Despite decades of progress in cardiovascular science, women continue to face significant gaps in research, diagnosis, and treatment, according to a report published by the American Heart Association and the McKinsey Health Institute. To help close those gaps, the American Heart Association, through its American Heart Association Ventures’ Studio Red, announced the recipients of the Redefining Women’s Health: From Heart to Head to Hormones translational research grant awards. Each grant recipient will receive $100,000 to accelerate high-potential, translational research projects designed to move promising discoveries toward real-world application.
During the one-year award period, Studio Red will provide grantees with support and education on topics including intellectual property, regulatory, reimbursement, and commercialization strategies. American Heart Association Ventures is the mission-driven venture capital program of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone, everywhere. Studio Red creates and co-creates new companies to solve as-yet unsolved problems and market challenges in cardiovascular and brain health, and related conditions.
Winning projects span several Association priority research areas, including ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries, autoimmune disease, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The grant recipients include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and University of Pittsburgh. Their projects range from a safer, non-invasive MRI technique to detect hidden heart blood vessel problems in women, to a novel blood test for earlier autoimmune disease diagnosis, to an AI-powered tool for heavy menstrual bleeding, and an ultrasound-based therapy for coronary microvascular dysfunction.
“Too often, conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women are overlooked or misunderstood in clinical care,” said Annabelle Volgman, M.D., American Heart Association volunteer and chair of the peer review committee for the Association’s translational research grant awards. “The projects we selected to fund stood out based on scientific rigor and the potential to translate into meaningful improvements in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for women.”
Funded projects were selected based on their potential to create a clear pathway toward practical application and patient benefit. The selected projects focus on areas where innovation has the potential to meaningfully improve outcomes for women. “Many heart, brain and related conditions that disproportionately, differently or distinctly impact women remain underdiagnosed, undertreated and underfunded. Through this grant program, the American Heart Association is investing to advance groundbreaking research and novel solutions that will close critical gaps in health for women,” said Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA, the chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association. “The projects selected represent the kind of cross-disciplinary thinking required to shape the future and bring new healthcare solutions closer to the women who need them.”
At the conclusion of the yearlong award period, one to two awardees may be selected for company incubation in Studio Red, which includes guidance during the early company formation process and support in reaching key funding milestones. The goal is to have one company created and ready for follow-on funding. This initiative underscores the American Heart Association’s commitment to ensuring equitable health for all, as outlined in its Call to Action for Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Epidemiology, Awareness, Access, and Delivery of Equitable Health Care: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association | Circulation. By bridging the funding gap between research and real-world impact, the Association aims to transform health for women everywhere. For more information on women’s health, visit the American Heart Association’s resources on Ischemic Heart Disease and Silent Ischemia | American Heart Association and Women with common autoimmune diseases may face higher death rate from heart disease, stroke than men | American Heart Association. Stay updated with the latest in women’s health by following American Heart Association News brings you the latest information women's health.
