The American Heart Association® and The Children’s Heart Foundation to jointly fund new research into congenital heart defects

DALLAS, Feb. 10, 2025  ̶  Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defect in the U.S., affecting more than 40,000 infants each year. To help health care professionals better understand and treat CHDs, the American Heart Association and The Children’s Heart Foundation will fund five promising scientific researchers through the joint Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards program. 

To date, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on changing the future of health for all, and The Children’s Heart Foundation, dedicated to funding the most promising congenital heart defect research, have pledged more than $10 million across 10 years of the CHD research funding collaboration. 

Approximately 1 in 4 babies born with a CHD require invasive surgery or treatment in their first year of life. While medical advancements have improved over the years, many of these children and their families still face a lifetime of challenges

Receiving the very latest in new grant funding, combining for more than $570,000 are:

• Brendan Crabb, M.D., at The Regents of the University of California, San Diego for Biventricular Analysis of Regional Myocardial Function in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Using a Deep Learning Approach;
• Feiya Li, Ph.D., at the J. David Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco for Deciphering the Contribution of HMGN1 to the Cardiac Defects of Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome);
• Tasniem Fetian at the University of Pittsburgh for Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying the Functions and Interplay among Co-Transcriptional Nucleosome Modifications;
• Nurselin Ates, Ph.D., at the Children's Research Institute in Washington, D.C. for The Effects of Impaired H3K4 Methylation Profile on Congenital Heart Disease Associated White Matter Injury; and
• Hongyan Guo at the University of Houston for NFPs regulate ventricular compaction.

“When we invest in research that helps us diagnose and treat heart defects, we can improve the length and the quality of life for the more than 40,000 infants who are born with CHDs each year,” said Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer president and an associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and adjunct associate professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. “The Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards program represents a commitment from our organizations to help create a healthier future for these children and their families.”

"We are thrilled to be funding new research into congenital heart defects in partnership with the American Heart Association," said Jeffrey Franco, interim CEO of The Children's Heart Foundation. "Together, our shared passion for advancing congenital heart defect research drives us to create meaningful change—transforming lives, advancing care, and offering hope to countless individuals and families impacted by CHDs."

Researchers studying the prevention and treatment of CHDs are encouraged to submit applications for funding from the American Heart Association and The Children’s Heart Foundation. For submission guidelines and upcoming deadlines specific to the Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards, visit professional.heart.org/CHDResearchAwards.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. 

About The Children’s Heart Foundation  

The Children’s Heart Foundation (CHF) is the country’s leading organization solely committed to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. The Children’s Heart Foundation’s mission is to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research. To date, CHF has funded nearly $20 million of CHD research and scientific collaborations. For more information or to join our cause, visit www.childrensheartfoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

For Media Inquiries:

American Heart Association: Julia Kersey, julia.kersey@heart.org

Children’s Heart Foundation: Lauren DeVoe, ldevoe@childrensheartfoundation.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org