Independent Research Awards
The Children's Heart Foundation's Independent Research Awards will fund up to $150,000 per year for two (2) years.
The Children’s Heart Foundation recognizes that disparities based on race, ethnicity, and gender exist in all areas of healthcare. For patients with congenital heart disease, it is well-known that certain racial and ethnic groups have worse outcomes. Among researchers, underrepresented minorities face additional challenges in obtaining research funding. These are important issues for the Children's Heart Foundation. Starting this year, we will begin collecting data on gender, race, and ethnicity for investigators who apply for research funding, as a part of our larger efforts to help address these disparities. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented minority investigators and/or applications that focus on investigating disparities in patients with congenital heart disease.
2025 Process and Schedule
Researchers seeking funding for any RFA must submit an initial Letter of Intent (LOI). The Children’s Heart Foundation made this change to reduce the initial time and effort required by applicants, their collaborators, and administrative research staff to apply for funding. The deadline to submit LOIs is May 21, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application no later than June 13, 2025.
Timeline:
- April 11, 2025 – Call for Research Proposals opens
- May 21, 2025 – Letter of Intent due by 5:00 pm CDT
- June 13, 2025 – Applicants notified as to whether or not they may submit a full application
- September 10, 2025 – Full Application (invite only) due by 5:00 pm CDT
- December 15, 2025 – Applicants notified as to a decision regarding funding
- January 2026 – Funds released for awardees
Guidelines
Click here to submit a proposal for the Independent Research Award during the 2025 funding cycle.
For details about our timeline and process, along with a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs), please visit our Research Grant FAQs.
Questions? Please email us at ResearchGrants@childrensheartfoundation.org
LOI guidelines can be found here. Additional research program guidelines can be found here.
