Resource HUB: International research challenge on women’s cardiovascular health 

The Letter of Intent (LOI) submission window is now closed. 

About the grant 

In support of its mission, in September 2024 the GCRFF launched the International Research Challenge (IRC) on Women’s Cardiovascular Health. This first of its kind network grant aims to fund the best science in the world and to support transformative research in women’s cardiovascular health, focusing on one or more areas that represent an unmet medical need of global relevance. 

Programme objectives 

The 4 programme objectives of the IRC are as follows: 

  1. Address urgent knowledge gaps in women’s cardiovascular health that are of global relevance 

  2. Drive transformational change in care, clinical practice, policies and/or health outcomes for women, with international applicability 

  3. Catalyze innovation and international collaboration in women’s cardiovascular health research 

  4. Build and strengthen research capacity in women’s cardiovascular health on the international stage. 

Grant structure 

This funding opportunity is structured as an international, multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary research network grant. It will bring together experts from around the world to collaboratively execute a research programme delivering impacts that no single institution, country or continent could achieve on its own. 
 
We are inviting research proposals focused on women’s cardiovascular health in areas that are under-researched and/or that require greater understanding. Relevant research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following 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 

  • sex-specific underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in women. 

Please see the full programme description for additional information on eligibility criteria, governance expectations and conditions of funding etc. 

Grant value 

One (1) grant will be awarded to the highest ranked international research network application. The total award will be a maximum of $10 million USD over 5 years. This award is non-renewable. 

Application process 

This funding opportunity is a two-staged process including a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Full Application. 

  • LOI: submission window now closed. 

  • Full application: by invitation only.  

Essential resources 

IRC programme description

IRC privacy notice for applicants

Webinar questions and answers document

Informational webinar and Q&A 

Participating organisations 

  • American Heart Association 

  • British Heart Foundation 

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health 

  • Danish Heart Foundation (Hjerteforeningen) 

  • Dutch Heart Foundation (Hartstichting) 

  • German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung) 

  • Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 

  • Leducq Foundation 

  • National Heart Foundation of Australia 

  • National Heart Foundation of New Zealand 

  • Swiss Heart Foundation 

Get in touch 

For more information on the International Research Challenge on Women’s Cardiovascular Health, please contact research@heartandstroke.ca