Global forum’s cash challenge to boost cardiovascular funding
7 Apr 2024
The Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF), has announced a new cash prize aimed at improving funding strategies for impactful research into heart related conditions.
Participants must evaluate the return on investment in research funding while pinpointing gaps in cardiovascular and stroke science funding, with the competition winner receiving a US$20,000 award.
Entries should harness various artificial intelligence and machine learning models to evaluate the success of funded research applications. Key metrics include assessing whether funded projects secure additional financial support, fulfil stated objectives, catalyse novel research avenues, and notably, enhance human health outcomes.
One aim is to focus on potential disparities in funding allocation across different cardiovascular diseases and stroke globally.
By contrasting funding proportions against the prevalence and severity of various conditions, researchers aim to identify and rectify potential underfunded areas within the realm of cardiovascular and stroke research.
GCRFF’s 12 member organisations, which include both the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the American Heart Association (AHA), will provide grant funding data. Researchers can also leverage their own datasets for analysis using the AHA's precision medicine platform.
In addition to the winner’s cash prize, the second and third place recipients will each receive US$5,000. All awards will be dependent upon the publication of final research findings in a peer-reviewed journal.
BHF chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths called the initiative a pivotal step towards optimising cardiovascular research funding.
“This exciting new award will tackle the vital question of how cardiovascular research funders can ensure they are supporting the very best research projects. By identifying where gaps in research exist and better understanding how to enhance the effectiveness of cardiovascular research, we can achieve more breakthroughs and save more lives in the years to come,” stated Griffiths.
The deadline to submit proposals is June 10, 2024. For information and application guidelines, click here.
Pic: Robina Weermeijer
