The Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF), an alliance of 12 major cardiovascular research funders, has launched a $10 million grant program over five years to support an international research initiative focused on women's cardiovascular health. This initiative responds to a 2022 presidential advisory from the American Heart Association that highlighted persistent gaps in understanding how cardiovascular disease impacts women differently from men. The research challenge aims to identify solutions to unmet clinical needs within women's cardiovascular health, focusing on three key areas: risk factors and prevention across women's life stages, clinical diagnosis and treatment of conditions more prevalent or with worse outcomes among women, and sex-specific underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in women.
Dr. Mariell Jessup, Chief Science and Medical Officer of the American Heart Association and a GCRFF board member, emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort, noting the commitment to address significant gaps in research, diagnosis, and care for women everywhere. The International Research Challenge on Women's Cardiovascular Health represents a first-of-its-kind funding opportunity, supporting a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research network designed to bring together experts from around the world to achieve impacts that no single continent, country, or institution could accomplish independently. Dr. Gina Wei, senior scientific advisor on women's health at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), highlighted the potential of this global collaboration, stating that involvement in the GCRFF amplifies the potential impact due to its multi-country, multi-discipline, and multi-institutional emphasis.
The research program will focus on advancing women's cardiovascular health in areas that are under-researched or require greater understanding, with the successful program required to demonstrate a clear path to improving patient outcomes. Research findings must be applicable to GCRFF member countries and have potential for wider global application. This initiative is particularly significant given that women continue to be underrepresented in cardiovascular disease research, with some risk factors specific to women or carrying different risks for cardiovascular events in women compared to men, often related to how life stages affect cardiovascular health. By addressing these knowledge gaps, the research challenge aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women worldwide.
The launch of this research challenge underscores the growing recognition of the need for sex-specific cardiovascular research and represents a concerted effort by major global health organizations to address disparities in women's cardiovascular health. As cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death for women worldwide, this research challenge represents a crucial step toward improving women's heart health by fostering international collaboration and focusing on women-specific cardiovascular issues. Researchers interested in participating have until January 15, 2025, to submit their letters of intent, with the selected research team having the opportunity to make significant contributions to the field of women's cardiovascular health. For more information, interested parties can visit the British Heart Foundation website.
