Opening of the Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building marks new era for heart and lung innovation

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester officially opens Imperial’s newly refurbished research building – an investment powering the next generation of respiratory and cardiac science.

On 19 March, Imperial unveiled the Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building, a six-story home for world-leading research within the National Heart and Lung Institute. 

The transformation, enabled by a significant gift from philanthropist Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh and the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Charitable Foundation, has established cutting-edge laboratory, teaching and collaborative facilities on the Hammersmith Hospital Life Sciences Campus.  

The official opening was marked by a visit from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, who unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally open the building. Her Royal Highness met researchers, toured new laboratories and learned more about NHLI’s mission to tackle the most pressing heart and lung health challenges. 

A strategic investment in scientific discovery  

Located beside the rapidly expanding White City Innovation District, the building strengthens Imperial’s position within WestTech London – a globally significant cluster of research institutes, innovative companies and NHS partners. 

Opening the event, Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, welcomed guests and emphasised the impact of the investment: 

“This building is much more than just bricks and mortar; it creates a place that accelerates the National Heart and Lung Institute’s collaborative, translational research and ensures discoveries reach patients faster. We are extremely grateful to Victor Phillip Dahdaleh and his charitable foundation for this generous donation.” 

“This building is much more than just bricks and mortar; it creates a place that accelerates the National Heart and Lung Institute’s collaborative, translational research and ensures discoveries reach patients faster. Professor Hugh Brady

The Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building is Imperial’s first fossil‑fuel‑free facility, replacing legacy steam systems with state‑of‑the‑art electric, low‑energy infrastructure – a major milestone in the university’s commitment to setting a global benchmark for sustainability across its campuses, research and education. The project has been delivered in partnership with construction company, Mace Construct. 

Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh said: 
"Today is another important step in my long-term relationship with Imperial, which now spans over 20 years. I hope that creating modern labs in this refurbished building and bringing most of the NHLI together here, will be game changing. 

"I look forward to hearing about all the research and discoveries and the differences you make to the lives of people with heart and lung diseases. My thanks now, and in the future, for everything you do.” 

Meeting urgent global health challenges  

Heart and lung conditions remain among the greatest health burdens worldwide. In England alone, respiratory disease affects one in five people and is the third biggest cause of death, behind only cancer and cardiovascular disease.  

NHLI has contributed to some of the most significant advances in the worldwide treatment of heart and lung diseases. These include clinical trials that demonstrated the efficacy of steroid inhalers for asthma – a treatment that is now routine and has made the condition manageable for millions – and designing and running trials of a triple-drug therapy for cystic fibrosis that offers children born with the disease a better, healthier future. 

The new building consolidates many NHLI researchers previously spread across multiple sites and houses specialised respiratory laboratories, flow cytometry and histology facilities, flexible wet and dry lab spaces, and open-plan collaboration zones. The design reflects NHLI’s value that co‑location drives innovation: the Institute has already seen major scientific benefits from co-locating vascular science and cardiology teams on the Hammersmith Hospital Campus in recent years.  

While vital research continues across all campuses, including with NHLI colleagues at Royal Brompton, this moment marks an important step in strengthening connections across NHLI and the wider Faculty. Now hosting the majority of the Faculty of Medicine, the Hammersmith Hospital Campus offers an environment that accelerates convergence science and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Professor Barbara Casadei, Head of the NHLI, said: 

“The new building brings many of our respiratory researchers together in state‑of‑the‑art labs and office spaces, strengthening connections across the department and the wider Faculty.  

Being co‑located with our NHS partners means discoveries can move rapidly from fundamental science to patient care. Thanks to this generous gift, we can do even more to tackle the most common heart and lung diseases.” 

Investing in future leaders 

Dr Dahdaleh’s gift also establishes the Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Graduate Centre for Respiratory and Cardiac Sciences, supporting early‑career researchers and funding new Graduate Fellowships over the next three years. Imperial and the Foundation will continue to explore future opportunities to expand fellowship support.