The American Heart Association announced a $15 million initiative to establish a Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease. The network, which began April 1, 2026, will fund three research centers led by Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Center, and the University of Pittsburgh. The goal is to improve understanding of heart valve disease, a condition affecting more than 80 million people globally, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. In the U.S., it causes over 57,000 deaths each year.
Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart’s four valves become narrowed or leaky, leading to reduced blood flow or backward flow. Left untreated, it can cause heart failure, arrhythmia, and early death. The condition often progresses silently, making early detection critical. “The prevalence of heart valve disease is increasing, but it rarely makes headlines and often shows no early warning signs,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. “This new research network is an exciting way to extend our impact even earlier by supporting innovative, cutting-edge scientific exploration.”
The Mass General Brigham team, led by Elena Aikawa, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, will focus on calcific aortic stenosis, a common valve disease driven by cholesterol-related inflammation and calcium buildup. Their projects will study early molecular changes, use advanced imaging, and develop clinical risk calculators. The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital center, led by Andrea Beaton, M.D., M.S., FAHA, will target rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the leading cause of valve disease in children and young adults. Their SHIELD Center will test AI-supported heart screening, digital registries, and community-based support in Uganda, Brazil, and Timor-Leste. The University of Pittsburgh center, led by Cynthia St. Hilaire, Ph.D., FAHA, will investigate how risk factors like lipoprotein(a), inflammation, and biomechanical forces interact to cause aortic stenosis, using realistic lab systems to study disease progression.
The American Heart Association has invested nearly $300 million in 19 Strategically Focused Research Networks addressing key health issues. This network aims to shift valve disease care from late-stage surgery to early detection and prevention. The 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.
