The American Heart Association announced $3.4 million in grants for two multidisciplinary research teams to lead a new initiative focused on improving cardiac arrest outcomes. The studies, part of the newly established Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network in collaboration with Heart & Stroke™ of Canada, aim to advance scientific understanding of predicting and detecting cardiac arrests, with the ultimate goal of enhancing survival rates and recovery for survivors.
One team, led by Joshua Lupton, M.D., M.P.H., M.Phil., a cardiac arrest survivor and assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University, will focus on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The study will examine optimal defibrillator pad placement and use artificial intelligence to analyze timing between shocks. Researchers will also work with survivors to identify best practices for support resources, including peer-support programs, and build a shared research network involving hospitals, emergency responders, and survivors. According to the American Heart Association, more than 600,000 cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S., with low survival rates.
The second team, led by Ari Moskowitz, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System, will investigate vasopressor strategies to improve brain and organ function after cardiac arrest. The study will compare two common blood pressure medications used in post-arrest care, aiming to determine which leads to better survival and recovery. Researchers will also establish a learning health system framework to generate real-world evidence that can rapidly improve treatment consistency across hospitals.
Both teams will incorporate perspectives from individuals with lived experience, including survivors, family members, and those who lost loved ones. Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Cardiac arrest is a profound and tragic occurrence and we know seconds matter in making sure people get the right life-saving treatment at the right time.” She noted that the research aligns with the Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2030 Impact Goals to double survival rates within five years.
The four-year grants, beginning July 1, 2026, are part of the American Heart Association’s $6.1 billion investment in cardiovascular research since 1949. The Association ranks second only to personal health care providers in public trust, according to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll. The CART Network will foster collaboration between U.S. and Canadian scientists to accelerate scientific discoveries and translate them into clinical practice.
