The American Heart Association has awarded $15 million to establish a new Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease, led by teams from Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Pittsburgh. This initiative aims to address the growing burden of heart valve disease, a condition that often progresses silently and is frequently diagnosed only after significant damage has occurred.
According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, more than 80 million people worldwide are living with some type of heart valve disease, and the numbers are climbing. In the U.S., the condition contributes to more than 57,000 deaths each year. Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart’s four valves become narrowed or fail to close properly, leading to restricted blood flow or backward leakage. Left untreated, it can result in heart failure, arrhythmia, recurrent hospitalizations, reduced quality of life, and premature death.
“The prevalence of heart valve disease is increasing, but it rarely makes headlines and often shows no early warning signs. By the time symptoms appear, damage may already be done – making early detection and treatment essential,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. The Association has identified heart valve disease as a key focus area through initiatives like the Heart Valve Initiative and Target: Aortic Stenosis™ quality improvement program.
The four-year awards, which began April 1, 2026, include collaborative research projects across three funded centers. At Mass General Brigham, the VALVE-iPROTECT Center will focus on calcific aortic stenosis (AS), a condition where the aortic valve becomes stiff and narrowed. Researchers will study early molecular changes, use advanced imaging, and develop clinical calculators to identify high-risk individuals before major valve damage occurs. At Cincinnati Children’s, the SHIELD Center will target rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the leading cause of heart valve disease in children and young adults, affecting at least 55 million people worldwide. The center will test AI-supported heart screening, digital patient registries, and community-based support systems in Brazil, Timor-Leste, and Uganda. At the University of Pittsburgh, the Center for Aortic Valve Disease Prediction and Integrated Research will investigate how risk factors like lipoprotein(a), inflammation, and biomechanical forces interact to drive aortic stenosis, using realistic lab systems to identify triggers and develop early interventions.
The American Heart Association has invested nearly $300 million to establish 19 Strategically Focused Research Networks, each addressing key strategic issues. Since 1949, the Association has funded more than $6.1 billion in cardiovascular research, making it the largest non-profit supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S. This new network seeks to shift the paradigm from late-stage surgical intervention to early detection and prevention, potentially improving outcomes for millions of patients worldwide.
