$100 million invested into advancing heart health

Published: 25 June 2026

The Heart Foundation is celebrating $100 million invested in research projects and overseas training fellowships, since it began almost six decades ago.

During that time, there has been an incredible transformation in the prevention, diagnosis and management of heart disease.

Heart disease rates have fallen by 75% since 1968, due to better treatments, better medications, and better detection of heart disease. 

“Today, we can see the heart more clearly than ever before, predict risk earlier, and intervene with greater precision,” Heart Foundation Medical Director Dr Gerry Devlin said. “Advances once thought impossible are now routine.” 

Some highlights of Heart Foundation-funded research over the years include:

Prevention

• Understanding the role of nutrition in heart health – studying how dietary fibre affects cholesterol levels, this research influenced international dietary guidelines and public health advice. 
• Reducing smoking rates – supporting research that demonstrated smoking impacts cardiovascular disease.
• Addressing rheumatic heart disease – understanding this serious condition, including the development of a vaccine. 
• Helping inform New Zealand and international guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk assessment.

Diagnosis

• Better prediction, faster diagnosis of heart disease – new chest pain assessment methods and advanced blood tests to diagnose heart attacks and other heart conditions. 
• Improving heart health for women – research in New Zealand and via our global networks, into heart conditions specific to women.
• Developing echocardiographic techniques, improving assessment of congenital heart disease in infants.

Management

• Advances in treating heart disease – overseas fellowships supporting early-career cardiologists to train at leading hospitals and bringing skills home.
• Deeper understanding of heart conditions – the Heart Foundation Chairs of Heart Health played a pivotal role in landmark BNP blood test and beta blocker research for patients with heart failure.
• Action on Māori and Pasifika heart health – addressing the high rates of heart disease and deaths through fellowships and support of Pūtahi Manawa (Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand)

From groundbreaking discoveries to lifesaving treatments, Heart Foundation-funded research has helped improve the heart health of New Zealanders.

“As we mark this $100 million investment milestone, we thank the researchers who undertake this vital work, the institutions that support them, and our generous donors who have made this progress possible.”