The American Heart Association has awarded $15 million to establish a new Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease, led by teams from Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Center, and the University of Pittsburgh. The initiative aims to address the growing prevalence of heart valve disease, which often progresses silently and is frequently diagnosed only after significant damage has occurred.
Heart valve disease, affecting more than 80 million people globally, occurs when one or more of the heart's four valves fail to open or close properly, leading to restricted blood flow or leakage. According to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, the condition contributes to over 57,000 deaths annually in the United States. Without timely intervention, it can result in heart failure, arrhythmia, reduced quality of life, and premature death.
Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of early detection: "The prevalence of heart valve disease is increasing, but it rarely makes headlines and often shows no early warning signs. By the time symptoms appear, damage may already be done - making early detection and treatment essential." The Association's Heart Valve Initiative and Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program have already been working to improve patient care.
The four-year awards, effective April 1, 2026, fund three research centers, each focusing on different aspects of valvular heart disease. The VALVE-iPROTECT Center at Mass General Brigham, led by Elena Aikawa, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, will investigate calcific aortic stenosis (AS), a condition where the aortic valve stiffens and narrows. The team will study early molecular changes using advanced imaging and develop clinical calculators to identify at-risk individuals before severe damage occurs. Currently, no medication exists to slow AS progression, and patients often face valve replacement after years of monitoring.
The SHIELD Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, led by Andrea Beaton, M.D., M.S., FAHA, will focus on rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the leading cause of heart valve disease in children and young adults, affecting at least 55 million people worldwide. The center will collaborate with partners in Uganda, Brazil, Timor-Leste, and the United States to implement AI-supported heart screening, digital patient registries, and community-based support systems. The goal is to integrate early detection into national RHD action plans, leveraging the World Health Organization's 2024 guidelines recommending heart ultrasound screening.
The University of Pittsburgh's Center For Aortic Valve Disease Prediction And Integrated Research, led by Cynthia St. Hilaire, Ph.D., FAHA, will explore how risk factors like lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), inflammation, and biomechanical forces interact to trigger valve calcification. The team will build realistic lab systems to study disease progression under dynamic conditions and develop treatments to block calcification processes. The research aims to shift care from late-stage surgery to early detection and prevention.
Since 1949, the American Heart Association has invested more than $6.1 billion in cardiovascular research, making it the largest non-profit funder of heart and brain health research in the U.S. This new network is the 19th Strategically Focused Research Network, each targeting key strategic health issues. The Association's commitment to funding scientific discovery remains a cornerstone of its mission to improve cardiovascular health worldwide.
