. "Research Program Evaluation at the American Heart Association--Patricia C. Hinton." Enhancing Philanthropy's Support of Biomedical Scientists: Proceedings of a Workshop on Evaluation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2006.
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Enhancing Philanthropy’s Support of Biomedical Scientists: Proceedings of a Workshop on Evaluation
23.7 percent of its total expenses. The 12 AHA affiliates’ programs accounted for $73.6 million, and the national research program accounted for $55.8 million of that total.
For 2004, the association reviewed 4,554 applications for research funding and activated 1,057 new awards, a 23 percent success rate. Currently, the AHA is funding 2,309 investigators. Much of the annual research funding commitment supports career development awards. The AHA research portfolio includes the following types of programs:
Predoctoral fellowships. To help students initiate careers in cardiovascular research by providing research assistance and training for predoctoral Ph.D., M.D., and D.O. (or equivalent) students seeking research training with a sponsor/mentor prior to embarking on a research career. Funds are available for up to 2 years
Postdoctoral fellowships. To help a trainee initiate a career in cardiovascular research while obtaining significant research results. Supports individuals before they are ready for some stage of independent research. M.D., Ph.D., D.O., or equivalent at activation. Funded for two or three years.
Fellow-to-faculty transition award. This award provides funding for beginning physician-scientists with outstanding potential for careers in cardiovascular disease and stroke research. Physicians holding M.D., M.D.-Ph.D., D.O., or equivalent degree who seek additional research training with a mentor prior to embarking on a career in research are eligible. They must have completed clinical training by award activation but have no more than five years of postdoctoral research training. Funding is available for five years.
Beginning and scientist development grants. The goal of this award is to promote the independent status of promising beginning scientists. Eligible candidates include M.D., Ph.D., D.O., or equivalent faculty/ staff members initiating independent research careers, up to and including assistant professor (or equivalent) at activation. The award is for two years.
Scientist development grant. This award is designed to help promising beginning scientists move from completion of research training to the status of independent investigators. Faculty/staff up to and including the assistant professor level (or equivalent) at application. M.D., Ph.D., D.O., or equivalent at application are eligible. At activation, no more than four years should have elapsed since first full-time faculty/staff appointment at the assistant professor level or equivalent. The award is funded for three or four years.
Established investigator award. The award supports midterm investigators with unusual promise and an established record of accomplish-
