AHA Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training

AHA Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training

Supports undergraduate student training in cardiovascular research within institutions to strengthen real-world implementation.

The 2027 AHA Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training is a three-year, $165,000 institutional grant from the American Heart Association designed to support structured cardiovascular research training for undergraduate students at U.S. colleges and universities. Unlike individual fellowship awards, this grant is applied for by the institution through its designated Program Director, who must be a full-time faculty member at the assistant professor level or above with a documented mentoring track record. Each funded year supports two to five undergraduate students for ten-week research experiences at $6,000 per student in stipend support, plus $3,000 per student for conference travel (up to $45,000 over the grant period) and $10,000 annually for administrative coordination, for a total not-to-exceed $165,000 across three years.

Student eligibility requires junior or senior undergraduate standing at award activation, or recent graduate status, and U.S. citizenship or an eligible visa category (F-1, H1, H1B, J1, PR, TN, or DACA with approval). Students may not simultaneously hold AHA Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease — institutions recruiting trainees must verify this stacking constraint. The Program Director must self-register as an AHA peer reviewer as a mandatory administrative step prior to submission. Applications are submitted via ProposalCentral, which opened May 15, 2026; the deadline is September 9, 2026 at 3 p.m. Central Time.

This award is distinctive in its emphasis on pipeline development and diversity in cardiovascular science rather than direct research output. Institutions with existing undergraduate research infrastructure and faculty committed to mentoring are best positioned. The three-year horizon and renewable structure (contingent on satisfactory interim reporting) make it attractive for departments seeking a sustainable undergraduate training program with AHA backing.