Scientific research teams from Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute in Boston, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Center, and the University of Pittsburgh will lead a new $15 million initiative dedicated to better understanding how to diagnose and treat heart valve disease. The Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease is the latest research network funded by the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all.
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 is a common cardiovascular condition in which one or more of the heart's four valves are narrowed and restrict blood flow or do not close properly, causing blood to flow backward. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure, arrhythmia, recurrent hospital admissions, reduced quality of life, and early death. Heart valve disease becomes more common with age and often progresses silently, so many people are not aware they have the disease.
“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 and continues to support clinicians and health systems through its Heart Valve Initiative and Target: Aortic Stenosis™ quality improvement program.
The four-year awards, which started April 1, 2026, will include collaborative research projects across three funded centers. The Mass General Brigham's VALVE-iPROTECT Center, led by Elena Aikawa, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, aims to change how calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is prevented and treated by finding it earlier, identifying who is most at risk, and developing strategies to stop it before severe damage occurs. AS is a common and serious heart valve disease in which the aortic valve gradually becomes stiff and narrowed. The team will study molecular changes, use advanced imaging, and develop clinical calculators to identify issues before major valve damage is visible.
The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's SHIELD Center, led by Andrea Beaton, M.D., M.S., FAHA, focuses on 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 strategies including AI-supported heart screening, digital patient registries, and community-based support systems 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 focus on early detection, disease pathogenesis, and treatment of aortic stenosis. The team will build realistic systems to study disease progression under conditions of real valve motion and blood flow, aiming to shift care from late surgery to early detection and prevention.
The American Heart Association has invested almost $300 million to establish 19 Strategically Focused Research Networks, each aimed at addressing a key strategic issue. The Association has now funded more than $6.1 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health research since 1949, making it the single largest non-profit, non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S.
