Pre-proposals are being accepted until Tuesday, December 7, 2021, for applications to the American Heart Association’s Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on the Science of Diversity in Clinical Trials (SDCT). Pre-proposals (letters of Intent) are required in order to submit a full proposal.

With the establishment of the SFRN on the Science of Diversity in Clinical Trials, the AHA will identify solutions underlying the inequitable participation of diverse individuals in clinical research, and the associated health inequities it creates.

The network will consist of at least three Network Centers, each of which will propose novel research strategies to engage individuals from under-represented groups in clinical trials such that their participation in clinical trials aligns with the diversity of our communities. Each Network Center application will include two or three research projects with a common fundamental theme that will assess an intervention or approach to addressing diversity in clinical trials and must have the necessary research team, required infrastructure and ability to recruit and retain a diverse group of study participants. Each center may request up to $4.3 million over four years.

In addition, a Training Center will be established as part of the Network to incorporate a multidisciplinary approach to provide robust research experiences, training, and mentorship for Center Fellows. All SDCT Fellows will be from groups who are under-represented in science and medicine. The maximum budget amount a Training Center applicant may request is $500,000 over four years.

Required Pre-Proposal (formerly known as Letter of Intent - LOI)
Each Center Director is required to send a pre-proposal to StrategicAwards@heart.org that includes:

• Name and institution of the Center Director and each Project PI
• Network title, and title and performance site of each proposed project
• If required, the mechanism through which partnering requirements are being met (Additional Expectations and Opportunities below).

Additional Expectations and Opportunities

• Center applications from investigators at academic institutions that primarily serve individuals from groups who are under-represented in science (e.g., Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and similar institutions noted below) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• In keeping with AHA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and in alignment with the goals of this initiative, Center applications not originating from institutions with the above focus must partner with an institution focused on educating or serving under-represented individuals and communities. Investigators from these partnering institutions must be included in a substantive manner.

NOTE: The AHA anticipates (and welcomes) applications for research focused on cardiovascular, stroke and brain health conditions. Because the goal of this funding mechanism is broad understanding of the science of diversity in clinical trials, applications proposing studies that are not directly cardiovascular, stroke or brain health are also welcomed. Ultimately, successful applicants will be those proposing innovative approaches to address the critical deficiencies of inclusion in clinical trials and the ability to persuasively demonstrate the broad applicability of their results.

Please visit the Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on the Science of Diversity in Clinical Trials (SDCT) RFA page for full details.

Full proposals will be due by Thursday, January 27, 2022. The awards will begin on April 1, 2022.

Application questions may be emailed to SFRN@heart.org.