The Dilawri Foundation has announced a historic \$60 million donation to the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation to create the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) at Vancouver General Hospital. This is the largest philanthropic gift in support of cardiac care in the region.
Ajay Dilawri, co-founder of the Dilawri Foundation and Dilawri, said the gift reflects the family’s commitment to compassion and community. He emphasized the goal of making world-class heart care accessible to everyone in British Columbia and beyond. “We want to establish a global centre of excellence that sets new standards for cardiac innovation and treatment,” he said. “We hope this gift will improve health care and quality of life on a wide scale.”
The donation marks a significant step for the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation, which supports medical innovation, attracts top professionals, and helps ensure British Columbians receive excellent care. The Foundation supports several key health institutions including Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.
Angela Chapman, President and CEO of the Foundation, called the gift a historic moment for health care philanthropy in Canada. She said the funding will help bring world-leading clinicians and researchers to Vancouver. It will also help accelerate new discoveries and improve patient care both locally and globally. Chapman noted the gift was inspired by a personal experience of the expert care provided at VGH.
The new Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will be led by Dr. David Wood, a renowned cardiologist and head of cardiology at VGH and UBC Hospital. Dr. Wood highlighted the team’s work using new technology to improve patient access, reduce wait times, and enhance outcomes. He shared that their methods have already taught other centres how to perform heart valve replacements in under 30 minutes, allowing patients to leave the hospital the same day.
Dr. Wood expressed pride in the team’s achievements and said the new institute and Innovation Fund will help make the DCI one of the world’s leading cardiovascular centres. “Our goal is to help patients live longer, symptom-free lives through disruptive innovation made possible by this gift,” he said.
Vivian Eliopoulos, President and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health, praised the Dilawri Foundation’s support as a lasting investment in heart health. She said the funding will enable continued delivery of cutting-edge cardiac care and advance research in the field globally.
Kap Dilawri, also co-founder of the Dilawri Foundation, shared that their family has been deeply touched by the care and compassion they received at Vancouver General Hospital. He said they believe the new institute will make a lasting difference for patients and communities in Vancouver and around the world.
