$60M donation will fund cardiovascular institute at Vancouver General Hospital

By Canadian Press on June 5, 2025.

VANCOUVER — The president of the Vancouver General Hospital’s foundation has announced a $60 million donation that will go toward creating a world-leading cardiovascular institute.

Angela Chapman of the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation says the donation from the Dilawri Foundation is the largest in the hospital foundation’s history.

Chapman says the land for the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute on West 12th Avenue in Vancouver is currently being rezoned, with construction hoped to begin in 2027.

Dr. David Wood, head of cardiology at the hospital, says $35 million is earmarked for the new institute, while $25 million is for a new “innovation fund” to immediately bolster research, while attracting top talent in the field from all over the world.

Wood says the fund will allow him and colleagues to quickly implement new ideas without having to wait for government funding, including from the United States where he says the scientific research landscape is “dramatically different than it was six months ago.”

Ajay Dilawri, whose family company owns dozens of car dealerships, says the foundation made the donation after his father sought out treatment for heart issues around the world, and Dr. Wood and his team were the only ones who didn’t propose “invasive” and complex open-heart surgery.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press

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