The Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF), an international alliance of 12 major cardiovascular research funders, has announced a research challenge offering up to $10 million over five years to fund a world-class international research program focused on women's cardiovascular health. This initiative responds directly to a 2022 presidential advisory from the American Heart Association that highlighted persistent gaps in understanding how cardiovascular disease affects women differently from men. The advisory emphasized that certain risk factors for heart disease are specific to women or carry different levels of risk, often related to various life stages.
The International Research Challenge on Women's Cardiovascular Health aims to identify solutions to unmet clinical needs in three key areas: risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular disease 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, stressed the importance of this collaborative effort, noting the commitment to address significant gaps that remain in research, diagnosis, and care for women everywhere as part of the mission to ensure equitable health to all people.
The research challenge is designed to support a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research network, bringing together experts from around the world. This approach aims to achieve impacts in women's cardiovascular health that no single continent, country, or institution could accomplish alone. Dr. Gina Wei from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute highlighted the potential of this international collaboration, stating that involvement in the GCRFF adds to their array of support for women's health research and amplifies the potential impact because of its multi-country, multi-discipline and multi-institutional emphasis.
The successful research program must demonstrate a clear path to improving patient outcomes, with research findings applicable to GCRFF member countries and potential for wider global application. This initiative represents a significant step toward addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular disease research and could lead to more effective, tailored approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cardiovascular disease in women. Researchers interested in this opportunity must submit letters of intent by January 15, 2025. As cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death for women worldwide, this initiative has the potential to drive significant advancements in understanding and treating cardiovascular disease in women. The outcomes of this research could lead to improved healthcare practices, more targeted prevention strategies, and ultimately, better health outcomes for women across the globe.
