AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)

AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)

Supports institutional cardiovascular research capacity through enhancement awards to strengthen real-world implementation.

The 2027 AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA) is a two-year, $200,000 research grant offered by the American Heart Association — the largest non-government funder of cardiovascular research in the United States — to support small-scale investigations into cardiovascular disease and brain health at institutions that have historically received limited federal research funding. The program targets colleges, universities, and health professional schools that qualify under the NIH AREA/REAP (R15) framework, specifically those whose annual NIH support has not exceeded $6 million in four of the last seven fiscal years. The award distributes $100,000 per year, inclusive of 10% indirect costs, and allows budget allocation across salary, equipment, supplies, travel, subject costs, and publication expenses with no NIH salary cap applied.

Eligibility carries a layered set of institutional and investigator requirements. The principal investigator must hold a primary appointment at the R15-eligible institution, must be beyond fellowship or training stage, and must be an AHA Professional Member at the time of submission. A disqualifying constraint applies at award activation: the PI cannot hold a concurrent active NIH research grant, making portfolio timing a material strategic consideration. Applications are submitted electronically through ProposalCentral; the RFP was posted April 28, 2026, the portal opened May 15, 2026, and the proposal deadline is September 10, 2026 at 3 p.m. Central Time, with award notification expected December 2026 and a January 1, 2027 start date.

For investigators at under-resourced institutions, AIREA represents one of the few mechanisms to access substantial two-year research support without navigating federal grant complexity. The program also carries an explicit student-exposure component — applicants should demonstrate a plan for involving students in the research environment. The dual cardiovascular-and-brain-health scope means investigators working across neurological and cardiac intersections are particularly well-positioned, as is any team whose institutional NIH footprint is structurally low due to school size or regional location rather than research quality.