AHA Research
AHA'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 AHA has made significant annual investments in research that has led to breakthroughs in cardiovascular and stroke discovery, translation, and clinical application through more than 50,850 funded projects. At our core are 12 Essential Elements that guide the AHA's research vision. This year's centennial anniversary allowed us to reach an all-time high in annual research funding.

Important Update
AHA’s Commitment to Research Funding
We are pleased to announce that the American Heart Association’s Board of Directors allocated an all-time high in research funding for this year. Due to recent changes in federal funding for biomedical research, the association has strategically adjusted its research program offerings. By collaborating with science volunteers and Association leadership, the organization is maximizing its resources to continue driving groundbreaking research, which remains central to our mission.
As part of these adjustments, some research programs will be temporarily paused, and some principal investigators on select programs ending in 2025 will have the opportunity to apply for limited bridge funding. We remain committed to supporting trainees, early career investigators, mid-career researchers, and institutions that typically receive less federal funding. Please see details on our Funding Opportunities page.
The AHA is continuously monitoring and evaluating both federal and non-profit research funding landscapes to address evolving challenges and uphold our dedication to funding the most impactful science.
Questions? Please email our [email protected]
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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®
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.
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- Access to apply for a research funding award(s)
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