PHA Research Programs

researcher
The Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s strategic plan directs activities toward achieving our mission to extend and improve the lives of those affected by pulmonary hypertension and reaching our vision of a world without PH, empowered by hope.

Catalyzing research for a cure is incorporated in PHA’s strategic plan to:

  • Provide grants for innovative adult and pediatric research projects across a broad range of PH topics and institutions nationwide.
  • Support the next generation of physician-researchers and scientists focusing on adult and pediatric PH through fellowships, young investigators’ awards, and early career grants for difficult-to-fund research projects.
  • Collaborate with PH and associated disease patients; health and science professionals; policymakers; and other organizations to advise and gather new knowledge to share with the PH community.

Innovation in PH Research Award

The award supports new areas of PH research that couldn’t have been explored without PHA funding. Any areas of innovative pulmonary hypertension research will be accepted. Up to $60,000 a year for two years is available. Apply by May 8 at ProposalCentral. See eligibility criteria.

Pediatric Research Award

The PHA Pediatric PH Research Award supports research that addresses unmet needs or expands on areas of limited knowledge in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. This award will support a pilot study that would provide foundational research for a larger study and support additional grant submissions. This PHA research award is for one year for up to $65,000. Apply by March 13 at ProposalCentral. See eligibility criteria.

Early Career Mentored Scientist Award

The grant covers up to $65,000 for one year. Proposals must be PH-related research projects that have been favorably reviewed for a National Institutes of Health Early Career Award (K award) but not funded. The award provides bridge funding so the project can generate sufficient preliminary data to make it highly competitive when resubmitted to NIH. Apply by April 3 at ProposalCentral. See eligibility criteria.

PHA research in action

Since forming in 1991, PHA has committed $8 million to support cutting-edge research on PH and supported more than 75 researchers.

PHA grants support promising PH scientists and clinicians who study new methods for early detection, new treatments to prevent the onset of PH, and ultimately a cure. PHA also advances research through the PHA Registry and PVDomics initiatives. PH health care professionals share information about their research with their colleagues through posters and presentations at PHA’s PHPN Symposium

PHA grant awardees

PHA has funded PH pediatric and adult research through the Aldrighetti Research Award, the Robyn J. Barst Pediatric PH Research and Mentoring Grant, PHA/ATS research fellowships, PHA Proof of Concept awards and PHA/NHLBI Mentoring Clinical Scientist awards. Learn more about previous PHA grant awardees.

PHA Registry

The PHA Registry is the largest active U.S.-based, prospective and longitudinal observational PH patient registry. More than 55 participating PHA-accredited PH Care Centers have enrolled over 1,350 individuals in PHAR. Patients with PAH, CTEPH and pediatric PH due to developmental lung disease may be enrolled in PHAR. Goals of the PHAR are to support research towards measuring and improving quality of care, understand risk factors for patient outcomes, and supporting clinical research for new therapies. There are more than 25 research proposals, multiple conference abstracts, and 4 publications using data from PHAR.

PVDomics

The PVDomics study (Redefining Pulmonary Hypertension through Pulmonary Vascular Disease Phenomics) is a partnership between PHA and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health. PVDOMICS uses clinical and biological “omics” data from all PH (Groups 1 through 5) classifications. The study aims to identify new ways to group PH patients and new biological measurements that ultimately could lead to breakthroughs in diagnosis, outcomes and therapies. The PVDOMICS investigators have presented study progress at various research and medical conferences and multiple writing committees are underway for publications. See the PVDomics page for details.

PHA Conference Research Room

Each biennial meeting of the PHA International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions provides an opportunity for PH patients to participate in research studies and PH clinician-researchers to enroll patients in studies. The PHA Research Room enables researchers to collect patient data, including biological specimens (i.e. cheek swabs and blood samples). Learn more.

PHPN Symposium

Presentations and posters are presented at the biennial PHA Pulmonary Hypertension Professional Network Symposium. Attendees hear about cutting-edge research and case studies, attend lightning round presentations of selected abstracts and talk to abstract authors during the accredited Poster Hall session featuring research on the basics of PH diagnosis, treatment and management.

Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension

Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, the official journal of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, is the world’s first medical journal dedicated to pulmonary hypertension. The journal is directed by an editorial board of renowned PH experts with the oversight of PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council. Published quarterly online, Advances has readers from 129 countries around the world.

Dr. Todd Bull, professor of medicine, pulmonary sciences and critical care at University of Colorado, discusses biological pathways targeted for drug development and models and technology that support PH research.