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The American Heart Association (AHA) has reaffirmed its public access and open data policies—both in place for more than a decade—and outlined resources and training to help funded researchers comply with open science requirements. The AHA requires journal articles arising from its funding to be made freely available in PubMed Central within 12 months of publication. Its open data policy, updated in August 2023, calls for data needed to independently verify research results to be made freely available in an AHA-approved repository no later than the time of an associated publication or the end of the award period (or no-cost extension).

The organization reported that it has updated its website with Open Science Policy Statements for AHA-funded research and released free resources including Steps for Open Science Compliance, Sample Data Plans, and a Data Deposit Workbook. It also posted slides and a recording for its “Open Science Training: Data Management and Sharing Webinar,” with materials focusing on policy expectations, repository selection, and adequate documentation.

In late 2023, the AHA hired Sara Jarvis, a cardiovascular physiologist, as its first Research Accountability and Excellence Manager. The Association noted that Jarvis developed training materials, videos, and templates to support compliance and that her academic background helps translate policy for grantees. The AHA described the communication task as substantial, citing 2,200 active awards totaling $584 million in multi-year grants and a cumulative $6.1 billion invested in research since 1949, which it characterized as more than any other non-profit and non-governmental organization investing in cardiovascular and brain health research.

The AHA stated that open practices amplify the impact of research by enabling other scientists to build on findings and independently verify results, supporting collaboration. For the public, it highlighted that open practices promote accountability and trust by making funded research more visible and demonstrating stewardship of donor dollars.

The Association also highlighted that it adheres to the FAIR principles—described as findable, responsible, interoperable, and reuseable—and provides step-by-step support to help grantees preserve and share data, including a data dictionary, guidance on uploading data, and a list of more than 70 approved repositories.

According to the AHA, Jarvis integrated free resources from the Center for Open Science and adapted them for AHA grantees, and she remains connected with peers through the Open Research Funders Group, an initiative of SPARC. The organization indicated there has been little pushback from grantees and that it is collecting user feedback to improve materials.

Open science training is mandatory for large grantees shortly after award notification. Initially covering approximately 20 larger grants, the Association has expanded training as an optional offering to smaller award recipients. A recent session was offered to a group covering about 100 awards and was reported as well received by 40 attendees. Training is aimed at researchers across career stages and includes foundational practices such as file naming early in the research process. The AHA added that it offers recorded sessions, consultation appointments, and checkpoints during the research cycle to support compliance, and it encouraged awardees to reach out if challenges arise.