The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) has announced that the application period for the association’s first round of 2015 research awards is now open. This year marks 20 years of supporting research to address PH, with funding exceeding $15 million in total to date.

The PHA works by offering support the entire PH community, and it depends on donations to offer funding to groundbreaking research programs.

In the 20 years that the PHA has supported research, the grants have funded more than 70 investigators in 8 different focus areas for PH. The generous support is all due to PH patients, caregivers, other donors and partnerships with organizations like the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); American Heart Association (AHA); Foundation of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and Pfizer, Inc.

PH is a debilitating disease characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs that damages the proper functioning of the heart, ultimately leading to death because of heart failure. If the disease remains untreated, the average survival rate is about 2.8 years from first diagnosis.

“The PHA Research Committee has finalized what we believe is a comprehensive 2015 portfolio. The new grants will continue to advance PH research from the early exploratory stages to career development, transitioning new faculty-level investigators to established, independent investigators,” noted Todd Bull from the University of Colorado Denver who also chairs the PHA’s Research Committee.

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The PHA is seeking applicants for the following grants:

• The PHA/ATS Research Fellowship will promote the transition of new faculty-level investigators to established positions. The grant consists of a 2-year $80,000 award and the deadline for applying is June 5, 2015.
• The Robyn Barst Pediatric PH Research and Mentoring Award will promote research in pediatric PH. It offers three one-year $50,000 awards to be awarded in 2015. The deadline is June 5, 2015.
• The Proof of Concept Award will support research projects in early exploratory stages with high potential. The grant consists of one $40,000 award. Application deadline is June 5, 2015.
• The NHLBI K08/K23 Supplemental Award is one five-year, $312,500 award that provides supplemental funding to an individual who receives an NHLBI Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) or a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) for research on PH. The deadline to apply for this award is July 12, 2015.

More information can be found here: http://www.phassociation.org/.