The concept of the PVRI as a research and educational institute catering to the global PVD community was initiated by Professor Ghazwan Butrous.
The initial planning was conducted during a meeting at Heathrow, UK, with the key founders being Ghazwan Butrous, Stuart Rich, Martin Wilkins, Evangelos Michelakis, Marc Semigran, and Fritz Grimminger.
The PVRI commenced its operations with an inaugural meeting in Malta, attended by 25 PH professionals, who formed the framework of the organisation with the objective of mitigating the disease's global impact through study, instruction, and clinical care.
It is estimated that over 60 million people in the world suffer from PVD, although this figure could be much higher as the disease is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
These meetings provide a forum for scientists and researchers in the field of pulmonary vascular disease, the pharmaceutical industry, and relevant regulatory authorities to determine which treatments should be developed for future use.
Additionally, the PVRI co-sponsors and supports a number of regional and worldwide events with the aim of advancing research and activities in the PVD field.
The PVRI is currently involved in several significant initiatives, including the GoDeep meta-registry, the Papuca study, and the Innovative Drug Development Initiative (IDDI), where industry, academia, and clinicians collaborate to develop PH therapeutic outcomes quickly and safely.