A study funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb, with a $45,000 grant to the Heart Foundation of Australia, focused on gaining a better understanding why heart disease is seen in indigenous populations in Australia at levels far higher than other groups in the country. It is believed that stress, depression linked to their socioeconomic disadvantages, unhealthy behaviors and poorer access to health care may be responsible, as they are coupled with stresses associated with dealing with poverty, unemployment and depression. Answering these questions could lead to new social services and other interventions to help both indigenous Australians and the general population.

Heart disease was the second leading cause of death for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2000. "You Are What You Eat" was a new effort that addressed culturally appropriate cardiovascular health promotion, funded by a grant from the Foundation to the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center and the Chinese-American Healthy Heart Coalition in Manhattan. Through a series of workshops for at-risk seniors and through partnerships with local restaurants and bakeries, the initiative aimed at improving awareness of heart disease and stroke, empowering seniors to take control of their health and increase healthy options in local eateries. While there is a general misconception that Asian-Americans are at low risk of developing heart disease, in fact a third of Chinatown community residents have no physical activity and over a quarter are overweight, according to preliminary data.