American Heart Association Research Funding

Opportunities

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What kind of research does AHA support?

The American Heart Association supports research broadly related to cardiovascular

function and disease and stroke or to related clinical, basic science, bioengineering or biotechnology,

and public health problems, including multidisciplinary efforts.

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SD

NE

SouthWestAffiliate

Midwest Affiliate

Mid-Atlantic Affiliate

Greater Southeast

Affiliate

WY

AK

WA

MT

OR

ID

CO

AZ

CANV UT

NM

TX

ND

MO

AR

IL

MN

WI

IN

TN

LA

MS AL GA

SC

FL

NC

VA

Great Rivers Affiliate

MI

KYWV

OHPA

DE

NJ

CTNY

RI

VT NH

ME

MDDC

PR

HI

KS

OK

Founders Affiliate

NYC

MA

SD

Western States Affiliate

National Program & Seven Affiliates

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AHA Legacy Programs• Predoctoral Fellowship• Postdoctoral Fellowship• Mentored Clinical & Population Research Award• Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award• Beginning Grant-in-Aid• Scientist Development Grant• Grant-in-Aid• Innovative Research Award• Established Investigator Award

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• Post baccalaureate, pre-doctoral M.D., Ph.D., D.O., D.V.M. (or equivalent) students seeking research training with a sponsor/mentor prior to embarking on a research career.• Full-time students working towards their degrees.

To help students initiate careers in cardiovascular research by providing research assistance and training

Predoctoral Fellowship Program

Offered by all 7 Affiliates1 - 2 years of stipend support$22,000 - $26,000 per year

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Supports individuals before they are ready for some stage of independent research. M.D., Ph.D., D.O., D.V.M. (or equivalent) at activation.

Most affiliates limit the number of years of postdoctoral research training at the time of award activation.

To help trainees initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research while obtaining significant research results.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

2 years of stipend support, comparable with NIH sliding scale Offered by all 7 Affiliates

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Mentored Clinical & Population Research Award

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Encourages early career investigators who have appropriate and supportive mentoring relationships to engage in high quality introductory and pilot clinical studies that will guide future strategies for reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke, while fostering new research in clinical and translational science, and encouraging community- and population-based activities.

• 2-year award offered by all seven affiliates and National Program• Awards range from $55,000 - $77,000 per year, depending on the affiliate

Promotes the independent status of promising beginning scientists.

Up to and including the rank of assistant professor (or equivalent).

Beginning Grant-In-Aid

• BGIA is a 2-year award• Offered by Great Rivers, SouthWest and Western States

Affiliates• Awards range from $66,000 - $77,000 per year

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Supports highly promising beginning scientists in their progress toward independence by encouraging and adequately funding research projects that can bridge the gap between completion of research training and readiness for successful competition as an independent investigator.

Scientist Development Grant

Founders Affiliate - 3 years @ $77,000 per yearMid-Atlantic Affiliate - 3 years @ $77,000 per yearMidwest Affiliate - 3 years @ $71,500 per yearNational Program - 4 years @ $77,000 per year

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Grant-in-Aid

Offered by all 7 affiliatesAward amounts range from $66,00 - $77,000 per year2-year award; 3-year award in Founders Affiliate

To encourage and adequately fund the most innovative and meritorious research projects from independent investigators

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Provides funding for trainees with outstanding potential for careers as physician-scientists in cardiovascular or stroke research during the crucial career development from the completion of research training through the early years of the first faculty/staff position.

Fellow-to-Faculty Transition Award

5-year award:Supports beginning physician-scientists for 1-3 years of research training @ $65,000 per year, and then the initial years of first faculty/staff (or equivalent) appointment @ $132,000 per year

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Supports highly innovative, high-risk, high-reward research that could ultimately lead to criticaldiscoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and stroke research.

Designed to be a highly-competitive program.

Innovative Research Grant

National Program: 2-year award @ $75,000 per year12

Established Investigator Award

Award may be held only onceNational Program: $500,000 over 5 years

Supports mid-career investigators with unusual promise and established records of accomplishment.

Candidates have a demonstrated commitment to cardio-vascular or cerebrovascular science as indicated by prior publication history and scientific accomplishments.

A candidate’s career is expected to be in a rapid growth phase

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Pilot Programs

• Mentor-AHA Mentee• Strategically Focused Research Networks• Collaborative Grants• CV Genome Phenome Study• AHA Merit Awards

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Who reviews applications to AHA?

• Separate basic, population, and clinical study sections

• Two cycles per year (spring and fall)

• Close matching of reviewers’ specific expertise to applications

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Who reviews applications to AHA?Reviewer Qualifications: Minimum Assistant Professor career level Nationally recognized competence in one or more fields of

biomedical research Prior peer review experience of extramural grant applications

at the regional or national level Current or recent independent peer reviewed funding,

typically at the national level Consistent record of peer reviewed publications within the

past 5 years

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Where to begin?

my.americanheart.org/funding opportunities

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