DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2018 -- The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), the world's leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke, announces its fifth major philanthropic gift from the Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation. With its latest gift, the Bugher Foundation will invest more than $11.1 million to fund the creation of a new targeted research network in hemorrhagic stroke, a specific type of stroke that occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. The announcement was made at the Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, California. Together, all forms of stroke currently comprise the fifth leading cause of all deaths in the United States.
To date, the foundation has invested more than $48 million in the AHA/ASA over the course of three decades, often in previously under-funded research areas. The distinctive and long-standing relationship between the foundation and the AHA/ASA continues with the development of the new ASA-Bugher Foundation Centers of Excellence in Hemorrhagic Stroke. There is a demonstrated gap in the scientific understanding of the multiple causes of this type of stroke, as well as how these serious events can best be prevented and treated. Hemorrhagic stroke currently accounts for approximately 15 percent of all stroke cases every year and these episodes have a fatality rate of nearly 50 percent in some studies. Because of the severity of this type of stroke, more than 100,000 people a year will die following a hemorrhagic stroke; especially if they do not have immediate access to highly trained medical centers who have neurosurgery expertise available.
"Since 1984, the AHA/ASA and the Bugher Foundation have collaborated to take calculated risks and fund areas of science where there is real need; areas of science that others have often ignored. Over the years, we have built a legacy of scientific excellence that has pushed boundaries and saved lives," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. "I'm thrilled to embark on our latest collaborative initiative -- new Centers of Excellence in Hemorrhagic Stroke that will put patients at the center of research in support of bold advances, while inspiring and training the next generation of interdisciplinary stroke researchers."
The ASA-Bugher Centers of Excellence in Hemorrhagic Stroke will employ core collaborative research, training and science. Project investigators and their fellows will build a strong network, and share their work broadly so that the scientific community at large can benefit.
Precision medicine and data analysis will also play a key role in the research process. Specific components will include:
- Between three and five Centers of Excellence, engaging in up to three innovative research projects each, designed to make breakthroughs in prevention and/or treatment of hemorrhagic stroke;
- A centralized training structure, designing activities and engagement for fellows recruited by the Centers;
- An oversight advisory group of stroke thought-leaders to guide and oversee Center operations and to encourage approaches to specific, collaborative research questions;
- Open data sharing between projects and the greater research community using the AHA Precision Medicine Platform™, a state-of-the-art discovery portal, where researchers and physicians can quickly access and share information, collaborate on research and use precision medicine to treat cardiovascular disease and stroke;
- Development of a patient-focused hemorrhagic stroke cohort for integration into the AHA's My Research Legacy™ initiative, a platform where people can sign up to share health, genetic and lifestyle data, to help researchers in their quest to end multiple forms of heart disease and stroke at the earliest possible time.
As part of the My Research Legacy™ component of this initiative, the American Heart Association is currently reaching out to engage survivors and families of those affected by hemorrhagic stroke.
An open application process for scientists interested in applying for funding as a part of this exciting research network will be announced in late 2019.
"The blueprint for the ASA-Bugher Centers of Excellence in Hemorrhagic Stroke stands on the shoulders of our previous four collaborations with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association," said Bryan Adams, trustee of the Bugher Foundation. "We are proud and honored to be part of increasing focus on an area of stroke research that deserves more attention."
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To donate and/or to fund specific programs and events visit http://www.heart.org/giving. For more information about stroke, visit http://www.strokeassociation.org/.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke - the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke -- the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the Association's science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.