The American Heart Association has announced a $15 million initiative to study heart valve disease, funding three research centers focused on early detection and prevention. The Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease will bring together teams from Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Center, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Heart valve disease, which affects more than 80 million people globally and contributes to over 57,000 deaths annually in the U.S., often progresses silently without early symptoms. The condition involves narrowed or leaking heart valves that can lead to heart failure, arrhythmia, and reduced quality of life if untreated. According to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, the prevalence is climbing, underscoring the need for earlier intervention.
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," she said. "By the time symptoms appear, damage may already be done – making early detection and treatment essential."
The four-year awards, starting April 1, 2026, will fund collaborative projects. At Mass General Brigham's VALVE-iPROTECT Center, led by Elena Aikawa, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, researchers will study calcific aortic stenosis (AS), a condition where the aortic valve stiffens. They aim to identify early molecular changes, use advanced imaging, and develop clinical calculators to predict risk. The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's SHIELD Center, led by Andrea Beaton, M.D., M.S., FAHA, will focus on rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the leading cause of valve disease in children and young adults, particularly in low-income countries. Projects will test AI-supported heart screening, digital registries, and community support in Brazil, Timor-Leste, and Uganda.
The University of Pittsburgh's Center For Aortic Valve Disease Prediction And Integrated Research, led by Cynthia St. Hilaire, Ph.D., FAHA, will investigate how risk factors like lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), inflammation, and biomechanical forces interact to cause aortic stenosis. The team will build realistic lab systems to study disease progression and develop treatments to block calcification.
The American Heart Association has invested nearly $300 million in 19 Strategically Focused Research Networks since its founding, funding over $6.1 billion in research since 1949. This new network aims to shift heart valve disease care from late-stage surgery to early detection and prevention.
