UK with Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – heart disease is the leading cause of death in the UK and most parts of the world. Dr Victor Dahdaleh a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist recently donated £16 million to a University of Cambridge institute dedicated to enhancing cardiovascular and lung health.
Dr. Dahdaleh began his career in the aluminum industry, working for the Alcan Aluminum Corporation in Canada. He later moved to Europe, where he worked for the world’s largest aluminum company, Alcoa. Over the course of his career, Dr. Dahdaleh became one of the world’s leading experts in the aluminum industry, and was instrumental in developing innovative approaches to aluminum production and manufacturing.
The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI) is the center for the biggest concentration of scientists and clinicians in heart and lung medicine in Europe. The center commenced its operations in July last year with ambitious aims of identifying 10 new possible treatments or diagnostic tests for heart and lung diseases in a period of 5 years.
The institute combines population health, laboratory and clinical scientists, with NHS (National Health Service) clinicians and patients, having the goal of enhancing outcomes for individuals with cardiovascular and lung diseases like heart attacks, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancers, cystic fibrosis as well as acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Dr Dahdaleh says “I’m supporting this new Institute because, through collaboration with Royal Papworth Hospital and other leading institutions, it will enable a concentration of expertise that will make medical advances in these fields that are of international importance.”
The philanthropist has on prior occasions backed research at the University of Cambridge looking into COVID-19 and national research on mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer associated with exposure asbestos. Cardiovascular and lung diseases lead to over 26 million fatalities each year having a striking effect on the quality of life for many more.
