New Grants Boost Research on Top Birth Defect

Funding aims to help prevent, diagnose and treat congenital heart defects

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundation are providing over $640,000 in new grants to five researchers studying congenital heart defects (CHDs), the most common birth defect in the U.S. affecting nearly 1% of births. The grants will support research on topics like retinoic acid signaling, single-cell evolution, cardiac remodeling, and developing a growing transcatheter pulmonary stent valve for pediatrics. This funding builds on over $10 million pledged by the organizations over the past 10 years to advance CHD research and care.

Why it matters

Congenital heart defects remain a significant public health issue, with complex cases still carrying increased mortality risk in the first year of life. However, advancements through research have helped reduce death rates from CHDs in the U.S. by 37.5% since 1999. Continued investment in CHD science is crucial to turn uncertainty into answers and give clinicians and families the tools to help CHD patients live longer, healthier lives.

The details

The five researchers receiving the latest grants are studying a range of topics related to congenital heart defects. This includes investigating the mechanisms of retinoic acid signaling in aorta development, deciphering CHDs through single-cell evolution and in silico perturbation, exploring the role of CDK13 in cardiac remodeling, examining the function of CRL4 in cardiac development, and designing a growing transcatheter pulmonary stent valve for pediatrics.

  • The American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundation have pledged over $10 million across 10 years for the joint Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards program.
  • Death rates from congenital heart disease in the U.S. have declined by 37.5% since 1999.

The players

American Heart Association

The world's leading nonprofit organization focused on changing the future of health for all and the largest nongovernment funder of cardiovascular research.

The Children's Heart Foundation

A nonprofit dedicated to funding the most promising congenital heart defect research.

Jennifer Schumacher, Ph.D.

A researcher at Miami University in Ohio studying mechanisms of retinoic acid signaling in aorta development.

Naoki Konno, Ph.D.

A researcher at Stanford University in California studying deciphering congenital heart defects through single-cell evolution and in silico perturbation.

Hao Wang, Ph.D.

A researcher at the University of South Florida in Tampa studying the role of CDK13 in cardiac remodeling.

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What they’re saying

“Congenital heart defects are the nation's most common birth defect, affecting approximately 40,000 babies every year. That's why sustained investment in rigorous science matters: it turns uncertainty into answers and gives clinicians and families the tools they need to help CHD patients live longer, healthier lives.”

— Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, Volunteer president of the American Heart Association and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women's Health and senior vice president of women's health at Northwell Health in New York City

“We're proud to continue funding innovative CHD research alongside the American Heart Association. By combining our expertise and shared commitment, we're accelerating discoveries that improve care, save lives and bring hope to families affected by CHDs.”

— Terry Morrow, President and CEO of The Children's Heart Foundation

What’s next

Researchers studying the prevention and treatment of congenital heart defects are encouraged to submit applications for funding from the American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundation. For submission guidelines and upcoming deadlines specific to the Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards, visit professional.heart.org/CHDResearchAwards.

The takeaway

Continued investment in rigorous congenital heart defect research is crucial to turn uncertainty into answers, improve care, and save lives of the approximately 40,000 babies born with CHDs each year in the U.S. The American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundation's joint funding program is helping accelerate discoveries that bring hope to families affected by this common birth defect.