Last Updated: January 2009  

Research Goals  |  Research Standards  | Types of Research 

Since 1949 the American Heart Association has spent more than $3.1 billion on research to increase our knowledge about cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Our financial contribution to research is impressive. But so is the percentage of our budget spent for research. In 2007-08, 23.2 percent of our total expenditures supported research. The American Heart Association's percentage to research compares favorably with that of other health organizations.

Each American Heart Association affiliate channels at least 28 percent of every publicly donated dollar into research. For each dollar, 13 cents supports the association's National Research Program, and at least 15 cents supports the affiliate's research programs. Affiliate programs vary according to local needs and resources. Like the National Research Program, they provide salary support, project support, or both.

The association's research dollars support the most worthy projects that we select from a substantial pool of applications. In 2007-08, the National Research Program received and reviewed 1,120 grant applications. Affiliates received and reviewed 4,172 grant and fellowship applications in the same period.

Of the $160.4 million spent on research in 2007–08, administrative costs of $5.6 million for national and affiliate programs represent only 3.5 percent of the total.

To extend support of research beyond what its own resources will allow, the American Heart Association partners with private foundations and corporations. The Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation, Jon Holden DeHaan Foundation and corporate members of the AHA Pharmaceutical Roundtable continue their commitment to support the AHA's research programs.

The Bugher Foundation supports eight active AHA-Bugher Stroke Program awardees as well as a network of three centers for stroke prevention research, bringing its support for AHA research to $24.9 million over the past 20 years.

Partners since 1988, the AHA-Pharmaceutical Roundtable recently awarded over $14.5 million to create centers for cardiovascular and stroke outcomes research.

With an $8.4 million gift, The Jon Holden DeHaan Foundation supports three research centers that will conduct research that focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying development and specification of cardiac myocytes and the application of insights gained from these studies to the benefit of patients with cardiac injury. 

More about our research program.

Source:  Research Facts 2009

National Research Program Award Commitments
Affiliate Research Program Award Commitments