DALLAS — The American Heart Association announced on Tuesday that they are dedicating $2.5 million to research in hopes to better understand the COVID-19 virus and how it affects the body, specifically the heart and brain.
The money will be put into research grants for short term projects that can help to better understand all aspects of COVID-19, including the diagnosis, prevention and clinical management. Additional funding will be made available to the Associations's new research centers to help develop new technology to combat the virus.
“Approximately 120 million people in the U.S. have one or more cardiovascular diseases, which may place them at higher risk for contracting COVID-19," said Dr. Robert A. Harrington, president of the American Heart Association. "Research is the very foundation of the American Heart Association and, given our global mission, this rapid response grant is an unprecedented but logical move for the organization in these extraordinary times."
Through the initiative, one national coordinating center, along with ten project grants of $100,000 each will be given. Application, review and awards for the grants will be fast-tracked due to the critical need for the research. Applications for the grants are due by April 6th at 5pm. Awardees will be announced in early may with hopes for projects to be started by June. Projects with a timeline of nine months to a year will take priority in the decision process.
Select Grants are also being offered to the Association's new Health Technologies & Innovation Strategically Focused Research Network centers and will be announced in soon. This funding will be to aid in new solutions to help those in the healthcare system who are at the forefront of the pandemic.
For more information and to apply for a grant, visit the American Heart Association website.
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