DALLAS, April 22, 2025— Research teams from Augusta University, Massachusetts General Hospital and The Ohio State University will lead a $15 million project dedicated to studying the various ways that risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases impact women. The American Heart Association’s Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome: Heterogeneity in Women aims to learn why women may be more likely to develop cardiovascular and kidney diseases due to certain unique risk factors and life stages.
The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, funds Strategically Focused Research Networks (SFRN) as part of its mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Research teams apply for the program’s four-year grants with novel and innovative ideas to better understand cardiovascular diseases impacted by each SFRN focus, the latest of which is cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome .
CKM syndrome is a clinical term that describes the combined health effects of heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, which puts people at high risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure. According to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics , about 1 in 3 U.S. adults has at least three components of CKM syndrome, which include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood glucose (sugar), impaired kidney function and excess body weight.
“Understanding the interconnections of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic conditions including diabetes and obesity is critical, especially as many of the contributing risk factors are on the rise,” said Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer president, an associate clinical Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. “Women are historically underrepresented in clinical research, so we don’t have a solid understanding of why many of these risk factors are often more prevalent in and impact women differently than men. Learning more about the biological significance of certain life cycles including menopause and pregnancy, as well as societal factors and the roles of community, relationships and individual behaviors could provide important insight to foster the development of targeted preventive strategies, tailored therapeutic approaches and ultimately help change the future of health for all.”
The four-year awards, which started April 1, 2025, include collaborative research projects across all three groups. Additionally, to further the American Heart Association’s commitments to expanding diversity in clinical research, each of the centers will work in conjunction with an academic institution that primarily serves individuals who are underrepresented in science. The research centers and the projects include:
The American Heart Association has invested almost $300 million to establish 18 Strategically Focused Research Networks , each aimed at addressing a key strategic issue identified by the Association’s volunteer Board of Directors. Prior networks have been studying a wide variety of important topics including, but not limited to, prevention; hypertension; the health of women; heart failure; obesity; vascular disease; atrial fibrillation; arrhythmias/sudden cardiac death; cardiometabolic health/type 2 diabetes; health technology; cardio-oncology; the biological impact of chronic psychosocial stress and the role of inflammation in cardiovascular health. Each network centers around scientific knowledge and knowledge gaps, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the key research topic. Three to six research centers make up each network, bringing together investigators with expertise in basic, clinical and population/behavioral health science to find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease and stroke.
Funding scientific research and discovery through initiatives like these awards is a cornerstone of the century-old American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission. The Association has now funded more than $5.9 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research since 1949 , making it the single largest non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S. New knowledge resulting from this funding continues to save lives and directly impact millions of people in every corner of the U.S. and around the world.
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org , Facebook , X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.