Biomedical Research
Science has the potential to make extraordinary leaps when the right people, ideas, and technology come together to solve complex problems.
We’re disrupting the traditional research space by re-imagining how science is done and funded, with a focus on supporting both projects and people. Through thoughtful and nimble investments of time and resources into the most pressing scientific questions, we develop tailored solutions and encourage bold, relentless scientific exploration toward our goals.
Single Ventricle Heart Disease
Our biomedical research work focuses on a rare form of congenital heart defects called single ventricle heart disease. While this field is in its infancy, with limited knowledge of cause, risk, outcomes, or treatments, we are confident that through coordinated strategic and interdisciplinary work, dynamic teaming, and flexible funding, we can illuminate a functional cure for patients and their families.
Our Strategy
Research Roadmap
Developed collaboratively with scientific leaders in the community, the single ventricle Research Roadmap is a living ten-year plan toward comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and programmatic solutions to understand and overcome single ventricle heart disease.
Comprised of four significant knowledge and infrastructure gaps slowing down progress in single ventricle research, the roadmap defines crucial research pathways for exploration and investment.
Program Spotlight
Cures Collaborative
The Additional Ventures Cures Collaborative is a multidisciplinary team of nine investigators across eight institutions brought together to develop a regenerative medicine solution that creates cardiac function with a better risk-benefit profile than is currently achieved, for both the post-natal and post-Fontan single ventricle population.
Funding Opportuntities
OPEN
Catalyst to Independence Award
Support for the next generation of scientists means investment in the future of the field.
The Additional Ventures Catalyst to Independence Award is a transition award that supports the next generation of researchers, catalyzing their careers and efforts to solve the biggest questions in single ventricle heart disease and related fields.
Award Amount
Up to $1M over up to 5 years
Eligibility
Applicants must have earned a PhD, MD, DO, or doctoral equivalent more than 1 year prior to the application due date.
CLOSED
Single Ventricle Research Fund (SVRF)
The Single Ventricle Research Fund (SVRF) is an annual research award program that is solely focused on accelerating research and improving care for those with single ventricle heart defects through multi-year, high-impact grants. The SVRF grants awards annually to support research projects over up to three-year periods, and provides up to $600,000 in direct costs.
In its fourth cycle, the SVRF is hosting an open call, and welcomes any research with relevance to single ventricle. Resubmissions from previous cycles will also be accepted.
Award Amount
Up to $600,000 in direct costs to be utilized over three (3) years
Eligibility
Principal Investigator(s) who hold doctoral degrees (e.g. PhD, MD, PsyD, or equivalent doctorates)
CLOSED
AHA/AV Collaborative Sciences Awards in Single Ventricle
Together, the American Heart Association (AHA) and Additional Ventures (AV) have established the AHA/AV Collaborative Sciences Awards in Single Ventricle Heart Disease (CSAs) to support multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research teams addressing key knowledge gaps in the clinical sequelae of single ventricle heart disease and its treatment paradigm.
We encourage a forward-thinking approach to research that is not constrained by long-held hypotheses and dogma, and that is conducted in an environment of trust. We seek to establish a multidisciplinary network of approximately five teams who are enthusiastic about working transparently in a highly collaborative network – a team of teams sharing related, yet unique scientific goals, who prioritize innovation over safe bets, and who are willing to risk testing unconventional ideas. In addition to generous research funds, the CSAs provide dedicated project management support for granted teams, as well as community development support through all-expense- paid biannual meetings and other networking opportunities.
Award Amount
Up to $2.25M direct costs to be utilized over 3 years
Eligibility
Each team should consist of two to four members, including co-PIs with expertise from at least two different disciplines.
CLOSED
Expansion Award
Our Expansion Award enables teams to add new single ventricle–focused approaches and directions to their current work by providing a one-time grant of $50,000. This small but mighty grant is open to both new and established investigators within the single ventricle research community – and has a submission and award process that occurs in under two months’ time, spring-boarding these studies forward, faster.
Award Amount
Up to $50,000 for one year
Eligibility
Principal Investigator(s) (PIs) who hold doctoral degrees (e.g., PhD, MD, PsyD, or equivalent) and are listed as a PI on a parent grant.
CLOSED
Life Sciences Research Foundation: Postdoctoral Fellowship
We believe in supporting the next generation of scientists. We partner with the Life Sciences Research Foundation to support outstanding postdoctoral fellows who are making waves in basic science and advancing fundamental knowledge. Interested fellows should apply through the LSRF website.
Award Amount
$67,000 per fellow per year for three (3) years
Eligibility
Applicants must apply within 5 years of receiving their PhD or MD degree
Scientific Community
Our Speaker Series and biannual Single Ventricle Investigator Meeting allow for diverse investigators to share knowledge, identify challenges, and exchange ideas to inspire innovative approaches to this complex disease.
Single Ventricle Scientific Advisory Board
Deepak Srivastava, MD
President, Gladstone Institutes
Professor, University of California, San Francisco
Anthony Philippakis, MD, PhD
Chief Data Officer, Institute Scientist
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Alison Marsden, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics – Cardiology and Bioengineering
Stanford University
Anthony B. Firulli, PhD
Endowed Professor of Pediatrics
Indiana University School of Medicine
Shelley Miyamoto, MD
Jack Cooper Millisor Chair in Pediatric Heart Disease
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Cardiomyopathy Program
University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado
Rahul Rathod, MD, MBA
Associate Cardiologist-in-Chief at Boston Children’s Hospital
Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School
Director of the Single Ventricle Program and the Fontan Clinic at Boston Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital
Patient and Family Advisory Board
Tawanna Williams, CPC
Mother to a Post-Heart Transplant Single Ventricle Daughter
Owner/Lead DEI Consultant, Race Equity Solutions
Podcast Creator/Host, Broken Open
Bulent Arman Aksoy, PhD
Father to a Single Ventricle Daughter
Computational Biologist
Taylor Houlihan, MD
Pediatric Resident
Single Ventricle Fontan Patient
Jameson Rich
Post-Fontan Single Ventricle, Bi-Ventricular Repair
Writer and Filmmaker