$60M donation will fund cardio institute in Vancouver

VANCOUVER – In a landmark announcement, the Dilawri Foundation has made a record-setting $60 million philanthropic gift to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to establish the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) on the Vancouver General Hospital campus.

“For our family, this is about bringing our values of compassion and community to life through meaningful investments that allow us to give back in a lasting way,” said Ajay Dilawri, co-founder of both the Dilawri Foundation and Dilawri. “We’re honoured to support the exceptional team at Vancouver General Hospital and help advance a future where everyone in British Columbia — and beyond — has access to world-class cardiac care.

“Our goal is to help establish a global centre of excellence that will set a new benchmark for cardiac innovation and treatment. We hope this gift will help improve health care and quality of life on a broader scale.”

The gift also represents a major milestone in the mission of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, which plays a critical role in enabling innovation, recruiting top talent, and helping the people of British Columbia have access to the best care possible.

As the leading charity investing in health care innovation in the province, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation connects visionary donors with world-class health care teams to help build healthier communities across British Columbia. By supporting Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and Vancouver Community Health Services, the Foundation plays an essential role in fueling groundbreaking research, cutting-edge technology, and life-saving care.

“This is a truly historic moment for health care philanthropy in Canada,” said Angela Chapman, president and CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “The Dilawri Foundation’s extraordinary generosity will help Vancouver and British Columbia attract and retain world-leading clinicians and researchers from Canada and around the globe. It will allow the talented specialists at VGH to accelerate discoveries and translate them into better patient care and outcomes for the people of British Columbia and beyond. Inspired by a first-hand experience of the specialized care provided at VGH, this is an incredible act of gratitude and philanthropy.”

The new Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will be led by Dr. David Wood (pictured), a world-renowned structural and interventional cardiologist and head of the Division of Cardiology at VGH and UBC Hospital.

“Our clinicians and researchers are focused on using new technology and discoveries to improve access to care, shorten wait times, improve outcomes, and decrease recovery times. We have already taught centres throughout North America and around the globe how to replace heart valves in under 30 minutes so patients can go home the same day, or how to treat heart rhythm problems sooner – long before any cardiac damage becomes permanent,” said Dr. Wood.

He added: “I am so incredibly proud of the amazing work our investigators have already accomplished. The new infrastructure and Innovation Fund will allow us to fulfill our goal: to become one of the leading cardiovascular institutes in the world. Our goal is to help patients live longer, symptom-free lives thanks to the disruptive innovation made possible by the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute.”

“The Dilawri Foundation’s visionary support will have a profound and lasting impact on heart health for generations to come. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative healthcare, and this investment will enable us to continue our goal of providing leading-edge cardiac medicine, contributing to the global advancement of this field,” said Vivian Eliopoulos, president and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health.

“Our family has been deeply moved by the incredible care, expertise, and compassion we’ve received from the team at Vancouver General Hospital,” said Kap Dilawri, co-founder of both the Dilawri Foundation and Dilawri. “We believe the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will have a profound and lasting impact on patients, families, and communities — not only in Vancouver but also globally.”

To learn more about the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute, visit dilawriinstitute.org.