AHA Research
The American Heart Association's Commitment to Research
Funding research is a cornerstone of the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission - a pillar of our foundation and a key to our future. Since 1949, the Association has made significant annual investments in research that has led to breakthroughs in cardiovascular and stroke discovery, translation, and clinical application through more than 51,850 funded projects. At our core are 12 Essential Elements that guide the organization's research vision.
$6.1B
Invested in scientific research since 1949. The American Heart Association is the largest nonprofit, non-governmental supporter of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research in the U.S.
2,200 projects
Currently being supported by American Heart. These total more than $584M in research funding. Of these, 1,015 were activated in 2024-25, accounting for $183M of funding.
2,800 reviewers
Number of peer volunteers who evaluated 5,242 proposals for American Heart Association funding during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Research Funding Opportunities
Funding research is a cornerstone of the Association’s lifesaving mission and a key to our future. We have been funding scientific research since 1949 and continually add new timely, mission-related programs.
Application Resources
Tips and tools for preparing and submitting a proposal for research funding. Resources include step-by-step application instructions, live webinars, videos, fact sheets, and helpful web sites.
Research Portal
View current data on investigators, institutions, awards and resulting publications funded by the American Heart Association since 2001.
Analytic Opportunities
Teams can access the Association's Precision Medicine Platform to collaborate and analyze data that includes Get With The Guidelines® and Research Goes Red for the power of machine learning in a secure cloud computing environment.
Our Research History
See the results of the Associations more than $6.1 billion investment in research, both historic and recent.
Success
Rates
Success rates are the percent funded of the total number of full proposals submitted. These figures should not be used to predict future program performance.
SURE Scholars Program
A unique summer research program for underrepresented college students interested in STEM careers.
Research Insider Signup
Monthly e-newsletter encompassing the latest funding opportunities and news.
Research News
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Researchers awarded $15 million to study CKM syndrome in women
Research teams from Augusta University, Massachusetts General Hospital and The Ohio State University will lead a $15 million project dedicated to studying the various ways that risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases impact women. -
Research grants awarded to study CHDs
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defect in the U.S., affecting more than 40,000 infants each year.[1] To help health care professionals better understand and treat CHDs, the American Heart Association(link opens in new window) and The Children’s Heart Foundation(link opens in new window) will fund five promising scientific researchers through the joint Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards program. -
Two scientific researchers receive 2025 Sacco Scholarships
The American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association have awarded the 2025 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health to two researchers, Hortense Triniac, Ph.D., of Milwaukee and Katy Walsh, Ph.D., of Boston. Each will receive a $150,000 two-year scholarship to support continuing scientific research in brain health. -
2025 American Heart Association Merit Awards
A New York City-based physician scientist who explores ways to improve health by looking at the ways in which cells and molecules impact disease and an epidemiologist from Baltimore who has devoted her career to identifying ways to improve screening, diagnosis and patient care for people with diabetes are the most recent American Heart Association Merit Award recipients. Over the next five years, each researcher will receive a total of $1 million in funding from the Association, a global force changing the future of health for all. -
NEW Scientific Statement on Women and PVD
The disparities between men and women in prevalence, risk factors and symptoms of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) have a profound impact on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for women, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.
Funding Announcements
Get With The Guidelines®
Meet your data submission requirements while tracking and reporting on your hospital's performance.
This tool is a hospital-based quality improvement program designed to close the treatment gap in cardiovascular disease, stroke, and resuscitation. It includes modules in coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke and resuscitation. Each program provides physicians and healthcare providers with materials, information and tools based on relevant evidence-based guidelines.
This tool is a hospital-based quality improvement program designed to close the treatment gap in cardiovascular disease, stroke, and resuscitation. It includes modules in coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke and resuscitation. Each program provides physicians and healthcare providers with materials, information and tools based on relevant evidence-based guidelines.
Become an AHA
Professional Member Today!
Enjoy instant benefits!
- Access to apply for a research funding award(s)
- Free online access to AHA Scientific Journals
- Affiliate with one or more of our 16 Scientific Councils
- Discounts on Scientific Conference registration and online courses
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