The Heart Foundation Research Program

The impact of our heart research

As a leading research funder of heart research in Australia, we are working to make health for every heart a reality. Since its establishment in 1959, the Heart Foundation has invested more than $850 million* into cardiovascular research. (* Funding amount shown is in today's dollars)

Through the generous support of our donors, we’ve facilitated life-saving discoveries, new and improved treatments and influenced policies and practices that support heart health. With over 200 currently funded researchers, we support research from initial discovery to innovations that transform heart health across Australia.

Every dollar invested brings us one step closer to achieving heart health for everyone in Australia.

Research Heroes - A/Prof Yugeesh Lankadeva

A/Prof Yugeesh Lankadeva aims to develop advanced therapies to reduce the risk of acute kidney injury and cardiovascular failure.

Research Heroes - Dr Jessica O’Brien

Discover more about Dr. Jessica O’Brien’s impactful research dedicated to improving health outcomes for Australia's First Nations people.

Research Heroes - Professor Joshua Lewis

Prof Joshua Lewis studies how bones and blood vessels work together, focusing on ways to catch and stop diseases before they lead to heart attacks.

Research Heroes - Dr Sonia Shah

As a human genetics researcher, Dr Sonia Shah uses her research to innovate new strategies for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

Our annual impact reports

Each year, we publish an impact report that highlights the remarkable discoveries, accomplishments and real-world impacts of our funded researchers.

You can read our previous or current impact reports below:

Infographic titled "2023 research impacts at a glance" showing key statistics from 184 research projects with over $44 million in funding. Highlights include: 771 Publications 1189 Citations 38 Databases 105 Keynotes & Plenaries 189 International Presentations 343 Academic Presentations 20 Public Presentations 2 Commissioned Reports 67% of projects involved consumers/community Notable achievements include awards such as WA CVD Researcher of the Year, Young Tall Poppy recipients, and Inspiring Women in STEM. The report emphasizes "Advancing Knowledge" and notes that most respondents were Vanguard Grant recipients in Biomedical or Clinical research.

How your contribution makes a difference

To continue supporting our world-leading researchers and their work, the Heart Foundation relies on donations from generous members of the community. Without this support, our research funding program would not be possible.

Funding from the Heart Foundation has undoubtedly helped me and my team get where we are today. A Heart Foundation scholarship helped fund research during my PhD studies and contributed to the discovery of a new anti-blood clotting drug.

Dr Justin Hamilton

Every contribution helps us move closer to making health for every heart a reality. With your help, our leading approach to funding research will continue to:

drive down the number of people claimed by Australia’s largest cause of death
improve the quality of life of those with heart disease.

You can make a single donation or regular contributions. Or perhaps you might consider a more lasting contribution via a gift to us in your Will.

By donating to the Heart Foundation, you’ll be saving lives across generations as we work together towards an Australia free of heart disease.

Patient talking with her doctor during a cardiopulmonary stress test on a hospital

Support life-saving research

Your donation could fund the next breakthrough in heart research. Together, we can help make heart disease history.

The Heart Foundation Research Program