Children’s Heart Foundation Independent Research Awards

About this program

The Children’s Heart Foundation offers Independent Research Awards to support promising research advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects (CHDs), with awards of up to $150,000 per project per calendar year. Applications are accepted internationally, and the 2026 cycle requires a letter of intent by May 20, 2026; invited full applications are due September 9, 2026, with funds anticipated in January 2027. Applicants must submit a focused research plan demonstrating relevance to CHD, a lay summary of at least 250 words, NIH-format biosketches, detailed direct-cost budgets, institutional 501(c)(3) documentation, and required institutional and investigator assurances. Only direct costs are eligible, PI and co-investigator salary support is capped at 10%, and current awardees must wait 12 months after their award before submitting a new proposal.