Last Updated: February 2010

The American Heart Association's eight affiliates provide research support for scientists throughout the United States. The funding mechanisms vary from affiliate to affiliate, but most programs help beginning investigators develop research careers or fund research projects investigating the broad field of cardiovascular function, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Awards are available for people working in basic sciences, health sciences, clinical, bioengineering/ biotechnology and public health problems.

For more information on a particular affiliate's programs, visit Funding Opportunities.

The following information summarizes the American Heart Association affiliates' commitment to research in the number of awards, award amounts and the distribution of research dollars among affiliate areas.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Three affiliates offer programs to help students explore careers in cardiovascular and stroke
research; 52 new awards funded in 2008-09 totaling $221,000.

Predoctoral Fellowship
All affiliates offer programs to help post-baccalaureate students initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research; 268 new awards funded in 2008-09 ($11.9 million) and 280 continuing awards totaling $24.4 million.

Postdoctoral Fellowship
All affiliates offer programs to provide training for and encourage the pursuit of research careers;
254 new awards funded in 2008-09 ($22.1 million) and 216 continuing awards, totaling $41.5 million.

Clinical Research Program
Six affiliates offer programs to encourage early career investigators to engage in high-quality
introductory and pilot clinical studies; 22 new awards funded in 2008-09 ($2.64 million) and three continuing awards totaling $2.98 million.

Scientist Development Grant
Two affiliates offer this program to help promising beginning scientists move from completion of
research training to independent investigators; 22 new awards funded in 2008-09 ($4.4 million) and 43 continuing awards totaling $13.2 million.

Beginning Grant-in-Aid
Seven affiliates offer this program to promote the independent status of promising beginning
scientists; 84 new awards funded in 2008-09 ($11.6 million) and 99 continuing awards totaling $24.8 million.

Grant-in-Aid
All affiliates offer programs to support innovative, highly meritorious cardiovascular and stroke
research projects from independent investigators; 166 new awards funded in 2008-09 ($26.1 million) and 235 continuing grants totaling $64.6 million.
 
Source: Research Facts 2010