NOTICE: Applications are submitted to the American Heart Association via Grants@Heart, a Web-based application system. Please refer to the program listings, instructions and information below as you complete your application.
Find your Affiliate
National and its seven affiliates offer two funding cycles per year -- in winter and summer. Not all programs are offered at each cycle. Only the ones listed on this page are available at this time.
American Heart Association research awards are limited to non-profit institutions, including medical, osteopathic and dental schools, veterinary schools, schools of public health, pharmacy schools, nursing schools, universities and colleges, public and voluntary hospitals and others that can demonstrate the ability to conduct the proposed research. Applications will not be accepted for work with funding to be administered through any federal institution or work to be performed by a federal employee, except for Veterans Administrations employees. Funding is prohibited for awards at non-U.S. institutions.
To assist you with completing an application, refer to the following links:
- The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Read more in the FAQ's.
- Read about our membership/application fee.
- Review the program descriptions (links on this page).
- Review the help documents.
- Review the list of supporting information required with your electronic application.
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The American Heart/Stroke Association is committed to identifying and supporting specific science areas deemed vital to achieving our mission and strategic objectives. The Association has established partnerships with various organizations to fund critical need/high impact and focused research programs.
NEW! Critical Need / High Impact Funding Opportunity
American Stroke Association-Bugher Foundation Centers of Excellence in Stroke Collaborative Research for Regeneration, Resilience and Secondary Prevention
The Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation has committed $9.24 million dollars to the American Stroke Association (ASA, a division of the American Heart Association) to support a new network of three Centers of Excellence in Stroke Collaborative Research for a period of four years.
View more information about this exciting new funding opportunity and download the full Request for Applications.
Focused Research Funding Opportunities For Summer 2013

AHA/ASA/American Brain Foundation Lawrence M. Brass, M.D. Stroke Research Postdoctoral Fellowship AwardSpecial funding is available from the American Brain Foundation to support a training award for an individual interested in embarking on a career in stroke research related to vascular neurology, stroke and neurocritical care. Individuals should not have more than 5 years of postdoctoral research training.
Interested parties should submit a postdoctoral fellowship application to their local affiliate.
AHA/CCF Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Joint Research Award
The Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) has partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) to establish a research award for investigators conducting research specific to pediatric cardiomyopathy.
CCF will provide $35,000 per year for two years to fund one project related to pediatric cardiomyopathy research. The AHA will provide the balance of the funds needed to fully fund the selected award.
Interested parties should submit a Beginning Grant-in-Aid or Grant-in-Aid to their local affiliate.



AHA/Gerontological Society of America National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship AwardSpecial funding is made available from the Gerontological Society of America-National Hartford CGNE to support an investigator proposing innovative basic, clinical or translational research projects relevant to gerontological nursing, aging, cardiovascular disease and /or stroke. In addition to an RN degree, applicants must hold a PhD, DN.Sc. or equivalent degree at the time of award activation. DNP applicants are not eligible.
The chosen awardee will be expected to attend the GSA Leadership Conference both years of the fellowship.
AHA/Myocarditis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
Supports an investigator proposing innovative basic, clinical or translational research projects relevant to the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment epidemiology and/or prevention of myocarditis.
Interested parties should submit a postdoctoral fellowship application to their local affiliate.
AHA Programs for Summer 2013 Deadlines
Several programs have a broad target audience. You should always refer to the program description for details.Undergraduate Student Research Program
The purpose of this undergraduate research training program is to encourage promising students from all disciplines, including women and members of minority groups underrepresented in the sciences, to consider research careers while supporting the highest quality scientific investigation broadly related to cardiovascular disease and stroke.Offered by: Great Rivers Affiliate
Career Stage: making the decision – undergraduate student classified as junior or senior.
Predoctoral Fellowship
Helps students initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research by providing research assistance and training.
Offered by: Founders, Greater Southeast, Midwest, SouthWest and Western States Affiliates
Career Stage: gaining credentials – doctoral studentPostdoctoral Fellowship
Helps trainees initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research while obtaining significant research results under the supervision of a sponsor or mentor; supports individuals before they are ready for some stage of independent research.
Offered by: Founders, Great Rivers, Greater Southeast, Midwest, SouthWest and Western States Affiliates
Career Stage: directed step - postdoctoral fellow
Mentored Clinical & Population Research Award (formerly Clinical Research Program)
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.
Offered by: Founders, Greater Southeast, National and Western States Affiliates
Career Stage: directed step/first independent step - masters degree. Healthcare professionals with a masters degree or certain doctoral degrees.Beginning Grant-In-Aid
Promotes the independent status of promising beginning scientists.
Offered by: Great Rivers, SouthWest and Western States Affiliates
Career Stage: First independent step – instructor, assistant professor or other first academic appointment or equivalent.Scientist Development Grant
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.
Offered by: Founders Affiliate and National
Career Stage: First independent step – instructor, assistant professor or other first academic appointment or equivalentHealth Sciences Fellowship
Provides opportunities for health science students to work for ten consecutive weeks with a faculty/staff member on any project related to the mission of the American Heart Association. The goal is to encourage students to consider a future academic career in this area.
Offered by: Greater Southeast AffiliateGrant-In-Aid
Encourages and adequately funds the most innovative and meritorious research projects from independent investigators.
Offered by: Founders, SouthWest and Western States Affiliates
Career Stage: First independent step, intermediate level or recognized investigator – instructor, assistant professor or other first academic appointment or equivalent, associate professor or equivalent, professor or equivalent. Applicants are expected to be independent investigators.Established Investigator Award
Supports mid-career investigators with unusual promise and an established record of accomplishments; candidates have a demonstrated commitment to cardiovascular 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.
Offered by: National
Innovative Research Grants
Supports highly innovative, high-risk, high-reward research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and stroke research.
Offered by: National



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