Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 03, 2025
Heart Association Launches Initiative to Speed Aortic Stenosis Diagnosis & Treatment
TLDR
- The American Heart Association's new initiative with Kardigan provides earlier access to innovative treatments, giving patients and providers an advantage in managing aortic stenosis.
 - The American Heart Association is expanding its Target: Aortic Stenosis program to connect patients with clinical trials through 40 hospitals and heart valve clinics.
 - This initiative helps people with aortic stenosis receive earlier diagnosis and treatment, creating healthier lives and advancing care for this serious heart condition.
 - Over 2,200 people with moderate aortic stenosis are already managed through this network, which now expands to include clinical trial opportunities.
 
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative addresses a critical gap in cardiovascular care where aortic stenosis often goes undiagnosed until advanced stages, leading to preventable complications and deaths. For patients and families, earlier detection through expanded clinical trial access could mean life-saving interventions before irreversible damage occurs. The program's focus on moderate AS cases represents a proactive approach that could shift treatment paradigms from reactive to preventive care. By connecting thousands of patients with emerging therapies and advancing research participation, this effort has the potential to accelerate medical breakthroughs that benefit the estimated millions affected by heart valve diseases worldwide. The collaboration between leading medical organizations and innovative companies like Kardigan demonstrates how strategic partnerships can drive meaningful progress in tackling complex cardiovascular conditions that impact quality of life and survival rates.
Summary
The American Heart Association has launched a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate diagnosis and treatment for aortic stenosis (AS), a serious heart valve condition affecting thousands of Americans. This new effort, supported by medical technology company Kardigan and leveraging the established infrastructure of the Target: Aortic Stenosis™ program, aims to boost clinical trial participation and improve early detection of this underdiagnosed disease. The initiative will engage at least 40 hospitals and their affiliated heart valve clinics across the Association's nationwide network, building on the existing management of more than 2,200 people with moderate AS through their quality improvement network. This strategic expansion represents a significant step toward revolutionizing cardiovascular care by connecting patients with promising research opportunities and emerging medical therapy alternatives.
Key leaders driving this initiative include Dr. Sreekanth Vemulapalli, the Association's volunteer project clinical leader and member of the Target: Aortic Stenosis Scientific Advisory Group, who emphasizes the critical need for earlier diagnosis and treatment access. From the corporate side, Dr. Jay Edelberg, co-founder and chief medical officer at Kardigan, highlights their mission to move beyond symptom management and redefine cardiovascular care where current therapies fall short. The program will provide comprehensive support including professional education, quality improvement tools, and site-level assistance to help clinicians better identify and refer eligible individuals for clinical trials. Additionally, a healthcare provider climate survey will explore barriers to trial enrollment and develop solutions to increase participation in structural heart disease research, ultimately advancing guideline-based care and treatment innovation.
This collaborative effort between the American Heart Association, Kardigan, and supporting organizations like Edwards Lifesciences represents a multifaceted approach to addressing aortic stenosis. Patients can access valuable resources through heart.org to learn how to identify symptoms and understand risks, while healthcare professionals can stay current with the latest programs, resources, science and webinars through the Association's professional portals. By improving access to clinical trials and supporting clinical research, this initiative aims to shape the future of care for people affected by aortic stenosis, potentially transforming outcomes for those living with this progressive heart condition that can lead to severe complications including heart failure and death if left untreated.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Heart Association Launches Initiative to Speed Aortic Stenosis Diagnosis & Treatment
