On May 3-4, 2012, 125 American Heart Association volunteers, staff Science leaders, and lay leaders came together in Dallas for the American Heart Association’s Research Summit.  The theme, “Sustaining Extraordinary Impact”, symbolized the goal of developing guidance for the AHA Board of Directors in deciding AHA’s research funding strategies over the next 8 years and beyond. During the two-day summit internal and external information and trends were reviewed followed by brainstorming sessions seeking strategies to maintain the Association’s research program’s extraordinary impact. These strategies will support AHA’s goal of developing the most impactful, dynamic, and productive research program possible through 2020 and beyond.