Merck Foundation has launched a new initiative for heart patients.

RAHWAY, N.J., November 3, 2025 – Merck Foundation introduced a new $22 million initiative aimed at increasing access to high-quality healthcare for heart patients in the United States. This new initiative, titled Collaboration for Equity in Heart Care, will last five years and provide grants to 11 organizations, improving access to person-centered healthcare for individuals with heart conditions.

The funds will assist in the development and implementation of evidence-based and comprehensive programs to improve health outcomes within local communities. Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability at Merck, stated, “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., and this burden disproportionately affects communities with the least resources. By addressing the social and health needs of individuals living with heart conditions, the Collaboration for Equity in Heart Care will have a lasting impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the country.”

The foundation's grants are awarded to select non-profit health and public health organizations working with local community-based groups. These collaborating organizations will help close the gaps in healthcare delivery for heart disease and develop sustainable, scalable approaches that will improve people's quality of life.

Organizations receiving the collaboration program grant include Capital Health System (New Jersey), The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (Wisconsin), Gallup Community Health (New Mexico), Georgia State University Research Foundation/Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (Georgia), La Clínica del Pueblo (Washington, D.C.), MedNorth Health Center (North Carolina), Providence Medical Foundation (California), Public Health Institute/Population Health Innovation Lab (California), University of Chicago (Illinois), UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care (Pennsylvania), and Zufall Health Center (New Jersey).

Additionally, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity is supporting the collaboration as the National Program Office, providing technical assistance to the grantees in developing local partnerships and implementing their programs. The NPO will offer a platform to promote peer learning among grantees, conduct cross-sectoral evaluations, and publish lessons learned from the collaboration's outcomes.

Dr. Lisa A. Cooper, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, said, “The grantee organizations represent diverse communities and each has firsthand experience addressing specific gaps in access to high-quality heart care in their regions. The coming together of these extraordinary organizations will strengthen local partnerships and address the social and environmental factors that affect health, meeting urgent patient needs while paving the way for sustainable improvements in the delivery of heart care across the U.S.”

Collaboration for Equity in Heart Care continues the foundation's legacy of investing in community-based programs aimed at increasing access to high-quality healthcare in resource-challenged communities. This includes similar initiatives such as the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care, which currently operates in seven states.