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.
  • 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.

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)

Third Party Personnel, if listed in application

Career Development Award

Applicant

Third Party Personnel

AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)

Applicant

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 template (DOC) (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 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

Invited Full Proposal

  • Summary of Major Research Achievements (1-page limit)
  • Ongoing and Planned Research (8-page limit)
  • Literature Cited (4-page limit)
  • AHA Ambassadorship (1-page limit)
  • 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)

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 (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

 Additional Co-PIs

Other Third Party Personnel
(if applicable)

Strategically Focused Research Network

CENTER Required Documents

PROJECT Required 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

Third Party Personnel

Transformational Project Award

Applicant

Third Party Personnel