The Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is excited to expand its premier roster of research centres and programs with the addition of a new cardiovascular powerhouse. The Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute, a global centre of excellence, launched in June 2025. Its establishment was made possible by a record-setting $60 million philanthropic gift from the Dilawri Foundation.

Led by Dr. David Wood, a world-renowned cardiologist and head of the Division of Cardiology at Vancouver General Hospital, the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will provide exceptional cardiovascular care through advanced technology, evidence-based practice and a patient-centered approach. With dedicated infrastructure and a one-of-a-kind Innovation Fund, the Institute will have the capacity to accelerate clinical trials, develop new therapies and move breakthrough discoveries into patient care.

Bringing together internationally recognized leaders across multiple fields, the Institute will also build a collaborative network to connect with institutions and experts across Canada, North America and Europe. This highly collaborative environment will recruit top-tier talent, train early-career scientists and foster the next generation of cardiac innovators who will shape the global cardiac ecosystem for decades to come.

“The establishment of this new Institute signals the beginning of a bold new era in how we treat heart disease, mentor the next generation of specialists and improve outcomes for patients in British Columbia and beyond,” says Wood. “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.”  

“This milestone highlights our dedication to advancing cardiac research so that people with heart disease have a better chance to live longer and symptom-free, with hope and dignity.”

Core centres set new standards for research excellence across specialties

The new Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute is comprised of 16 specialized centres, including eight core research centres:

The Centre for AI, Data Science and Imaging, directed by Dr. Teresa Tsang, will build on years of expertise in data-driven analytics and advanced imaging, and integrate genomics to advance precision health and personalized medicine. The multidisciplinary team works together to harness large-scale data and AI to improve cardiovascular disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. A cornerstone of the Centre is the AI Echo Core Lab, which enables large-scale, collaborative studies across local, provincial, national and international settings. Focused on real-world impact, the Centre aims to detect heart disease earlier, support clinical decisions, and tailor care using genetics, imaging and social factors, ultimately closing cardiac care gaps and improving outcomes for all British Columbians.

As an established Centre within VCH and UBC, the Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation (CCI) is dedicated to improving the health of patients with cardiovascular disease. Led by Brady Robinson, Jackie Chow and Elizabeth Grieve, CCI offers services to cardiovascular investigators to facilitate national and international clinical trials and provides physical and personnel infrastructure to enhance the research capacity of its member investigators.

The Centre for Cardiovascular Translational Science offers hands-on experiences that connect basic science, engineering and clinical applications. Under the guidance of Dr. Stephanie Sellers, trainees at the Centre are immersed in cutting-edge research projects, exposed to advanced technologies and mentored by leading multidisciplinary experts. Through tailored workshops and translational research training programs, the Centre cultivates a new generation of innovators equipped to transform cardiovascular health through scientific discovery, technological advancement and clinical impact. 

The Centre for Pulmonary Vascular Disease is dedicated to furthering the understanding of pulmonary hypertension: a severe and progressive disease that results in high blood pressure in pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs. Directed by Dr. John Swiston and supported by Dr. Nathan Brunner, Centre researchers are actively involved in national and international clinical research trials, working on therapies that have shown the potential to dramatically change the disease course and improve patient quality of life. 

The Centre for Structural Heart Interventions, overseen by Dr. David Wood and Dr. Scott Lim, employs cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques and exciting new treatments aimed at improving care and outcomes for patients, including early recovery following transcatheter aortic valve replacement and advanced interventions for tricuspid and mitral valve diseases. Guided by principles of equity and accessibility, the Centre ensures that life-saving procedures are available to diverse populations, striving to eliminate barriers to care and deliver outstanding outcomes. 

The Centre for Thoracic Aortic Disease provides comprehensive, coordinated care for patients with thoracic aortic conditions under the guidance of Dr. Joel Price and supported by Dr. Ed Percy. Surgeon-scientists at the Centre specialize in complex aortic procedures, using advanced, innovative techniques to deliver timely and effective interventions. With a commitment to long-term monitoring, patients receive tailored follow-up and ongoing assessment. Program outcomes are continually evaluated, driving ongoing quality improvement and research.

The mandate of the Centre for Women’s Heart Health Research is to stop and prevent the progression of heart disease in women via a comprehensive outpatient risk reduction program. The Centre, directed by Dr. Tara Sedlak and Dr. Jackie Saw, comprises a team of experts on the identification and treatment of heart conditions, whose impressive catalogue of publications and ongoing research studies aim to increase the representation of women in clinical trials, with significant impacts on quality of care and patient outcomes. 

SportsCardiologyBC strives to make exercise and athletics safer for everyone. Investigators lead studies that are exploring risk factors and warning signs for cardiovascular events, as well as optimal training processes. Dr. Saul Isserow leads the Centre, in collaboration with Dr. Nate Moulson and Dr. James McKinney. The Centre collaborates with local, national and international medical, health and athletic organizations to provide public education about the importance of cardiovascular health and safe participation in athletics.

In addition to these core centres, several emerging centres are under development, including the Centre for Cardiovascular Critical Care (Dr. Chris Fordyce and Dr. Gord Finlayson); the Centre for Cardiovascular Disease in the Young (Dr. Thomas Roston); the Centre for Cardiovascular Medical Education (Dr. Parvathy Nair and Dr. Graham Wong); the Centre for Cardiovascular Health and Prevention (Dr. Nate Moulson); the Centre for Heart Rhythm Interventions (Dr. Jason Andrade); the Centre for Indigenous Cardiovascular Health (Dr. Miles Marchand); the Centre for Knowledge Translation and Implementation Science (Dr. Katherine Kulyk); and the Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery (Dr. Richard Cook).