The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI) was established as the Pulmonary Research Laboratory in 1977 by Drs. James Hogg and Peter Pare. Since then, it has grown dramatically in scope, size and worldwide impact.

Basic and clinician scientists work together in an exciting multidisciplinary environment to address vital issues in heart, lung and critical care disease. Situated within Providence Health Care’s St. Paul’s Hospital, a University of British Columbia teaching hospital, the HLI is a translational research centre using basic molecular and cellular research discoveries to develop innovative approaches to prevent and treat human disease through complementary and connected clinical research.

The HLI focuses on developing solutions to diseases that are major causes of morbidity, mortality, and societal costs in Canada and worldwide. These include atherosclerosis and heart failure, emphysema and other chronic pulmonary diseases, severe infections, and multiple organ failure. The centre seeks out the underlying causes in order to develop strategies for prevention and treatment. Basic discoveries are linked to improved health care through clinical research and teaching, and by translating new knowledge into clinical practice at St. Paul’s Hospital and around the world. 

HLI is one of several renowned research centres based at Providence Research.