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, a condition affecting more than 600,000 people in the U.S. each year with low survival rates. The grants establish the Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network, a collaboration between the American Heart Association and Canada's Heart & Stroke Foundation, aiming to accelerate scientific discoveries and improve outcomes for patients and families.
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 improving care from emergency treatment through post-discharge recovery. The study will test the effectiveness of different defibrillator pad placements to restart the heart faster, use artificial intelligence to optimize the timing of electric shocks, and work with survivors to identify best practices for support. Co-investigators include Mohamud Daya, M.D., M.S., Matthew Neth, M.D., both of OHSU, and Ankur A. Doshi, M.D., FAHA, of the University of Pittsburgh. The project aims to build a shared research network involving hospitals, emergency responders, scientists, and survivors.
The second team, led by Ari Moskowitz, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System in New York, will investigate vasopressor strategies to improve brain and organ function after cardiac arrest. Researchers will compare two commonly used blood pressure medicines to determine which leads to better survival and recovery. The study will also examine current usage patterns across different hospitals and clinicians, with the goal of establishing a learning health system to rapidly implement effective treatments. Co-investigators include Sachin Agarwal, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, of Columbia University; Katherine Berg, M.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Stephanie DeMasi, M.D., of Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and Nicholas Johnson, M.D., FAHA, of the University of Washington.
Both teams will collaborate with Canadian scientists and incorporate perspectives from survivors, family members, and those who have lost loved ones. Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating it aligns with the Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2030 Impact Goals to double cardiac arrest survival rates within five years. The four-year 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. A recent Annenberg Policy Center poll found that 82% of U.S. adults trust the Association for public health information, second only to personal health care providers.
