The American Heart Association announced $3.4 million in grants for two teams of scientists to lead a new research initiative focused on cardiac arrest. More than 600,000 cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. each year, and survival rates remain low both in and out of hospital settings, according to the Association. This initiative establishes the Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network, a collaboration between the American Heart Association and Heart & Stroke™, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, to accelerate scientific discoveries and improve outcomes.
One team, led by Joshua Lupton, M.D., M.P.H., M.Phil., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and a cardiac arrest survivor, will focus on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Their research includes testing different defibrillator pad placements to restart the heart faster and using artificial intelligence to optimize shock timing. They will also work with survivors and families to identify best practices for support resources, including peer-support programs. This project aims to build a shared research network among hospitals, emergency responders, scientists, and survivors.
The second team, led by Ari Moskowitz, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, an associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System in New York, will investigate blood pressure medicines used after cardiac arrest to improve brain and organ function. The VICTORY-CART team will compare two commonly used vasopressors to determine which leads to better survival and recovery, and will establish a learning health system framework to rapidly translate findings into practice.
Both teams will collaborate with Canadian scientists and incorporate insights from cardiac arrest survivors, family members, and those who lost loved ones. Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of seconds in cardiac arrest care and noted that the initiative supports the Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2030 Impact Goals to double survival rates within five years.
The four-year research grants begin July 1, 2026. The American Heart Association has funded over $6.1 billion in cardiovascular research since 1949, making it the largest non-profit supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S. According to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll, 82% of U.S. adults trust the Association to provide trustworthy public health information.
