Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI)

Global News: How intimate partner violence increases the risk of heart disease

staging_zvvdqt — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:18:59 +0000

Health Matters: How intimate partner violence increases the risk of heart disease

Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh is a survivor of both intimate partner violence and heart disease. She, along with cardiologist Dr. Tara Sedlak, join Global News Morning to discuss how intimate partner violence increases a woman’s risk of developing heart disease.

How does violence against women actually impact the heart?

“There’s many different avenues but the predominant avenue is through chronic stress and we know that chronic stress and there’s been a lot of research on chronic stress for years but I think trauma and intimate partner violence is relatively new in the literature but chronic stress leads to inflammation changes in heart rate and blood pressure and all sorts of changes in the cardiovascular system that put us at higher risk of heart disease long term.” – Dr. Tara Sedlak

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B.C. Doctors Use AI to Detect Heart Failure

staging_zvvdqt — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:56:34 +0000

CityNews

AI-Powered Project at Vancouver Hospital Aims to Transform Heart Failure Detection

Heart failure is becoming a more common issue for Canadians, and with it, come real challenges such as long waitlists for heart imaging and access to specialist care. DCI’s Dr. Christina Luong, co-director of the Centre for AI, Data Science, and Imaging, is leading a new study that aims to address these issues. She was recently interviewed by Global News, City News, and CTV News, alongside Dr. Purang Abolmaesumi, to talk about how this new study could change how heart failure care is delivered.

CTV

The study uses portable handheld ultrasound devices and a sophisticated AI algorithm designed to help detect markers of heart failure. The system is designed to alert clinicians about possible abnormalities, identify which patients require more immediate care, and make earlier intervention possible.

In Dr. Luong’s words: “It’s this idea of how we can democratize medical imaging, specifically cardiac ultrasound imaging. You can get the answer at the bedside so you can decide what to do with the patient next: what kind of treatment they should get, who they should be referred to, [if] they need surgery.”

CTV

Global News

While AI is not a replacement for care delivered by real clinicians, it can be an incredibly useful tool, allowing more patients with heart failure to be treated sooner and more precisely, regardless of where they live.

To read or view the full interviews, please visit the corresponding links.

City News
CTV News
Global News

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Dr. David A. WoodChief Scientific Officer

staging_zvvdqt — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 02:31:39 +0000

Appointment of Dr. David A. Wood as Chief Scientific Officer, Dilwari Cardiovascular Institute

Announcement from VCHRI Executive Director, Dr. Teresa S.M.Tsang

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David A. Wood as the inaugural Chief Scientific Officer of the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute, for a five-year term to May 19, 2030.

Dr. Wood is a national and international leader in interventional and structural cardiology. He serves as head of cardiology at Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Hospital and is a professor in the UBC Department of Medicine. He is the founding visionary behind the Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation, a leading research enterprise advancing multi-centre clinical trials and innovation across Canada. Dr. Wood also founded Canada’s annual interventional cardiology, structural heart, and Vancouver valve meetings.

As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Wood has published extensively in high-impact journals and led landmark investigations into transcatheter valve therapies, coronary interventions and novel device strategies. In recognition of his contributions to advancing cardiovascular care worldwide, he received the Luminary Award at the C3 Global Summit.

The Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute was recently launched through a historic $60 million gift from the Dilawri Foundation to accelerate discovery, innovation and excellence in cardiovascular care. As part of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), the Institute unites leading clinicians, researchers, scientists and trainees across disciplines to transform the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. With world-class strengths in structural heart intervention, electrophysiology, cardiovascular imaging, augmented intelligence, translational science, women’s heart health, Indigenous cardiovascular health, pulmonary vascular disease and young adult cardiovascular care, the Institute is poised to become a global leader in cardiovascular science and innovation.

As Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Wood will lead the Institute’s scientific vision and strategy, build research capacity, expand global partnerships and accelerate translation of discoveries into patient impact. Under his leadership, the Institute will help provide access to exceptional care for patients across British Columbia and beyond.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wood on this appointment and welcoming the bold chapter he and his team will lead in cardiovascular discovery, innovation and patient care in Canada and globally.

Dr. Teresa Tsang, Executive Director, VCHRI

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Chief Scientific Officer appeared first on Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI).

“…It means my life”: Prioritizing Rapid Access of Complex Cardiovascular Care for Indigenous Communities, with Jodi-Lynne Hill

staging_zvvdqt — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 20:12:28 +0000

Jodi-Lynne Hill is a life-long educator who, after 30 years of urban city living, decided to move to her ancestral home in the remote, water-access only First Nations community of Gitga’at (Hartley Bay). When she was then diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, it wasn’t clear at first how she would be able to interact with the healthcare system to receive the cardiovascular care she would require.

Earlier this year, Jodi-Lynne was noted to have a murmur. She waited anxiously in Gitga’at to hear about when she would be able to have an echocardiogram performed in Terrace, a trip requiring a 3-hour ferry and 1.5 hour drive each way, with ferry services only available a few days per week.

When Dr. Keegan Marchand, a General Internal Medicine fellow and member of the Syilx Okanagan First Nation, visited Gitga’at through a newly developed in-reach program, Jodi-Lynne’s life was changed. Dr. Marchand shared with Jodi-Lynne that she would require several advanced tests to determine the cause of her newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy; tests that are only available in Vancouver. To coordinate these advanced tests in an expedited fashion seemed insurmountable at first, but through the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute’s Centres for Indigenous Cardiovascular Health, AI, Data Science, and Imaging and Structural Heart Disease, Jodi-Lynne was able to have all her tests completed and return home within 1 week of her initial diagnosis.

Indigenous communities and access to care challenges

Access to clinicians, medications, and diagnostics are fundamental to quality care. However, in many Indigenous communities, even transportation can be incredibly challenging. In her interview, Jodi-Lynne shared about her struggle to access life-saving medications in her community, as well as the extreme logistical coordination it takes to arrange for medical evaluation outside of her community.

Her internist, Dr. Keegan Marchand, recommended that Jodi-Lynne needed an urgent, specialized echocardiogram with intravenous contrast and a coronary angiogram. Fortunately, Dr. Keegan Marchand shares a passion for Indigenous Health with his older brother, Dr. Miles Marchand, who serves as the Director of the Centre for Indigenous Cardiovascular Health for DCI. Through the Centre, Dr. Marchand was able to rapidly coordinate life-saving care for Jodi-Lynne with two other DCI Centres. These three Centres worked together to ensure Jodi-Lynne’s patient journey was streamlined, coordinated, culturally safe, and compassionate.

Life-changing coordination of care

Jodi-Lynne was asked how she felt about the coordination and communication that took place for her to be treated at DCI: “they did amazingly well. I don’t know anybody else in my family or from my village that gets this kind of service so quickly.” When asked about what that type of care in planning meant to her, she responded, “I think it’s gonna mean my life to be here.” Reflecting on how fortunate and quickly she was able to receive care, Jodi-Lynne noted that her experience was not representative of what others in her community have experienced in the past. Access is more than scheduling; additional challenges include weather conditions, travel arrangements, family obligations, and the removal from community.

At DCI, it’s essential for patient care to reflect individual patient narratives, belief-systems, and goals . When Jodi-Lynne was asked whether she felt that she had adequate opportunities to participate in decision-making about her care, she responded: “With the people who are working with me right now, yes, I think I do. […] I don’t expect myself to know about all the medical things, not just what’s happening now, but the whole picture of me, so I put that trust into [the team]. I think I’ve been given a lot of ways to make input.”

Breaking silos to improve access and quality of care

While there are many opportunities to enhance access and comprehensive care at all points of the patient journey, Jodi-Lynne reiterated the importance and power of first, understanding the challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Jodi-Lynne described how a family member had received care from a clinician who had first-hand experience of visiting her remote community not once, but twice. This led to the clinician being able to make recommendations for follow-up care that truly reflected the realities of living there. She then went on to speak about the importance of education and awareness around cardiovascular health, particularly for future generations.

Next steps: continuing to expand patient access to care

When asked about how the healthcare system can better respond to the needs of Indigenous patients, particularly those living in rural and remote settings, Jodi-Lynne’s response was simple: “Just coming in and wanting to learn—purely coming in, I think, would be helpful.”

DCI is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and collaboratively working towards a future where all Indigenous communities can receive the cardiovascular care they deserve. To learn more, including new and ongoing initiatives designed to bring culturally appropriate cardiac care to Indigenous communities, please click to learn more about the Centre for Indigenous Cardiovascular Health.

You can watch the full interview with Jodi-Lynne, here.

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Global News: Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week

staging_zvvdqt — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:32:05 +0000

Health Matters: Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week

Heart valve disease affects more than one million Canadians, yet many of us are unaware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Global News Morning speaks with VGH Cardiologist Dr. David Wood about the simple step that could save your life if you do have heart valve disease.

Stethoscope Check Event - Surrey

Location: Shoppers Drug Mart, 7322 King George Blvd, Unit 100, Surrey
Date: Friday, September 19th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Open to the public: Yes, no registration required

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BDC Laboratories Partnership

staging_zvvdqt — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:43:04 +0000

Advancing clinically relevant cardiovascular device testing

The Centre for Cardiovascular Translational Science is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with BDC Laboratories, a recognized leader in cardiovascular testing solutions. The organizations will work together on the development and clinical validation of cardiovascular medical devices that more accurately reflect the evolving realities of cardiovascular care.

From bench to clinical practice

BDC Laboratories offers testing services and products to support the evaluation of Class II and Class III medical devices on the path to regulatory approval. A key piece of equipment involved in the partnership is a state-of-the-art hydrodynamic tester, the HDTi-6000, notable for its reproducibility, adaptability, and precision. The machine will allow for the testing of new types of artificial valves and modeling of different valve configurations to simulate real-world clinical conditions and aid in patient treatment.

The HDTi-6000 is capable of capturing video footage of heart valve tests which can be synchronized with pressure and flow waveforms to allow operators to assess heart valve leaflet response in real-time and at any point in the cardiac cycle upon playback. Previous uses of this type of equipment have been featured in leading publications by investigators in Vancouver that are considered the “first of a kind.”

The Centre for Cardiovascular Translational Science leads initiatives in device testing and simulation to serve academic, clinical, and industry partners. It focuses on the development and evaluation of transcatheter heart valve technologies using equipment and protocols that reflect real world challenges facing clinicians. Examples of these challenges include the need to assess bioprosthetic valve performance over time and re-intervention techniques. Increasingly, it will also be important to be able to simulate triple-valve testing scenarios and account for diverse artificial root anatomies.

Collaboration for better innovations and outcomes

There is progress that can be made to improve clinicians’ ability to anticipate and address emerging challenges, and potential to deliver more meaningful, evidence-based outcomes for patients through proactively using research to inform the design of test equipment and testing protocols. As Stephanie Sellers, PhD, and Director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Translational Science explains, “we integrate both biological and engineering components to build more clinically representative models that reflect the real challenges our clinical colleagues face every day. Our goal is to help our partners develop truly excellent devices. If our models can shift the needle even one percent in terms of clinical outcomes, that’s a meaningful win.”

Remarking on the speed at which innovation occurs in the field, Craig Weinberg, PhD, and CTO of BDC Laboratories says that “[it] often moves faster than the regulatory guidance documents utilized for evaluation. [By] working closely with clinical experts, like Stephanie’s team, [we] can make sure our testing solutions reflect where the field is going while simultaneously maintaining alignment with current requirements.”

The Centre for Cardiovascular Translational Science is grateful to BDC Laboratories for their support and confident that this partnership will significantly shape the development and testing of the next generation of cardiovascular medical devices and other technologies that truly meets the needs of clinicians and their patients.

”“We integrate both biological and engineering components to build more clinically representative models that reflect the real challenges our clinical colleagues face every day. Our goal is to help our partners develop truly excellent devices. If our models can shift the needle even one percent in terms of clinical outcomes, that’s a meaningful win."
Dr. Stephanie Sellers

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Thank you, Dr. Jason Andrade

staging_zvvdqt — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:47:31 +0000

”Thank you for the exceptional care I received during my recent cardiac ablation. From the moment I arrived, it felt like I was in the hands of a finely tuned orchestra with you,
Dr. Andrade, as the calm and confident conductor. You explained everything with clarity and warmth, which made such a difference. Dr. Foglia, your reassuring presence and expert touch were so appreciated, and every team member played their part with precision and kindness. The whole experience felt smooth, well-coordinated, and deeply human.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Helen Li Pak Tong

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International Collaboration

staging_zvvdqt — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:51:56 +0000

Welcoming Our Guests From Japan

This month, DCI welcomed interventional cardiologists from four hospitals in Japan: Toyama University, Hiroshima City Hospital, Kobe City Medical Center, and Fukuyama Cardiovascular Hospital.

Their visit focused on observing our early recovery after TAVI (ERT) care pathway and discussing how it could improve recovery and reduce wait times for patients in their own hospitals.

There is growing international recognition of the benefits of ERT, and DCI is proud to be contributing to this momentum by sharing our experience and supporting colleagues around the world to implement patient-centred innovations in care.

Whether through shared learning or research collaboration, we are committed to making cardiovascular care better and more accessible for everyone.

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New York Valves

staging_zvvdqt — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:14:27 +0000

COMPLETE TAVR: Where are we in 2025?

The New York Valves Structural Heart Summit, which took place between June 24-27, brought together thousands of the world’s leading cardiologists in an annual gathering to discuss the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of structural and valvular heart disease. This year, a spotlight was placed on the topic of how to best manage patients with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease. Should these patients undergo revascularization, and if so, when is the right time to perform it?

Some of these questions are being explored in the COMPLETE TAVR trial, now the world’s largest multi-centre randomized clinical study that aims to definitively answer the question of whether complete revascularization or medical therapy alone is more effective at reducing the composite outcome of adverse cardiovascular events in this population. Since its initiation in 2020, the trial, led by Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) investigator, Dr. David Wood, has enrolled more than 600 patients with over 75 participating research sites across the globe. Target enrollment is expected to reach the thousands by the end of the next 3.5 years.

Coronary artery disease: to treat or not to treat?

Over time, the number of TAVRs performed in younger patients who fall into the lower risk category has increased. For the right patient, a transcatheter approach can have advantages over surgery, including potentially a reduced risk of complications such as stroke and valve thrombosis, as well as a much shorter recovery time.

If a patient also has coronary artery disease, clinicians also need to pay attention to the timing of revascularization, which could have an impact on overall procedural risks and patient outcomes. Performing TAVR before revascularization could impede access to coronary arteries needing imminent or future intervention and increase the risk of hemodynamic instability provoked by untreated coronary artery disease. However, revascularization prior to TAVR may increase the risk of bleeding complications and require patients to be on extended dual antiplatelet therapy. The movement in the last several years seems to be towards a more conservative approach to revascularization, but signals in both directions highlight the value of large-scale data from a trial such as COMPLETE TAVR.

The need for definitive answers

The goal of COMPLETE TAVR is to provide prescriptive guidance on the management of patients with aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease, but it’s not the first study to explore the complexities of treating this patient population. One meta-analysis conducted by Lateef and colleagues in 2019 showed that there were no differences in 30-day or 1-year all-cause mortality between TAVR and TAVR with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). In 2021, the ACTIVATION TRIAL compared PCI to no PCI prior to TAVR and found that there was no difference in the risk of death or rehospitalization at 1-year, and that there was an increase in bleeding events in patients who did receive PCI.

The NOTION 3 trial, which was published in 2024 and enrolled approximately 500 patients, compared TAVR with PCI to TAVR with medical therapy alone. The criteria for PCI were that treated lesions needed to be >90% or have an FFR ≤0.80 if <90%. Research found no significant difference in mortality but did observe improvements in the TAVR with PCI arm when it came to unplanned revascularization and myocardial infarction, albeit with an increased bleeding risk at 1-year. Notably, patients with clinically significant lesions (i.e., >90%) benefitted the most from revascularization, providing further support for the selective treatment of symptom-inducing or ischemically-driven disease.

In addition to these studies, there are two notable ongoing trials, the TAVI-PCI trial, which focuses on the timing of PCI and the FAITAVI trial, which takes a closer look at the role of ischemia in the decision to revascularize. The key takeaway is that although studies have been, and continue to be conducted, none have reached the scale or richness of data of COMPLETE TAVR.

Equipoise in action

The variation in treatment strategies became apparent during a panel discussion in which DCI presented three of its own cases that exemplified equipoise. Panel members Dr. Michael Mack, Dr. Tej Seth, Dr. Philippe Genereux, Dr. Stephan Windecker, Dr. Martin Leon, Dr. Dave Cohen, and Dr. John Webb were invited to weigh-in on how they would approach proximal, complex and multivessel cases. Factors such as whether a patient was experiencing both dyspnea and angina, coronary anatomy, and the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation were identified as being important to a heart team’s treatment planning. Also discussed was the care that should be taken when framing the risks for patients and honouring patient choice.

In response to the first case presented, Dr. Cohen offered that “there is no compunction to do PCI in a patient [who has had their aortic stenosis treated]. It may be convenient to do it, […] but you are not saving the patient’s life by doing a PCI on the LAD.” It’s a controversial opinion, but treating the aortic stenosis first can, in some cases, provide complete symptom relief and eliminate the need for another procedure. So, while guidelines exist for how certain subsets of coronary artery disease should be treated, in the context of symptomatic aortic disease, it’s important for clinicians to continuously weigh the potential risks and benefits. Clinically significant coronary disease may be present but may not be prognostically significant.

The importance of continued enrollment

Reflecting on the significance of the COMPLETE-TAVR trial, Dr. Stephan Windecker offered some thoughts: “I really think this is a very timely study and we need a definitive answer. Our notion of the […] prognostic impact of coronary artery disease has swung into a very conservative direction [and] therefore, I think this trial is exceedingly important.”

Dr. Michael Mack echoed these sentiments, saying that “The pendulum has swung over the last 10-20 years from complete revascularization to ‘leave it all alone it’s bystander disease’ and I think the pendulum has probably swung too far that way. I don’t think the results of this trial, no matter which way it is, is a definitive yes-no. The key is going to be in all the analysis of the subgroups, because the disease is so nuanced, there’s not a yes-no dichotomous answer here.”

The findings of the COMPLETE TAVR trial are expected to strongly influence global coronary, transcatheter, and surgical guidelines and give rise to numerous future sub studies, including those focused on coronary access antithrombotic therapies, stenosis severity, lesion location, intracoronary imaging, CT FFR, quality of life, and cost effectiveness. In their closing remarks, Dr. Wood and panelists stressed the importance of continuing to enroll into the trial and encouraged interested research sites to become involved.

”“We all see patients every day that have both aortic valve and coronary artery disease. We must work together to answer this crucial question. The results will change global practice."
Dr. David Wood

New York Valves Photo Gallery

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Leading The Way In Cardiovascular Care

staging_zvvdqt — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:02:05 +0000

About DCI

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, 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. David 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 health care, 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.”

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