Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 22, 2026
AHA and AHS Partner to Fund Migraine-Heart Research
TLDR
- The American Heart Association and American Headache Society co-fund a $200,000 award to study migraine-stroke links, positioning researchers to lead in cardiovascular and brain health.
- The American Heart Association and American Headache Society co-fund a $200,000, two-year Innovative Project Award to study how migraine-related immune cell activation increases stroke risk.
- The American Heart Association and American Headache Society co-fund research to prevent strokes in migraine sufferers, improving lives and advancing brain health for all.
- The American Heart Association and American Headache Society co-fund a $200,000 award exploring how brain immune cells may link migraines to stroke risk.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it signals a major step forward in understanding the intricate relationship between migraine and cardiovascular health. Migraine affects over a billion people globally, and its link to stroke and heart disease has long puzzled scientists. By funding innovative research, the American Heart Association and American Headache Society are paving the way for targeted therapies that could prevent strokes and improve the lives of those with chronic migraine. The findings may also shed light on other headache disorders and obesity-related conditions, offering hope for more personalized treatments. Ultimately, this collaboration could transform clinical practice and reduce the burden of these debilitating conditions on individuals and healthcare systems.
Summary
In an unprecedented collaboration, the American Headache Society and the American Heart Association have joined forces to co-fund an Innovative Project Award aimed at exploring the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects of migraine and other headache disorders. This $200,000, two-year grant supports high-risk, high-reward research that spans basic science, clinical research, and population health. The 2026 co-funded award recipient is Juliana Navia Pelaez, Ph.D., an assistant professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine, for her project “Neurogenic Priming of Perivascular Macrophages by Migraine-Associated Peptides Increases Stroke Risk.” Pelaez’s research investigates whether repeated migraine attacks overactivate the brain’s immune cells, potentially weakening blood vessels and increasing stroke susceptibility. “If migraines happen over and over, these immune cells might stay ‘on’ for too long,” she explained. “When this happens, they might accidentally make the blood vessels weaker.”
The American Heart Association has also funded three additional Innovative Project Awards. Andrea M. Harriott, M.D., Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital, will study how cortical spreading depolarizations affect blood vessel health in migraine with aura. Matthew T. Bender, M.D., of the University of Rochester, will develop a novel MRI framework to examine the glymphatic system in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neil Dani, Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University, will explore the choroid plexus’s role in obesity-related migraines and test whether existing drugs can reduce inflammation and pain signaling. These projects underscore the shared commitment to advancing brain health research.
Since 1949, the American Heart Association has funded more than $6.3 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research, solidifying its role as the largest non-profit supporter of such research in the U.S. The American Headache Society, dedicated to improving the lives of those with headache disorders, collaborates on this effort to drive scientific discovery. Together, these organizations aim to unravel the complex connections between migraine, heart health, and stroke, potentially leading to new preventive strategies for millions affected worldwide.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, AHA and AHS Partner to Fund Migraine-Heart Research
