The American Heart Association is the largest non-profit, non-governmental funder of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research in the U.S. Many research programs are offered annually and others are one-time grants. Some programs require pre-proposals, with full proposals by invitation only. Watch this page for updates on funding opportunities and proposal deadlines.
Please visit the Application Resources page for answers on AHA policies and restrictions, application preparation, and general guidelines.
For these funding opportunities, applicants initiate the research focus. Qualification for these awards is largely based on the principal investigator’s career stage.
These programs support specific areas of science deemed critical to achieving our mission and strategic objectives. The AHA co-funds some projects with other organizations to advance common goals.
These opportunities fund researchers from anywhere in the world working in the field of data science. Grants support investigators in all career stages, from trainees to senior scientists.
AHA/ASA Quality Programs produce data from millions of patient records in vast databases for advancing scientific research. Investigators can submit proposals to conduct research using this data.
Collaborative Sciences Award
Pre-proposal deadline: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Fosters innovative collaborative approaches to research projects that propose novel pairings of investigators from at least two broadly disparate disciplines. The proposal must focus on the collaborative relationship, such that the scientific objectives could not be achieved without the efforts of at least two co-principal investigators and their respective disciplines.
Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through the AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award and by the California Walnut Commission.
Career Development Award
Proposal deadline: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Supports highly promising healthcare and academic professionals in the early years of first professional appointment to assure the applicant’s future success as a research scientist in the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease research.
Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through the California Walnut Commission, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER), and the AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award. See co-funded opportunities details.
AHA Predoctoral Fellowship
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025.
Enhances the training of promising students in pre-doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global health and wellbeing.
AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Deadline has passed for funding in 2025.
Enhances the training of postdoctoral applicants who are not yet independent. The applicant must be embedded in an appropriate investigative group with the mentorship, support, and relevant scientific guidance of a research mentor.
Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome: Heterogeneity in Women
Required pre-proposals due: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
This initiative will support a collaborative network of researchers whose collective efforts will address critical questions and stimulate significant advances in our understanding of Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome in women and the related contributing factors. CKM Syndrome is a health disorder due of connections among heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. Health outcomes are poor and affect multiple organ systems, and the considerable heterogeneity seen in CKM is not well understood. Outcomes from the SFRN should facilitate improved approaches for both prevention and treatment of CKM.
Applicants will leverage one of the AHA Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) datasets (AFib, CAD, Stroke, HF, or Resuscitation) in the Precision Medicine Platform to ask new and innovative questions regarding the role of social determinants of health in cardiovascular disease and stroke.
*Sign up to attend an upcoming GWTG Data Bootcamp at Scientific Sessions 2024 or the International Stroke Conference 2025 (ISC registration link is not yet available). Add the GWTG Data Bootcamp to your conference registration under “Special Ticketed Events”.