Institutes, Divisions & Centers
Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Research and Advocacy Center

Transforming the Fight Against Rheumatic Heart Disease

At the Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Research and Advocacy Center, we’re leading the charge to transform the fight against Rheumatic Heart Disease. Through groundbreaking research and global partnerships, we unite networks of experts to shape prevention strategies, improve clinical care, and drive public health initiatives. Our mission is clear: to improve outcomes for children and communities affected by rheumatic heart disease worldwide.

Addressing a Disease of Disparity

The reality is stark: children are still dying from rheumatic heart disease today, despite it being nearly entirely preventable.

There are more than 55 million children and young adults living with rheumatic heart disease.
The average age of death for people with rheumatic heart disease is 28 years.
More than 80% of the world’s children live in regions where rheumatic heart disease is endemic.
In low-income endemic regions, such as Native American reservations and much of sub-Saharan Africa, access to early diagnosis, effective treatment and preventative care remains a major challenge.

Our Center brings together a team of clinicians, scientists and public health practitioners to form a powerful, long-lasting international network committed to eradicating rheumatic heart disease.

Through rigorous research and strategic action, we are working to ensure that rheumatic heart disease no longer cuts short the lives of children and young adults around the world. Together, we can end the rheumatic heart disease endemic within our lifetime.

Andrea Beaton, MD

Director, Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Research and Advocacy Center

Research Aimed at Saving Lives

Rheumatic heart disease is a preventable yet devastating condition that begins with a common Strep A infection, often starting as a simple sore throat. When left untreated, this infection can trigger rheumatic fever, an autoimmune response that damages the heart valves, eventually leading to rheumatic heart disease.

More than 90 percent of those affected by rheumatic heart disease live in low-income regions, and more than 80 percent are diagnosed too late, when the disease is already in its advanced stages and outcomes are often dire. In Uganda, for instance, nearly one in four children diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease will die within the first year.

But rheumatic heart disease is preventable. In the early 1900s, it was the leading cause of death for children ages 5-20 years in the United States. However, thanks to advancements in public health and widespread access to treatments, it has been nearly eradicated since the 1970s.

Policies and Practices to Affect Real-World Change

By improving primary prevention, early detection and treatment, our team is working to eliminate rheumatic heart disease worldwide. Through cutting-edge research, we aim to develop and promote the policies and practices necessary to:

Partner deeply with communities and people living with rheumatic heart disease, ensuring that research, care and prevention efforts are informed by their experiences, needs and local contexts
Prevent and control Strep A infections through effective public health campaigns and interventions
Detect and diagnose rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease at both early and advanced stages, ensuring individuals receive timely and appropriate care
Prevent recurrent rheumatic fever and further damage to the heart by administering regular antibiotics to at-risk patients
Support systemic approaches to rheumatic heart disease management, ensuring that public health programs are sustainable and effective in the long term

Through this research, we are not only improving care for those currently affected by rheumatic heart disease but also taking crucial steps toward eradicating the disease for future generations.

Rheumatic Heart Disease Research By the Numbers

We’ve been highly successful with publishing important work in first-tier journals, procuring substantial extramural support and becoming recognized authorities in the area of rheumatic heart disease research.

50+

Global Experts and Investigators

$5.6M

Annual Grant Funding

70+

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Made Possible Through a Collaborative Network

We extend our deepest gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who contribute to our mission. We are particularly thankful to our research participants and families, patients, donors, advisors and grant funders, whose unwavering support is vital to our success. Our research and operations are made possible through the generous funding provided by organizations such as the American Heart Association, Thrasher Research Fund, Leducq Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as private donations. We also receive invaluable backing from Cincinnati Children’s Global Health Center and Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute.

Science Blog

A map displaying the GOAL trial region in Northern Uganda, which involved children with latent rheumatic heart disease.

In the News

Rheumatic Heart Disease Research News

Our Research Horizons Science Blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by scientists from the Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Research and Advocacy Center.

Research Programs