The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute (VPD-HLRI) was opened in July 2022 on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The Institute is a joint venture between Cambridge University and Royal Papworth Hospital and represents a major expansion of cardiovascular and respiratory research capacity.
Royal Papworth Charity contributed £5 million to support the build to ensure our patients have access to the world’s best treatment.
Funders of the HLRI include: The UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, the University of Cambridge; the Wolfson Foundation; the British Heart Foundation, the Royal Papworth Charity and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and most recently The Victor Dahdaleh Foundation.
Diseases of the heart and lung are some of the biggest killers worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease causes nearly 18 million deaths per year, mostly due to heart attacks and stroke, with respiratory disease ranking just behind.
In UK, 1 out of 4 deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease and 1 out of 5 deaths by respiratory disease. Despite a growing awareness of risk factors, such as smoking and poor diet, the prevalence of such diseases is increasing.
Research at the new Institute will be increasingly directed towards disease prevention and the interplay between genetics and lifestyle. Clinical trials will also be a critical part of the research process, and the Institute has opened a new Clinical Research Facility that will complement available facilities on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. For many relevant conditions, the Royal Papworth Hospital is the largest referral centre in the UK, and new treatment strategies will benefit from close ties between the hospital and the University of Cambridge.
