---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 285b–9"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "285b–9"
heading: "HHS valvular heart disease activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/285b-9"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III — National Research Institutes"
  - "Part C — Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes"
  - "Subpart 2 — national heart, lung, and blood institute"
---

# §285b–9. HHS valvular heart disease activities

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)”) shall, as appropriate, continue activities related to research, education, and awareness of valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
- (b) **NIH research related to valvular heart diseases—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institutes of Health, in consultation with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, may support or conduct research regarding valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
  - (2) **Support further research—** In order to improve information on, and understanding of, causation and risk factors for valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n), research conducted or supported under this subsection for such diseases may include the following:
    - (A) Use of advanced technological imaging and other relevant methods to [generate](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) data related to valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
    - (B) Assessing potential risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death from valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
    - (C) Other activities, as appropriate, in order to improve the availability of information on, and advance research related to, valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
  - (3) **Mitral valve prolapse workshop—** Not later than 2 years after December 20, 2022, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute shall, as appropriate, convene a workshop composed of subject matter experts and stakeholders to identify research needs and opportunities to develop recommendations for the identification and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of individuals with mitral valve prolapse, including such individuals who may be at risk for sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death.
- (c) **Prevention activities to improve awareness of sudden cardiac death as a result of valvular heart diseases—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may carry out activities to increase education and awareness of valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n) in order to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death caused by such diseases. The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may—
    - (A) award grants or contracts to public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private entities to carry out activities under this subsection; and
    - (B) directly, or through grants or contracts, provide technical assistance with respect to such activities.
  - (2) **Certain activities—** Upon availability of applicable data, [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) may include—
    - (A) continuing activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n);
    - (B) improving the awareness of the public concerning any risk factors for, the symptoms of, and the public health impact of, valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n); and
    - (C) enhancing public health data collection and improving the quality of such data, as appropriate, regarding cardiac arrests, including cardiac arrests that occur outside of the [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Grant prioritization—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may, in awarding grants or entering into contracts pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#c-1), give priority to entities seeking to carry out [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for populations most impacted by valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
  - (4) **Coordination of activities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, as appropriate, ensure that activities under this section are coordinated with other [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and offices of the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) that carry out activities regarding valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
  - (5) **Best practices—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, as applicable and appropriate, identify and disseminate best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for relevant [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) related to valvular [heart diseases](/usc/42/201.md?p=n).
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—** For purposes of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $28,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–244, § 2, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2340.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.