The American Heart Association announced a $3.4 million funding initiative to support two research teams focused on cardiac arrest, a condition affecting over 600,000 people annually in the U.S. with low survival rates. The grants establish the Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network, a collaboration with Canada's Heart & Stroke Foundation, designed to accelerate scientific discoveries and improve outcomes.
One team, led by Joshua Lupton, M.D., M.P.H., M.Phil., of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and a cardiac arrest survivor, will study defibrillator pad placements and shock timing using AI to optimize emergency care. They will also develop peer-support programs for survivors. The second team, led by Ari Moskowitz, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, will compare two blood pressure medications commonly used after cardiac arrest to determine which improves survival and recovery. Both teams will incorporate input from survivors and families.
“Cardiac arrest is a profound and tragic occurrence and we know seconds matter,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. She emphasized that the initiative's multinational collaboration and inclusion of lived experiences are unique. The research aligns with the Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2030 Impact Goals to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
The four-year grants begin July 1, 2026. The American Heart Association has funded over $6.1 billion in heart and brain health research since 1949, making it the largest non-profit supporter in the U.S. A recent Annenberg Policy Center poll found that 82% of U.S. adults trust the Association for public health information.
