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](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/application-resources "Application Resources")** page for answers on AHA policies and restrictions, application preparation, and general guidelines. ## Investigator-Initiated Research For these funding opportunities, applicants initiate the research focus. Qualification for these awards is largely based on the principal investigator’s career stage. [See investigator-initiated research opportunities](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities#open "See investigator-initiated research opportunities") ## Topic-focused Funding 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. [See current topic-focused research opportunities](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities#topic "See current topic-focused research opportunities") ## Data Science Grants 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. [See data science grant funding](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities#datagrants "See data science grant funding") ## AHA Registry Research 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. [See AHA Registry Research Opportunities](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities#registry "See AHA Registry Research Opportunities") ## Investigator-initiated Research Opportunities | [AHA Predoctoral Fellowship](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/predoctoral-fellowship "AHA Predoctoral Fellowship")
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 3, 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.
Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through the [AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards](https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/), [Autism Speaks](https://www.autismspeaks.org/research-grants), the [Barth Syndrome Foundation](https://www.barthsyndrome.org/research/) and the [California Walnut Commission](https://walnuts.org/health-professionals/health-research/). | | [AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/postdoctoral-fellowship "AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship")
Proposal deadline: Thursday, September 4, 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.
Within this award, additional collaboration money has been designated through [AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards](https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/), the [AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award](https://viva-foundation.org/research), [Autism Speaks](https://www.autismspeaks.org/research-grants), the [Barth Syndrome Foundation](https://www.barthsyndrome.org/research/) and the [California Walnut Commission](https://walnuts.org/health-professionals/health-research/). | | [Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/institutional-award-for-undergraduate-student-training "Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training")
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
This award is made to qualified institutions that can offer a meaningful research experience that supports the AHA mission that encourages undergraduate college students from all disciplines to consider research careers. | | [AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/aha-institutional-research-enhancement-award-airea "AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award")
Proposal deadline: Thursday, September 11, 2025
Stimulates research at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees related to scientific research training. Eligible institutions may not have been major recipients of NIH support. Awards provide funding for small-scale research projects related to cardiovascular diseases and brain health, enhancing the research environment at eligible institutions, and exposing students to research opportunities. | | [Career Development Award](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/career-development-award "Career Development Award")
Proposal deadline: Thursday, December 2, 2025
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](https://walnuts.org/health-professionals/health-research/) and the [AHA/VIVA Physician Research Award](https://viva-foundation.org/research). | | **Merit Award**
Required pre-preproposal deadline: TBD
Funds investigators with stellar track records of accomplishment, demonstrated by federal or equivalent funding from multiple sources and excellent publication records with substantial impact, who have the potential to move a field of science forward with creative approaches that are aligned with the AHA's mission. This award will begin on January 1, 2026. | | **Collaborative Sciences Award**
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
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. | | **Established Investigator Award**
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
Supports established investigators in rapid career growth phase, with records of accomplishments and showing extraordinary promise. Candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular science disciplines that support the AHA’s mission, as indicated by funding and publication history and scientific accomplishments. Candidates should propose an innovative/novel research direction that challenges existing paradigms and employs novel concepts, approaches, or technologies. | | **Innovative Project Award**
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
Supports highly innovative, high-impact research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research. The idea proposed here should not have been submitted in whole or in part in a previous proposal for AHA support. | | **International Visiting Professorship Award**
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
Novel pilot program to bring internationally based scientists to the U.S. for one week to foster scientific exchange -- to expand research experiences and collaborative opportunities for the awarded Visiting Professor and their U.S.-based host in research that aligns with the AHA mission | | **Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health**
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
Jointly funded by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, with funds from a generous bequest by Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, this program enables early career trainees to undertake a mentored two-year research project targeting various aspects of brain health. The 2025 awards are for MD or PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) applicants in postdoctoral fellowship training with a focus on brain health as of July 1, 2025. Projects for this cycle must focus on prevention. | | **Transformational Project Award**
Deadline for 2026 funding to be announced
Supports highly innovative, high-impact projects that build on work in progress that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research. Research deemed innovative may be built around an emerging paradigm, approaching an existing problem from a new perspective, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities. | Open Topic Research Funding Opportunities ## Topic-focused Funding Opportunities | [Novel Artificial Intelligence Approaches to Advance Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular/Brain Health](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/novel-ai-approaches-to-advance-cv-and-brain-health)
Required pre-proposal deadline has passed
A total of $12 million is available to fund three investigators / investigative teams proposing novel uses of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize cardiovascular and cerebrovascular / brain health and health care delivery. | | [Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome: Heterogeneity in Women](https://professional.heart.org/en/research-programs/aha-funding-opportunities/sfrn-on-ckms-heterogeneity-in-women "Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome Heterogeneity in Women")
Required pre-proposal deadline has passed
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. | Topic Focused Research Funding Opportunities ## Data Science Grants No active requests for proposals at this time ## AHA Registry Research **[National Level Program Data Research Opportunities](https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/quality-research-and-publications/national-level-program-data-research-opportunities "National Level Program Data Research Opportunities")** * * * **2025 Holidays** | | | | --- | --- | | AHA offices will be closed: | | Jan. 1 | Sept. 1 | | Jan. 20 | Nov. 27 & 28 | | May 26 | Dec. 22-26 | | July 3 & 4 | | | | | --- | --- | | Altum/Proposal Central will be closed: | | Jan. 1 | July 4 | | Jan. 20 | Sept. 1 | | Feb. 17 | Oct. 13 | | May 26 | Nov. 27 & 28 | | June 19 | Dec. 22-26 | [Email our applications team >](mailto:apply@heart.org "Email our applications team >")

AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship

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