed (4 pages)
- Biosketch/Personal Statement (5 pages)
- 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 (DOCX) - 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 (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects, if applicable (no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Additional Co-PIs
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOCX) (2 pages)
Other Third Party Personnel
(if applicable)
Strategically Focused Research Network
Required Pre-proposal
CENTER Required Documents
- Applicant/PI Biosketch (5 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (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)
- Project PIs Biosketches (3 PIs, 5 pages each)
- Project PIs Letters of Support (3 PIs, 2 pages each)
- Senior Institutional Letter (2 pages)
- Third-Party Personnel Documents
PROJECT Required Documents
- Applicant/PI Biosketch (5 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Department Head Letter (5 pages)
- Literature Cited for Strategic Awards (5 pages)
- Center Director's Vision and Synergy (8 pages)
- Publications (up to 3 separate uploads, no page limits)
- Research Plan (17 pages)
- Research Project Environment Template (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Third-Party Personnel Documents
Innovative Project Award
Pre-proposal
- Pre-proposal (letter of intent) (1 page limit)
NOTE: The American Heart Association is piloting double blind peer review for the 2024 Innovative Project Award pre-proposal review. Pre-proposals are reviewed for the proposed research idea only. While some identifying information will be collected within ProposalCentral, it will be for AHA use only and will not be shared with reviewers.
Invited Full Proposal
- Abbreviated Proposal (5 pages)
- Literature Cited in proposal (4 pages)
- Biosketch (5 pages)
- List of 15 most impactful and/or foundational publications relevant to proposal or this program (2 pages)
- Research Project Environment (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (2 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 (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Literature Cited (4 pages)
- Vertebrate Animal Subjects (if applicable, no page limit)
- Resubmission Modifications (if applicable, 2 pages)
Third Party Personnel
Health Equity Research Network
Partner Hub
- Administration Structure (2 pages)
- Co-Applicants Historical Collaborations from Pre-Proposal (1 page)
- Co-Applicants Collaboration Letter from Pre-Proposal (1 page)
- Current Postdoctoral Training Program (no page limit)
- Director(s) & Project PI(s) Biosketch (5 pages)
- Director(s) & Project PI(s) Letter of Support (2 pages)
- Director(s) Qualifications (2 pages)
- Literature Cited for Strategic Awards (5 pages)
- Partner Hub’s Science Vision and Synergy (8 pages)
- Proposed Multidisciplinary Training Program (8 pages)
- Publications (up to 3 separate uploads, no page limits)
- Third-Party Personnel Documents
Partner Hub Project
- Budget Justification Form (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Department Head Letter (5 pages)
- Literature Cited for Strategic Awards (5 pages)
- Partner Hub’s Science Vision and Synergy (8 pages)
- Project PI Biosketch (5 pages)
- Project PI Letter of Support (2 pages)
- Research Plan (17 pages)
- Research Project Environment Template (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Third-Party Personnel Documents
Community Engagement Resource Center
- Budget Justification (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Center Science Vision and Synergy (8 pages)
- Community Engagement Resource Center Administration Structure (2 pages)
- Community Engagement Resource Center Environment (DOCX) (2 pages)
- Department Head Letter (5 pages)
- Director CV/Biosketch (5 pages)
- Director Letter of Support (2 pages)
- Literature Cited for Strategic Awards (5 pages)
- Proposed Multidisciplinary Training Program (8 pages)
- Pre-Proposal Proposed Program for CERC (1 page)
- Pre-proposal Partnering Institution Letter (Optional) (1 page)