2016 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 

2016

Through biomedical research and science education, 

Van Andel Institute is committed to improving the health and 

enhancing the lives of current and future generations.

Table of Contents 

2 A Letter from David Van Andel 

4 Research 

6 LAX vs. Cancer 

8 Van Andel Research Institute's 

Principal Investigators 

14 Challenging Cancer – Beating the Odds 

16 Battling Parkinson's – Embracing Advocacy 

18 Donor Highlight – Michael Carnevale 

19 Foundations for the Future 

20 Education 

22 Van Andel Institute Graduate School – 

Personal, Focused and Unique 

23 Emily Machiela and Jason Cooper – 

Life-Changing Graduate School 

24 Terra Tarango – Revolutionizing Science 

Education with Four Simple Words 

25 Students Performing Real Science – 

Van Andel Education Institute's Impact on 

the Classroom 

26 Donors and Philanthropic Partners 

28 Use the Gifts You’re Given – Pat Ringnalda 

and the Bee Brave 5K 

29 Bringing it Full Circle at Duncan Lake 

30 Hope on the Hill Photos 

31 Donor Highlight – The Boelkins Family 

31 Tim Tebow – Inspiring Through Faith, 

Hope and Football 

32 Our Angels of Excellence 

33 Trina Taylor – A Moment on the Runway 

34 Dr. Hui Shen – Starting a Conversation 

About Women’s Health 

35 Donor Highlight – Joe Rudnick & 

Tapistry Brewing 

36 Sources of Funding 

37 Society of Hope 

38 Tributes 

40 Memorials 

44 Signature Special Event Sponsors 

45 Institute Leadership 

46 Board and Council Members 

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2016

A Letter from David Van Andel 

Dear Friends, 

Our story began more than 20 years ago with a bold dream: 

to impact human health. Why? Because millions of people 

are affected by diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s, and we 

believed we could make a difference. 

From our founding, early development and growth into a 

global institute, our most important asset has always been 

abundantly clear—people. The Institute became a reality 

because a dedicated group of people decided to write a 

new narrative for how science is done—to break down 

barriers, build a world-class research and science education 

organization, and spark the growth of a health sciences 

industry in the heart of West Michigan. In the beginning, we 

sought advice from experts, established partnerships and 

began laying the foundation for the years to come. As time 

passed, our story expanded and evolved—the product of 

many individuals’ expertise, hopes and dreams. 

Today, the Institute employs more than 360 people from 

32 different countries, bringing with them unique skills, gifts 

and abilities that benefit us as an organization and add to 

our diversity. These incredible scientists, educators and 

professionals could be working anywhere in the world—but 

they came here and are helping lead the way into a future 

filled with opportunities. 

Opportunities abound because of people and their 

connections to each other. Van Andel Institute scientists 

collaborate internally, locally, nationally and internationally 

with others who are committed to making a profound 

impact on people’s health. Partnerships with organizations 

such as Stand Up To Cancer and The Cure Parkinson’s Trust 

are helping us accelerate the pace of discovery and begin 

clinical trials for new cancer and Parkinson’s therapies. 

Through the years, hope has always been the heart of the 

Institute’s story. And today, there is more reason to hope 

than ever before. We could not have come this far without 

you—our friends and supporters. Some of you have been 

touched by cancer, Parkinson’s or other diseases and have 

decided to take action. Others of you give of your time, 

treasure and talent to advance scientific discovery and 

educational enlightenment. Together, we are moving the 

Institute forward in new and surprising ways. 

This year’s annual report is a celebration of the people and 

the stories that illuminate who we are, what we do and 

where we’re going. It is my hope that you will join us for the 

next chapter in the Institute’s history and add your story to 

the pages that have yet to be written. 

Warmly, 

David Van Andel 

Chairman and CEO 

“Through the years, hope 

has always been the heart 

of the Institute’s story.” 


2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2016

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2016 | 3

Van Andel Research Institute 

is a world leader in cancer epigenetics and Parkinson’s disease research. 

Collaborating with academia, industry and philanthropy, the Institute 

orchestrates cutting-edge clinical trials to improve human health. 



LAX vs. Cancer 

On a cold, rain-soaked spring day, Dr. Patrick Grohar 

stood in the middle of the field addressing two high 

school lacrosse teams. They were playing a game not for 

glory, victory or personal achievement but in honor of 

their friends and loved ones who had been affected by 

cancer. As a physician-scientist, Grohar is well versed in 

the devastating impact cancer can have on people’s lives. 

He runs a laboratory at Van Andel Research Institute and 

works as a pediatric oncologist at Helen DeVos Children’s 

Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

When Grohar looked out and saw names of people who 

had been affected by cancer stitched on the backs of the 

players’ jerseys, he knew this event was much more than a 

charity lacrosse game. 

“It was really a uniquely special day—speaking at the game, 

seeing the students with names of people they loved who 

had cancer stitched on their jerseys was inspiring,” Grohar 

said. “One of the players even honored a patient from the 

children’s hospital—it was really moving.” 

The first Purple Community lacrosse game between 

Grand Rapids Christian and Rockford High School took 

place in 2015, but the event has already earned a special 

place in the hearts of the participants and Grohar—whose 

lab received more than $6,000 from last year’s event. 

Dana Stenstrom, who works with the Grand Rapids 

Christian lacrosse team and is the mother of two players, 

views the event as a way for young adults to connect to the 

greater good and an opportunity for scientists to see how 

much their work means to people who have been affected 

by cancer. 

“When Dr. Grohar came out to meet with our players 

and spoke at the game, he connected all of the dots and 

helped our kids understand where their donation goes—it 

goes right into a lab that is focused on cancer research,” 

Stenstrom said. “We are all connected as a community 

here in West Michigan, and I think we are becoming aware 

of how lucky we are to have people like Dr. Grohar and 

Van Andel Institute right here in our own backyard.” 

“We are all connected as 

a community here in West 

Michigan, and I think we 

are becoming aware of how 

lucky we are to have people 

like Dr. Grohar and 

Van Andel Institute right 

here in our own backyard.” 

Dana Stenstrom 

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN AND ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL 

LACROSSE TEAMS. 

DR. HUI SHEN, VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE 


PHILANTHROPY 

2 

3 

DR. PATRICK GROHAR AND CAROL VAN ANDEL MEET WITH 

PARENTS OF THE LACROSSE PLAYERS. 

1 

1 

Purple Community 

lacrosse game 

20 lacrosse players 

honoring friends 

and loved ones 

100+ 

people donated 

at the game 

We did that! 

Grohar, an accomplished lacrosse player who served as 

a team co-captain while attending Villanova University, 

is inspired by the Rockford and Grand Rapids Christian 

teams. 

“I just think it’s really cool that these kids are 100 percent 

behind this game and the goal of supporting the work we 

do at the Institute,” Grohar said. “I am very grateful for what 

they have done, and I hope by interacting with them and 

showing them where their funds are going, we can give 

them a tangible sense of accomplishment.” 

A new cancer drug 

therapy that could benefit 

millions of people 

8 

DONATIONS 

$6,000 raised at 

the lacrosse game 

4 

The donations collected at the 2016 game will fund the 

initial stages of a genome-wide SRNA library screen that 

could lead to the discovery of a new target for cancer 

therapies. 

What does this mean? 

The library could identify a 

new drug therapy target 

which could lead to... 

100% 

of donations go to VAI 

5 

“Any time there is a grassroots effort to raise money, I try 

to use it for something very specific—something people 

can point to and say, ‘We did that,’” Grohar said. “If the 

efforts of these young people can lead to a new cancer 

drug, perhaps they’ll be inspired to become Ph.D.s. or 

M.D.s and continue to make a difference in people’s lives.” 

7 

$6,000 

helps to fund 

the first stage 

of Dr. Grohar’s genome-wide 

SRNA library screen 

6 


Meet Van Andel Research Institute’s Principal Investigators 

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) is composed of three centers and 31 principal 

investigators, each with their own area of expertise and research projects. 

VARI Leadership 

Peter Jones 

Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc., is a 

pioneer in epigenetics, a growing 

field that explores how genes 

are regulated and provides new 

avenues for developing therapies 

for cancer and other diseases. His discoveries have helped 

usher in an entirely new class of drugs that have been 

approved to treat blood cancer and are being investigated 

in other tumor types. Jones is a member of the National 

Academy of Sciences and is chief scientific officer of 

Van Andel Research Institute. 

Patrik Brundin 

Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., 

investigates molecular mechanisms 

in Parkinson’s disease, and his 

goals are to develop new therapies 

aimed at slowing or stopping 

disease progression or repairing damage. He is one of the 

top-cited researchers in the field of neurodegenerative 

disease and leads international efforts to repurpose drugs 

to treat Parkinson’s. Brundin is director of Van Andel 

Research Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 

Bart Williams 

Bart Williams, Ph.D., studies 

the building blocks of bone 

growth on behalf of the millions 

suffering from diseases such 

as osteoporosis. He seeks new 

ways of altering cell signaling pathways to encourage 

healthy bone development and deter cancer spread to 

the skeleton. Williams is director of Van Andel Research 

Institute’s Center for Cancer and Cell Biology. 

Scott Jewell 

Scott Jewell, Ph.D., leads 

Van Andel Research Institute’s 

Core Technologies and Services, 

which provides technology and 

specialized expertise for research 

investigators. Cores and services include bioinformatics 

and biostatistics, cryo-EM, confocal microscopy and 

quantitative imaging, flow cytometry, genomics, pathology 

and biorepository, small-animal imaging, vivarium 

management and transgenics. Jewell is a past president of 

the International Society for Biological and Environmental 

Repositories (ISBER). 


RESEARCH 

Center for Epigenetics 

Research areas: Epigenetics, cancer, heart disease, 

neuroepigenetics and structural biology. 

Stephen Baylin 

Stephen Baylin, M.D., studies the 

body’s genetic control systems— 

called epigenetics—searching for 

vulnerabilities in cancer. Baylin is a 

pioneer in this field, ranking among 

the first to trace epigenetic causes of cancer. His studies 

have led to new therapies for common cancers, like breast, 

lung, colorectal and many others. He is co-leader of the 

VARI-SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team, co-director of Johns 

Hopkins’ Cancer Biology Division and associate director for 

research at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Stefan Jovinge 

Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D., 

develops ways to help the heart 

heal itself and has led dozens 

of clinical trials in regenerative 

medicine. As a critical care 

cardiologist and scientist, he uses a bench-to-bedside 

approach in an effort to give patients with serious heart 

conditions longer, healthier lives. The clinical platform 

for his research is the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care 

Unit at Spectrum Health Hospitals Fred and Lena Meijer 

Heart Center, and the basic science effort in regenerative 

medicine is performed at Van Andel Research Institute 

(VARI). He serves as director of the DeVos Cardiovascular 

Research Program, the name of the overall structure of the 

program that is a collaboration between Spectrum Health 

and VARI. 

Peter W. Laird 

Peter W. Laird, Ph.D., seeks 

a detailed understanding of 

the molecular foundations of 

cancer with a particular focus 

on identifying crucial epigenetic 

alterations that convert otherwise healthy cells into cancer 

cells. He is widely regarded as an international leader 

in this effort and has helped design some of the world’s 

state-of-the-art tools to aid in epigenetics research. Laird 

is a principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute’s 

Genome Data Analysis Network and is a professor in 

Van Andel Research Institute’s Center for Epigenetics. He 

also played a leadership role in The Cancer Genome Atlas, 

a multi-institutional effort to molecularly map cancers. 

Huilin Li 

Huilin Li, Ph.D., uses cryo-electron 

microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal the 

most basic building blocks of DNA 

replication and other systems vital 

for life. He has been at the vanguard 

of cryo-EM for more than 20 years, and his research has 

implications for some of the world’s most critical public 

health concerns, including tuberculosis, cancer, mental 

illness and many more. He is a professor in the Center 

for Epigenetics. 

Gerd Pfeifer 

Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D., 

studies how the body 

switches genes on and off, 

a biological process called 

methylation that, when faulty, can 

lead to cancer or other diseases. His studies range from 

the effect of tobacco smoke on genetic and epigenetic 

systems to the discovery of a mechanism that may help 

protect the brain from neurodegeneration. Pfeifer’s studies 

have implications across a range of diseases, including 

cancer, Parkinson’s, diabetes and many others. Pfeifer is a 

professor in Van Andel Research Institute’s Center 

for Epigenetics. 

Scott Rothbart 

Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., studies 

the ways in which cells pack and 

unpack DNA. This elegant process 

twists and coils roughly two meters 

of unwound DNA into a space less 

than one-tenth the width of a human hair. Although this 

process is impressive, it is also subject to errors that can 

cause cancer and other disorders. Rothbart seeks new 

targets for drug development in this process. He is an 

assistant professor in Van Andel Research Institute’s 

Center for Epigenetics. 


Meet Van Andel Research Institute’s Principal Investigators (continued) 

Hui Shen 

Hui Shen, Ph.D., develops new 

approaches to cancer prevention, 

detection and treatment by 

studying the interaction between 

genes and their control systems, 

called epigenetics. Her research focuses on women’s 

cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, and also has shed 

new light on the underlying mechanisms of other cancer 

types, including breast, kidney and prostate cancers. She 

is an assistant professor in Van Andel Research Institute’s 

Center for Epigenetics. 

Steven J. Triezenberg 

Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D., 

explores the genetic and 

epigenetic control systems of 

viruses to understand how 

infections progress and to reveal 

new ways to stop those infections. His discoveries with 

herpes simplex viruses have opened new possibilities 

for antiviral drug development and have revealed new 

insights into how human cells control gene expression. In 

addition to running a lab at Van Andel Research Institute, 

Dr. Triezenberg is the founding dean of Van Andel Institute 

Graduate School. 

Gerhard Coetzee 

Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D., searches 

the human genome for minuscule 

changes that contribute to the 

onset, progression and drug 

resistance of many diseases, 

ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s to rare and heritable 

disorders. His team deploys genome sequencing 

technologies and high-powered computational arrays 

to tease out patterns and interactions of markers and 

treatment targets from among the human genome’s more 

than three billion DNA base pairs. Coetzee is a professor in 

the Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 

Piroska Szabó 

Piroska Szabó, Ph.D., studies the 

flow of epigenetic information 

from parents to their offspring, 

with a focus on how epigenetic 

markers are remodeled during 

egg and sperm production and how these markers are 

rewritten after fertilization. These processes have profound 

implications on fertility and embryo development. 

Disturbances in epigenetic remodeling are thought 

to contribute to disease conditions lasting well into 

adulthood. Szabó is an associate professor in Van Andel 

Research Institute’s Center for Epigenetics. 

Center for Neurodegenerative Science 

Research areas: Parkinson’s disease, depression/suicide, 

aging, prion disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington's 

disease and neuroepigenetics. 

Lena Brundin 

As a psychiatrist and a scientist, 

Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., 

seeks ways to diagnose and 

treat depression and suicidality 

by studying inflammation of 

the nervous system. Her findings may lead to earlier 

interventions for depressive patients and for the 

development of a new class of antidepressants that 

targets the immune system. She also investigates how 

inflammatory mechanisms can damage nerve cells in 

Parkinson’s disease. She is an associate professor in the 

Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 

Viviane Labrie 

Viviane Labrie, Ph.D., studies 

the dynamic interplay 

between the human genome 

and its control system—the 

epigenome—to understand how 

neurodegenerative diseases start and progress in an 

effort to develop improved diagnostics and treatments. 

Labrie’s scientific pursuits have deepened understanding 

of conditions from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases 

to schizophrenia to healthy aging conditions like lactose 

intolerance. She has also developed new methods for 

epigenome analysis. She is an assistant professor in the 

Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 


RESEARCH 

Jeffrey Kordower 

Jeffrey Kordower, Ph.D., is an 

international authority on the 

onset of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s 

and Huntington’s diseases, and 

works to develop new procedures 

aimed at slowing disease progression or reversing damage 

to the brain. He holds a primary appointment at Rush 

University in Chicago and is a Director’s Scholar at 

Van Andel Research Institute, where he focuses on 

designing preclinical studies and clinical trials to translate 

these new approaches into meaningful changes for people 

suffering with movement disorders. 

Darren Moore 

Darren Moore, Ph.D., seeks 

new diagnostic and treatment 

approaches for Parkinson’s by 

investigating the inherited form 

of the disease, which comprises 

five to 10 percent of cases. He aims to translate the 

understanding of these genetic mutations into better 

treatments and new diagnostic tools for Parkinson’s, both 

inherited and non-inherited. Discoveries from Moore’s 

Lab routinely elucidate the faulty molecular interactions 

that transform healthy, functioning neurons into diseased 

ones. Moore is an associate professor in the Center for 

Neurodegenerative Science. 

Jiyan Ma 

Jiyan Ma, Ph.D., studies 

abnormal proteins that cause 

neurodegenerative diseases, 

including Parkinson’s disease and 

prion diseases in humans and 

animals. His lab has developed new ways to understand 

how these proteins spread and cause diseases in humans 

and animals. The lab is also developing new approaches 

to diagnose and treat these devastating disorders. Ma is a 

professor in the Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 

Jeremy Van Raamsdonk 

Jeremy Van Raamsdonk, Ph.D., 

studies the genetics of aging 

and the mechanisms underlying 

Parkinson’s and Huntington’s 

disease. He focuses primarily on 

understanding what causes aging, and how the changes 

that take place during normal aging contribute to the 

development of neurodegenerative disease. His work on 

the relationship between oxidative stress and aging has 

upended many scientific assumptions about the effect of 

reactive oxygen species on lifespan. Ultimately, 

Dr. Van Raamsdonk hopes to leverage the knowledge 

gained about aging to develop novel treatments for 

neurodegenerative disorders. He is an assistant professor 

in the Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 


Meet Van Andel Research Institute’s Principal Investigators (continued) 

Center for Cancer and Cell Biology 

Research areas: Asthma, diabetes, neurofibromatosis 

type 1, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sarcoma, tuberous 

sclerosis and blood, bone, breast, colorectal, pancreatic 

and prostate cancers. 

Patrick Grohar 

Patrick Grohar, M.D., Ph.D., 

develops new drugs to treat bone 

cancer in children, in addition to 

pursuing a deeper understanding 

of the mechanisms of sarcomas 

and related conditions. Once proven safe and effective in 

the lab, his team translates these potential therapies into 

clinical trials for children with few other options. He is an 

associate professor in Van Andel Research Institute’s Center 

for Cancer and Cell Biology and a pediatric oncologist at 

Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. 

Brian Haab 

Brian Haab, Ph.D., 

searches for new ways to 

diagnose and stratify 

pancreatic cancer based on the 

chemical fingerprints tumors leave 

behind. Part of the problem Haab aims to solve is that 

cancers often look and behave normally—until after they’ve 

started making people sick. Haab is sleuthing out clues to 

build a library of diagnostic tools that will help providers 

diagnose tumors earlier and optimize treatment. He is a 

professor in the Center for Cancer and Cell Biology. 

Xiaohong Li 

Xiaohong Li, Ph.D., studies when 

various cancers, particularly 

prostate and breast cancer cells, 

migrate from their original site 

and spread to the bone. These 

cells stay dormant and might wake up years later or 

grow up to bone metastases, cause debilitating pain and 

are exceedingly difficult to treat. Li hopes that a better 

understanding of metastatic cancers will lead to new 

diagnostic tests and targeted therapies. She is an assistant 


Jeff MacKeigan 

Jeff MacKeigan, Ph.D., studies 

the biological systems that 

influence cellular metabolism 

and the cell’s recycling process, 

known as autophagy. Extensive 

knowledge of these complex cellular processes helps the 

MacKeigan Lab understand how tumor cells respond to 

and resist treatment. The MacKeigan team pairs their cell 

biology expertise with cutting-edge techniques, such as 

computational modeling and next-generation sequencing, 

to identify new therapeutic targets and strategies. 

MacKeigan is an associate professor in the Center for 

Cancer and Cell Biology. 

Karsten Melcher 

Karsten Melcher, Ph.D., studies 

molecular structure and cellular 

communication, which have 

implications for finding new 

treatments for serious health 

threats, including cancer, diabetes and obesity. His 

expertise extends beyond human cells—his research into 

plant hormones may one day lead to heartier crops that 

resist drought and help meet the nutritional demands of 

a growing global population. Dr. Melcher is an associate 


Lorenzo Sempere 

Lorenzo Sempere, Ph.D., studies 

the role of microRNAs in the origin 

and growth of cancer. These very 

short strands of genetic material 

were discovered just over 15 

years ago and are now recognized as dynamic regulatory 

modules of the larger human genome. Sempere targets 

microRNAs in an effort to develop new cancer drugs, 

specifically for pancreatic and breast cancers. He is an 

assistant professor in the Center for Cancer and Cell and 

Biology. 


RESEARCH 

Matt Steensma 

Matt Steensma, M.D., studies 

the genetic and molecular 

factors that cause benign 

tumors to become cancers to 

find vulnerabilities that may 

be targeted for treatment. As a scientist at VARI and 

practicing surgeon at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos 

Children’s Hospital, he is committed to translating 

scientific discoveries into treatments that improve 

patients’ lives. 

Ning Wu 

Ning Wu, Ph.D., investigates 

the interface between cellular 

metabolism and cellular signaling, 

particularly as they relate to 

cancer. On the most basic level, 

cancer is fundamentally a disease of uncontrolled cell 

growth, and Wu believes that understanding a tumor’s 

voracious energy requirements and altered signaling 

pathways will lead to new treatments that optimize 

existing combination therapies and identify novel 

therapeutic targets. She is an assistant professor in the 

Center for Cancer and Cell Biology. 

George Vande Woude 

George Vande Woude, Ph.D., is a 

titan in cancer biology. He is the 

Founding Director of Van Andel 

Research Institute, which he led 

for a decade. His discovery and 

description of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase as an 

oncogene, together with its activating ligand hepatocyte 

growth factor, have led to new possibilities for cancer 

therapies. His discovery has revolutionized the way 

scientists view the disease, especially in tumor progression. 

He is a distinguished scientific fellow in the Center for 

Cancer and Cell Biology and a member of the National 

Academy of Sciences. 

H. Eric Xu 

H. Eric Xu, Ph.D., explores 

the structure of molecules in 

the body’s complex hormone 

signaling system, which plays a 

vital role in health and disease. 

He is particularly known for his discoveries in defining 

the structure of molecules critical to the development of 

new drugs for cancer, diabetes and many others. He is a 

professor in VARI’s Center for Cancer and Cell Biology and 

also serves as director of VARI-SIMM Research Center in 

Shanghai, China. 

Tao Yang 

Tao Yang, Ph.D., 

studies the signaling 

systems that govern skeletal 

stem cells and the role 

they play in diseases such 

as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Bones are the 

largest producer of adult stem cells, which mature 

into cartilage, fat or bone tissue—a process that 

falters with age. Yang seeks a better understanding 

of these systems in search of new treatments for 

degenerative bone disorders and other skeletal 

aging. He is an assistant professor in the Center for 

Cancer and Cell Biology. 


Challenging Cancer - Beating the Odds 

In 2007, Pat Gavin heard the three words that 

everyone fears—“You have cancer.” 

A week earlier, the father of four daughters had gone 

to the doctor for a sore throat. Now, his physician was 

spelling out disastrous news—a tumor in Gavin’s upper 

throat was coiled tightly around his trachea, spine and 

major arteries in his neck. Its location made surgery 

impossible, leaving few options—either see an oncologist 

for treatment, which had little chance of working, or start 

palliative care. 

As the news sunk in, Gavin’s wife, Mary, asked what he 

thought. Gavin answered quickly. “I said, ‘It is what it is,’” he 

recalled. “Now we deal with it and pray.” 

Gavin took the referral. He was going to fight. The 

conversation with his oncologist was stark but offered 

a slight glimmer of hope: A clinical trial had recently 

opened nearby and Gavin fit the criteria. There were no 

guarantees that it would work—in fact, it was unlikely given 

the advanced stage of his cancer—but it could provide 

valuable insight that might help others down the line. 

“The decision to participate was very easy for both me and 

Mary. We wanted to do whatever we could to fight cancer,” 

Gavin said. “I didn’t think it would work when I signed up for 

it, but we did it because we hoped it would make an impact 

on cancer, so maybe our grandkids would never have to 

face what we were going through.” 

The experimental approach, which combined radiation 

and standard chemotherapy with two drugs approved 

to treat other types of cancer, was grueling. Then, after 

several months of ups and downs, Gavin’s oncologist 

shared exciting—and unexpected—news. 

“He said we had witnessed a miracle thanks to drugs and 

radiation treatments that worked, a great attitude and 

loving family, and lots of prayers,” Gavin said. “My cancer 

was in complete remission.” 

Translating experience into impact 

Nearly a decade has passed since Gavin’s initial diagnosis. 

Some of the experimental therapy that saved his life is 

now a standard treatment for head and neck cancers. He’s 

also beaten cancer twice more—malignant melanoma a 

year-and-half later and prostate cancer three years ago. 

And he’s dedicated himself to helping other patients 

and improving clinical trials, working with numerous 

organizations locally and nationally. 

In 2014, Gavin was asked to join an exciting new venture— 

the Van Andel Research Institute–Stand Up To Cancer 

Epigenetics Dream Team, a paradigm-shifting, collaborative 

effort that brings together leading scientists, physicians 

and pharmaceutical companies to compete against cancer 

rather than each other. By 2016, the team had launched 

four clinical trials to investigate potentially life-changing 

therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer, myelodysplastic 

syndrome, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and acute 

myeloid leukemia. Gavin has been a key part of these 

efforts by sharing the patient perspective and helping 

integrate it into trial design. 

“Everything comes back to the patients—they are the driving 

motivation for all that we do,” said Dr. Peter Jones, 

Van Andel Research Institute's (VARI) chief scientific officer 

and the team’s co-leader. “The team is a connector, a hub 

for scientific and medical innovation that we hope will lead 

to new therapies that better treat cancer and give people 

more years with their families.” 

Combinations and collaborations 

Accomplishing this goal will take a team effort, one that is 

bolstered by the synergy in the team’s collaborative nature 

and in the types of therapies being studied in its ongoing 

clinical trials. Called combination therapies, these pairs 

of drugs have shown promise in laboratory studies by 

working in tandem to combat cancer on a molecular level. 

The trials also allow the team to collect critical samples that 

will inform future studies and therapeutic development. 

“Pairing drugs together allows us to attack these diseases 

on multiple fronts, with one drug often priming cancer cells 

to be more receptive to the other,” said Dr. Stephen Baylin, 

co-leader of the team and an investigator at Johns Hopkins 

University and VARI. “These efforts are a direct result of the 

outstanding collaboration between our team members— 

each one brings a critical point of view and invaluable 

resources to the table.” 

Although much has been accomplished, the team’s work 

is far from complete. There are new trials being prepared 

for launch, current trials to enroll and complete, and a 

mountain of data to analyze, all with the goal of giving 

patients more and better treatment options. 

“Cancer is so many different things—there’s no one way 

of fixing it,” Gavin said. “It’s going to take a concerted and 

collaborative effort to beat it. Together, we can take on 

the challenge.” 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) PAT GAVIN, VARI-SU2C PATIENT ADVOCATE; DR. PETER JONES, VARI'S CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AND CO-LEADER OF THE VARI-SU2C EPIGENETICS DREAM TEAM; 

DR. STEPHEN BAYLIN, CO-LEADER OF THE VARI-SU2C EPIGENETICS DREAM TEAM; AND ANDREA POMA, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER. 


RESEARCH 


Battling Parkinson's - Embracing Advocacy 

“He said, ‘You have Parkinson’s; don’t freak out,’” she 

recalled. “I decided I could curl up and be miserable, or I 

could do whatever it takes to make every day the best 

that I could.” 

December 18, 2013, is the day Alison Sheltrown’s 

world changed. 

For two years, the then 41-year-old had been plagued by 

stiffness and pain in her right shoulder that eventually 

began radiating down her arm, interfering with her 

DR. PATRIK BRUNDIN AND ALISON SHELTROWN. 

intensive martial arts training and everyday tasks like 

writing. At first, she chalked it up to normal wear and tear, 

but when surgery for a herniated disk didn’t fix it and new 

problems cropped up, including a small twitch in her right 

leg, her doctor referred her to a neurologist. Sheltrown 

was shocked. 

Sheltrown threw herself into helping others who are 

newly diagnosed with the disease through her social 

media presence and spreading the word about the 

benefits of exercise, which has been shown to help 

people with Parkinson’s maintain muscle control. She’s 

also a passionate advocate for research and frequently 

volunteers with Purple Community, Van Andel Institute’s 

(VAI) grassroots program. 

“If MSDC-0160 is as 

successful in the clinic 

as it was in lab models, it 

could be a game-changer 

for millions of people with 

Parkinson’s around 

the world...” 

Dr. Patrik Brundin 

“It’s important that we have a place like VAI that is actively 

researching to find cures, not just treatments,” she said. 

“Just knowing that it’s happening in my hometown makes 

me thankful that we have this kind of research here and 

that we have the opportunity to be a part of it.” 


RESEARCH 

In many ways, Parkinson’s disease is an enigma. Its 

symptoms, age of onset and progression can vary widely 

from person to person, although it is typically diagnosed 

after age 60. With the exception of a small percentage of 

cases that may be traced genetically through families, there 

is no firmly established cause. And most problematic, 

there is no definitive test to diagnose it and no cure. Only 

a few treatments for symptoms exist, and none that slow 

or stop it. 

But that may soon change. 

MSDC-0160, a drug originally developed for type II 

diabetes, has shown exceptional promise in impeding 

Parkinson’s in laboratory models, preserving critical brain 

functions that are lost as the disease advances. It was 

created just down the road in Kalamazoo by Metabolic 

Development Solutions Company, which is working closely 

with the Institute and UK-based research charity The Cure 

Parkinson’s Trust to move it into human clinical trials. 

“If MSDC-0160 is as successful in the clinic as it was in lab 

models, it could be a game-changer for millions of people 

with Parkinson’s around the world,” said Dr. Patrik Brundin, 

head of the Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative 

Science and the senior author of a 2016 paper describing 

the work. “We know more about Parkinson’s disease 

than ever before. Thanks largely to the stunning breadth 

of collaboration in the scientific, medical and patient 

communities, we have an unprecedented opportunity to 

have a real, life-changing impact.” 

MSDC-0160 isn’t alone. Another diabetes drug, exenatide, 

and a respiratory drug, ambroxol, also have shown 

promising results in the laboratory and in early human 

trials for slowing Parkinson’s progression and are already 

being studied in the clinic as part of the Linked Clinical 

Trials initiative, a joint effort between The Cure Parkinson’s 

Trust and the Institute. 

“To know that there’s somebody else that’s going to 

battle for me and that they found something that could 

potentially just knock this disease in the teeth really makes 

me proud and happy and excited and thrilled,” Sheltrown 

said. “It’s one of those crying-tears-of-joy moments, not just 

for me but for so many people I know.” 

Other breakthroughs are on the horizon, fueled by 

collaborations between scientists at the Institute and 

their colleagues, both in Grand Rapids and around the 

world. By teaming with experts in other fields, VARI 

scientists are making significant inroads in understanding 

what makes Parkinson’s tick—and how to definitively 

diagnose and treat it sooner and more effectively. These 

efforts are taking aim at all facets of the disease, from the 

underlying molecular cause to disease progression to 

therapeutic development. 

It’s these advances that Sheltrown shares with others, 

along with a message of strength and solidarity. 

What are clinical trials? 

Clinical trials are a critical step on the road from the 

laboratory to the clinic. These rigorously designed and 

managed studies help ensure new therapies are not only 

safe in humans but also effective. 

Although VAI does not host trials on-site or treat patients, 

many of its scientists and physician-scientists participate 

in trials at collaborating organizations. The Institute also 

“To know that there’s 

somebody else that’s going to 

battle for me and that they found 

something that could potentially 

just knock this disease in the 

teeth really makes me proud and 

happy and excited and thrilled...” 

Alison Sheltrown 

“If I have one thing to offer, it’s this—don’t give up hope,” she 

said. “You have to live your life, love people and love yourself, 

and stay hopeful.” 

is proud to support the development of potentially lifechanging 

therapies through the VARI–SU2C Epigenetics 

Dream Team and the Linked Clinical Trials initiative, 

multi-institutional collaborations that help move promising 

drugs into the trial process. 

For more information on clinical trials, please 

visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. 


Donor Highlight - Michael Carnevale 

Technology strategist Michael Carnevale built his business 

by pursuing the unknown, sparking the imagination and 

solving complex business challenges through mobile apps, 

websites, virtual reality experiences and smart objects. 

In business for more than a decade, the company works 

with a diverse client list, including Steelcase, Microsoft, 

Whirlpool, Amway and Lego, to create next-generation 

experiences that address their clients' technology needs. 

A West Michigan native with an innovative mind-set and a 

generous heart, Carnevale encourages his employees to 

embrace a spirit of generosity and community action. Over 

the years, philanthropy has become an important aspect 

of his company’s culture. 

“The scientists at Van Andel 

Institute are endlessly curious 

and committed to solving 

some of the world’s biggest 

health challenges, like cancer.” 

Michael Carnevale 

Carnevale is constantly searching for new ways to connect 

his professional passion for technology to causes that 

make a difference in people’s lives. Carnevale actively 

sought out local nonprofits that could benefit from his 

company’s expertise and financial support, and began a 

philanthropic partnership with the Institute. 

“Nearly everyone has been affected by cancer in some 

way,” Carnevale said. “When my mother was diagnosed 

with a rare and malignant meningioma, it really became a 

personal mission to do something about it.” 

Although Carnevale’s mother, a well-loved elementary 

school teacher in Grand Rapids, passed away in 2010, 

he thinks she would be proud of the organizations he 

MICHAEL CARNEVALE AND MEMBERS OF THE CARNEVALE TEAM. 

supports in her honor. “The scientists at Van Andel 

Institute are endlessly curious and committed to solving 

some of the world’s biggest health challenges, like cancer,” 

Carnevale said. “Everyone who works with me knows 

that the Institute represents the spirit of hope in West 

Michigan. As innovators in technology and as community 

members, we can’t think of a better cause to support.” 


Foundations for the Future 

RESEARCH 

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) is on the verge of 

something big. 

Nowhere is this more evident than in the successes of 

the last year. In many ways, 2016 was notable not only for 

being the Institute’s 20 th anniversary but also for the many 

milestones it entailed. VARI scientists published more 

discoveries than ever before, a metric that helps measure 

scientific impact and output. The Institute helped launch 

and support six clinical trials—four in cancer and two in 

Parkinson’s disease—that are investigating potential lifechanging 

therapies for millions of people around the world. 

And it joined the small number of organizations globally 

to have cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopes (cryo-EM), 

a revolutionary technology that allows scientists to see 

crucial molecules 1/10,000 th the size of a human hair. 

“Our cumulative momentum is propelling us toward a 

horizon of untold discovery and innovation,” said VAI's 

chairman and CEO David Van Andel. “We will meet the 

opportunities of the future through a shared ethos of 

exceptional collaboration and unwavering commitment 

to improving human health and science education. Our 

efforts will not be incremental—they will be a giant leap 

forward.” 

The foundations for these efforts, built over the last two 

decades, have positioned VARI for a seismic shift that 

will see expansion not only of its scientific capabilities 

but ultimately its impact on human health. Much of this 

is due to the cultivation of gravitational pull, created by 

exceptional scientists and outstanding resources, that 

draws research leaders from around the world to 

Grand Rapids. These changes are already underway—in 

the coming years, the number of labs housed within the 

Institute is slated to nearly double. 

“Our cumulative momentum 

is propelling us toward a 

horizon of untold discovery 

and innovation.” 


At the same time, VARI also is a connector that brings 

together people and organizations that otherwise may not 

have had the opportunity to collaborate, strengthening 

scientific endeavors and increasing the likelihood of making 

life-changing discoveries. All of these efforts are driven by a 

laser focus on human impact. 

The leap comes at a crucial juncture. With a burgeoning 

and aging world population, the incidence of diseases such 

as cancer and Parkinson’s is expected to grow. New and 

more precise ways to diagnose and treat these devastating 

diseases are critical in reducing this burden and giving 

people longer, healthier lives. 

“Individual discoveries are not a destination, they’re a 

stepping stone to something bigger and better,” said 

Dr. Peter Jones, the Institute’s chief scientific officer. 

“For us, that endpoint is revolutionizing the way cancer, 

Parkinson’s and other diseases are diagnosed and treated. 

Our ultimate success will come on the day that these 

conditions are no longer feared, when the words ‘you have 

cancer’ or ‘you have Parkinson’s’ have lost their power.” 

VAI’S CRYO-ELECTRON MICROSCOPES (CRYO-EM) AND 

CRYO-EM CORE MANAGER DR. GONGPU ZHAO. 


Van Andel Education Institute 

is leading a national revolution in science education by uniquely 

empowering teachers to engage students to think and act like scientists. 

Van Andel Institute Graduate School 

develops future leaders in biomedical research through an intense 

problem-focused Ph.D. degree in cellular, molecular and genetic biology. 



Van Andel Institute Graduate School - Personal, Focused and Unique 

Van Andel Institute Graduate School’s (VAIGS) curriculum 

and philosophy are directly connected to the research 

taking place in Van Andel Research Institute’s labs. This 

interconnected relationship, which encourages graduate 

students to think and act like scientists, makes for a 

learning experience that is personal, focused and unique. 

Ph.D. candidate Nikki Thellman, a licensed veterinarian who 

decided to work in biomedical research, sees a noticeable 

difference between VAIGS and other doctoral programs. 

“I compared VAIGS to larger programs where a student 

can feel like just another number, and I decided to 

attend VAIGS because the faculty here are truly invested, 

collaborative, and provide direct input and mentorship in a 

way that is really incredible,” Thellman said. 

This direct collaboration between students and professors 

is due to VAIGS’s relatively small size and a program that 

gives students the opportunity to become immersed in 

scientific discovery early in the process. 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) VAIGS PRESIDENT AND DEAN DR. STEVEN J. TRIEZENBERG AND VAIGS STUDENT NIKKI THELLMAN. 

“...the faculty here are truly invested, 

collaborative, and provide direct 

input and mentorship...” 

Nikki Thellman 

scientific careers. “The way the program is designed 

teaches you how to think and be open to new ideas, which 

is very important in our information-rich world,” Thellman 

said. “You can’t just memorize things anymore. Because 

scientific information changes at such a rapid pace, you 

have to be able to continuously learn and solve problems.” 

“The inquiry-based curriculum gets you thinking in new 

ways and really trains you not just to do science but to 

think like a scientist,” Thellman said. “VAIGS prepares you 

to be independent with your learning and to apply your 

knowledge to real scientific problems.” 

No roadblocks 

During the first year of core curriculum, VAIGS students 

work collaboratively with peers and mentors in lab 

rotations and then in the second semester choose a lab for 

their dissertation work. Thellman believes VAIGS’s program 

is special because it supports students and gives them the 

freedom to be completely immersed in their work. 

“The program at VAIGS is different from other schools 

where you have a teaching requirement, have to fight for 

mentorship or resources and have to pick a lab depending 

on who has funding,” she said. “VAIGS pays your stipend, 

benefits, tuition, and provides research funds and travel 

expenses. You get to pick a mentor and lab based on a 

good fit, so when you’re prepared to do research and 

get down to doing science, there are no roadblocks in 

your way here.” 

The supportive, close-knit community gives scientists like 

Thellman the chance to get a rich educational experience 

that prepares them for the challenges of 21st-century 

After graduation, Thellman plans to use her experience 

at VAIGS to launch a scientific career in the public health 

sector, investigating emerging infectious diseases at an 

agency like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

or the National Institutes of Health. 

“My experience here taught me that science is a 

continuous, dynamic process of learning,” Thellman said. 

“VAIGS is small enough to encourage collaboration but big 

enough that we can make great science happen —it’s really 

been a perfect fit.” 


Emily Machiela and Jason Cooper – Life-Changing Graduate School 

EDUCATION 

Jason Cooper and Emily Machiela work in Dr. Jeremy 

Van Raamsdonk’s lab in the Center for Neurodegenerative 

Science. Their research is demanding and difficult, but it 

is the most purposeful, important work of their lives. 

Students in Van Andel Institute’s Graduate School (VAIGS) 

all have different stories, individual paths and distinct 

backgrounds, and it’s this diversity of experience that 

allows for incredible collaboration and radical ideas to 

occur. Machiela, who aims to graduate in 2017, discovered 

her love of medicine and science as a high school student 

working for various health-focused organizations in the 

African country of Zambia. Cooper, who is also a fifthyear 

graduate student, discovered his love for science 

as a student attending the University of Texas. Both 

scientists were drawn to the Graduate School’s small size, 

its supportive culture and its mission to improve human 

health, set in place by the Van Andel family more than 

20 years ago. 

“I really love the fact that the Van Andel family is still active 

in supporting the Institute,” Machiela said. “It’s powerful 

to know that the people who built this Institute are real 

people, not just names on a wall, and that they are still 

looking after it today.” 

Nothing’s traditional 

As VAIGS graduate students, Cooper and Machiela feel 

free to embrace their adventurousness and curiosity to 

build a foundation for their careers. Through the Institute’s 

inquiry-based curriculum, students are given the chance 

to develop their own research projects and jump right 

into developing their professional skills. The first years of 

the program focus on seminar-style courses, but in years 

two through five, students have the freedom to focus on 

research, professional development and their dissertation. 

“I really love the fact that the Van Andel family is still active in supporting the 

Institute. It’s powerful to know that the people who built this Institute are real 

people, not just names on a wall, and that they are still looking after it today.” 

Emily Machiela 

In this culture of independence and respect, students feel 

more connected professionally to their peers and more 

assertive in their work. 

“We’re treated like colleagues by our fellow scientists, and 

that makes us more focused and accountable,” Machiela 

said. “The freedom to get into research right away is really 

unique for a graduate program.” 

VAIGS students are encouraged to build relationships and 

work collaboratively, both internally and externally, on 

research projects. Cooper believes the Institute’s program 

is purposefully designed to be a space where young 

scientists can be aggressive in their pursuits and use their 

time to become immersed in the world of science. 

“The curriculum here is much different than at other 

programs, and you’re really given the opportunity to be 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) VAIGS STUDENTS EMILY MACHIELA AND 

JASON COOPER. 

responsible for your research and work in a way that 

you would never get to do in a typical Ph.D. program,” 

Cooper said. 

You’re a student and a scientist 

While attending VAIGS, Cooper and Machiela have created 

lasting collaborative partnerships inside the Institute and 

with external partners. These relationships create a web of 

support that is instrumental for scientists at the beginning 

of their careers. 

“The support you receive, both financially and 

professionally, allows you to foster collaborations both 

inside and outside the Institute,” Machiela said. “VAIGS 

students plan meetings and symposiums where we meet 

top scientists from all over the country, and through these 

interactions, we can begin to build important professional 

relationships.” 

Cooper and Machiela both credit the Institute with 

giving them the ability to be fearless in their work, be 

passionately curious, and view learning as a continuous 

process of growth. 

“Going through this program has really helped me grow 

professionally and made me unafraid to ask questions 

and be bold when working with my peers,” Machiela said. 

“What’s really special about being a graduate student at 

VAIGS is that you’re not in a higher-education space, you’re 

both a student and a scientist working at a biomedical 

research institute—and that’s an incredible opportunity.” 


Terra Tarango – Revolutionizing Science Education with Four Simple Words 

Van Andel Education Institute’s (VAEI) director and chief 

education officer is focused on four simple words— 

curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. By using these 

words as guidelines, Terra Tarango hopes to increase 

the reach of the Institute’s inquiry-based methods that 

promote discussions, creative problem-solving and 

collaborative student engagement. 

“I think if we stay focused on what makes VAEI’s inquirybased 

instruction unique, we will have a national impact,” 

Tarango said. “And to be honest, I have never felt more 

able to make a difference than I do here.” 

Tarango’s lifelong love of learning began by listening to her 

mother, a special education teacher in San Marcos, Texas. 

“My mother was a teacher, so I got an early look at what 

teaching is like, and I always wanted to be a teacher,” 

Tarango said. “When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be 

a kindergarten teacher, and in college, I wanted to be a 

professor. My mother inspired me to work in the education 

field more than anything I found in a textbook.” 

This passion for learning led Tarango to pursue a career 

that spans education, writing, curriculum development and 

publishing, and she considers her past experience as the 

perfect foundation for taking VAEI to a new, exciting and 

uncharted space. 

Student focused and student driven 

A common sight in many classrooms is a teacher lecturing 

to a group of students. Through VAEI’s methods, programs 

and tools, Tarango wants to help teachers create an 

environment where students drive the discussion and 

facilitate their own path for discovery. 

TERRA TARANGO 

“I have never felt more 

able to make a difference 

than I do here.” 

Terra Tarango 

“We want to encourage classrooms where students are 

leading discussions, designing experiments, are actively 

engaged and the teacher is more of a guide for the process 

of discovery,” Tarango said. “I have always been a fierce 

teacher advocate, and what I am hearing from educators is 

that they want to empower their students to think critically, 

work independently and be creative problem-solvers.” 

No longer satisfied with the status quo, educators 

who attend VAEI’s teacher professional development 

workshops have made it clear that in order to meet the 

Next Generation Science Standards, new tools and new 

methods are needed. VAEI’s holistic approach to supporting 

these teachers includes teacher professional development, 

on-site student programs in Grand Rapids, as well as online 

science education tools, such as NexGen Inquiry ® . 

“A decade ago, teachers weren’t as interested in new 

ways of teaching, but that’s not the case now,” Tarango 

said. “When we ask teachers what defines an exemplary 

classroom, they say a place where students are learning 

through questioning, collaboration and challenging 

themselves. They know what the classroom should look 

like, and they want to make it happen.” 

Looking ahead 

Tarango is confident that VAEI’s methods, programs and 

tools are exactly what science educators are looking 

for to prepare today’s students as the next generation 

of innovative problem-solvers. Looking ahead, VAEI will 

continue to reach teachers and students across the 

United States—empowering them to embrace innovative 

ways to learn science and setting the stage for a lifelong 

love of discovery. 

“In the years to come, I have no doubt that VAEI will play 

a driving role in how we teach science education in this 

country and beyond,” Tarango said. “I love looking into a 

classroom and seeing the students passionately engaged 

in doing science and enthusiastically working as hard as 

the teacher. If that can happen more often, we can truly 

revolutionize science education. And until it is happening 

nationally on a regular basis, we have a job to do.” 


Students Performing Real Science – 

Van Andel Education Institute’s Impact in the Classroom 

EDUCATION 

Tim Renz has worked as a science teacher in Washington 

state for more than 25 years. He’s taught everything from 

grade school to high school honors classes. Always on the 

lookout for new and innovative teaching methods, in 2013 

Renz began using Van Andel Education Institute’s (VAEI) 

inquiry-based Community of Practice methods, QPOE 2 

® 

model and web-based online tools in his classroom. The 

results have been nothing less than extraordinary. 

“The support and professional 

development I received from VAEI 

gave me what I needed to have the 

most significant, transformative impact 

on my classroom in my entire career.” 

Tim Renz 

“A lot of other programs say they are about doing inquirybased, 

student-centered learning in science education, but 

it wasn’t until I came across VAEI’s models and techniques 

that I found a model that actually works in the classroom 

and reflects what 'real' scientists do on a daily basis,” 

Renz said. “The support and professional development 

I received from VAEI gave me what I needed to have the 

most significant, transformative impact on my classroom in 

my entire career.” 

The Institute’s QPOE 2 

model emphasizes the scientific 

method of asking a question, making a prediction, 

collecting data through observation, developing an 

explanation and ongoing evaluation to refine and 

improve the process. In addition to the QPOE 2 

materials, 

the Institute provides teachers with the online science 

education platform, NexGen Inquiry ® , as well as techniques 

that can be used to create a classroom that encourages 

inquiry-based learning. 

Doing real science 

After working with the Institute’s methods, Renz noticed 

that students were approaching their work differently. 

Students who had not been interested in science 

suddenly became focused and started developing 

creative experiments and working collaboratively. 

“A group of girls in one of my classes who hadn’t been 

very engaged in class designed an experiment to solve a 

problem that was affecting them in their daily lives—water 

bottles breaking when you store them in the freezer,” Renz 

said. “It was great to see the students develop experiments 

that studied the scientific properties of water and used the 

scientific method to problem-solve in such a creative way.” 

Through these new techniques, the students in Renz’s 

class started working in an independent, self-motivated, 

creative way—and in the process, they developed a love 

for scientific discovery. 

“When students feel empowered to ask their own 

questions, they become engaged in the process of learning 

and can use their knowledge to solve problems and find 

solutions,” Renz said. “It’s great to see so many of my 

2016 by the numbers 

In the last year, VAEI worked with 800 students and more 

than 1,200 teachers in West Michigan. 

NexGen Inquiry ® 

Since its launch in 2015, 3,000 teachers have signed up to 

use NexGen Inquiry, the Institute’s online, inquiry-based 

students thinking critically, working 

collaboratively and doing real science.” 

VAEI’s student programs, teacher professional 

development and inquiry-based instruction tools help 

teachers like Renz transform their classrooms and create 

an environment where students have the freedom to think 

like scientists and develop a lifelong love of discovery. 

TIM RENZ WITH HIS STUDENTS. 

science education platform. The interactive resource 

serves as a digital science journal where teachers and 

students can conduct experiments, record and analyze 

data and share hypotheses. 

To date, more than 70,000 teacher assignments have been 

issued through this innovative platform. 


Van Andel Institute’s donors and philanthropic partners are connected 

by a shared sense of commitment to the Institute’s mission. Their creativity, 

passion and dedication have helped the Institute become a thriving center 

for innovative biomedical research and science education. 



Use the Gifts You’re Given – Pat Ringnalda and the Bee Brave 5K 

Pat Ringnalda, founder of the Bee Brave 5K, gets emotional 

when she talks about her work with Van Andel Institute’s 

Purple Community. For Ringnalda, the 5K she organizes 

to benefit breast cancer research at Van Andel Institute is 

more than philanthropy—it’s a way to share her gifts and 

give back. In 2016, she helped raise more than $60,000 for 

the Institute. 

Ringnalda worked for years as a leading salesperson for 

Mary Kay cosmetics and had an innate ability to connect 

with people and personalize her sales. She loved her work 

but had a strong desire to use her talents in support of 

causes she felt passionately about. 

“I’ve always thought that I had a responsibility as an 

individual to use the abilities I’ve been given to help other 

people,” Ringnalda said. “If you’re lucky enough to realize 

what you’re good at, you should use it to make the world a 

better place.” 

A life-changing event 

After supporting national philanthropic efforts that 

funded domestic abuse awareness and women’s cancer 

charities, Ringnalda wanted the 5K to benefit a cancer 

research organization that was part of her West Michigan 

community. 

“I contacted all the Grand Rapids–based cancer research 

organizations, and I told them about my event, and that I 

was looking for a home in West Michigan," Ringnalda said. 

(TOP) BEE BRAVE RUNNERS AND WALKERS GATHER BEFORE THE 

2016 BEE BRAVE 5K; (BOTTOM) PAT RINGNALDA AND HER FAMILY 

CELEBRATING A TREMENDOUS YEAR OF FUNDRAISING AT THE 5K. 

“Within 24 hours, Purple Community reached out to me, 

and we got to work.” 

The personal touch is important to Ringnalda, who works 

with her husband, children and friends to organize the 5K. 

She enjoys the opportunity to meet the Institute’s scientists 

and learn about how Bee Brave’s funds are used and 

credits these unique experiences with bringing everything 

full circle. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet Dr. Hui Shen and Dr. 

Peter Laird, two amazing scientists who are investigating 

cancers that affect women,” Ringnalda said. “After talking 

with them, I know exactly how our support will help find 

new treatments for cancer. Jay and Betty Van Andel must 

have been two amazing people to build this Institute in our 

community.” 

Hosting an event the size of the Bee Brave 5K requires 

many hours of work for Ringnalda, and when the days grow 

long, there’s one bit of wisdom that keeps her going. 

“Every year, when I get weary and I start to question why 

I’m doing this, I remind myself that it’s not about me—it’s 

about the women in my community and communities 

everywhere who have been touched by cancer, and the 

scientists like Dr. Laird and Dr. Shen who have dedicated 

their lives to this fight,” Ringnalda said. “If we keep going, I 

know that one day we could help them save lives.” 

“Jay and Betty Van Andel must have been two amazing 

people to build this Institute in our community.” 

Pat Ringnalda 


Bringing It Full Circle at Duncan Lake 

PHILANTHROPY 

Abbey Solitro, a doctoral candidate in Van Andel Institute’s 

Graduate School, spends long hours working in a 

laboratory. Solitro usually doesn’t have time to meet with 

anyone or do anything that isn’t strictly focused on her 

lab work. But there is a group of students from a small 

middle school, tucked away in the West Michigan town of 

Caledonia, who will always have her attention. 

Over the course of three years, Solitro, her mentor Dr. Jeff 

MacKeigan and other scientists from the Institute have 

worked with a group of eager fundraisers at Duncan Lake 

Middle School who plan an annual cancer walk to benefit 

research at Van Andel Institute. Impressed by the students’ 

initiative, Solitro invited them to the Institute for a tour and 

spoke at their all-school assembly, where she expressed 

deep gratitude for all of their effort. 

“Meeting the students and being involved with community 

events keeps me very grounded in the work that I do," 

Solitro said. “It is also important that we let these students 

and staff know how grateful we are. We can’t do this 

work alone.” 

Ryan Graham, Duncan Lake’s principal, views the event 

as a way for students to learn organizational skills, work 

together to help others and interact directly with leaders in 

the scientific field. 

“We have always wanted to empower and encourage our 

students’ generosity and genuine desire to help,” Graham 

said. “And in turn, Dr. MacKeigan, Abbey and others from 

the Institute have brought us in and helped our students 

think about their futures in new and wonderful ways. To 

our students, these scientists are rock stars.” 

(TOP) DR. JEFF MACKEIGAN SPEAKING AT DUNCAN LAKE MIDDLE 

SCHOOL; (BOTTOM) STUDENTS AT THE 2016 CANCER WALK. 

“Dr. MacKeigan, Abbey and 

others from the Institute have 

brought us in and helped our 

students think about their 

futures in new and wonderful 

ways. To our students, these 

scientists are rock stars.” 

Ryan Graham 

Pushing passion further 

Partnering with Duncan Lake has also inspired MacKeigan 

and his team to stay focused and inspired in their work in 

cancer research. 

“Interactions with the students push our passion and 

efforts further —and it can be really transformative to 

work with that many kids who are so focused on making a 

difference,” MacKeigan said. “What we are doing together 

is really inspiring—the energy, passion and successful 

engagement shared by my team and the students makes it 

more than just a typical walk or event—it’s a perfect model 

of community action and collaboration.” 


Hope on the Hill – A Celebration of VAI's 20 th Anniversary 

(STARTING AT THE TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT) ANNE AND JOHN 

ZIMMERMAN; LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY JR. WITH CAROL AND 

DAVID VAN ANDEL; DAVID VAN ANDEL SPEAKING; LANDAU 

EUGENE MURPHY JR. PERFORMING. 


Donor Highlight 

The Boelkins Family 

Tim Tebow 

Inspiring Through Faith, Hope and Football 

EVENTS 

Chuck and Christine Boelkins grew up in Grand Rapids. It’s 

a place that is near and dear to them—a place where they 

made a life and raised a family. They feel blessed to have 

Van Andel Institute as part of their community and are 

proud supporters of the Institute’s research into cancer 

and Parkinson’s disease. 

“Having been a part of the Grand Rapids community 

for our entire lives, we have seen the amazing growth 

in medical services and technology that was instigated 

by the formation of Van Andel Institute,” Christine Boelkins 

said. 

Chuck’s father struggled with Parkinson’s disease, and 

recently, many friends and family members have been 

diagnosed with cancer. Giving of their time as members 

of the Institute’s Board of Governors, volunteering and 

donating to fund cancer and Parkinson’s research help the 

Boelkins stay connected to the great work taking place in 

their city—a place of immense innovation and ingenuity. 

“We feel blessed to have such a world-renowned 

research institute in our community. We have supported 

the Institute financially and through volunteer service for 

15 years, and we feel great knowing that our efforts and 

donations go directly to research," Chuck Boelkins said. 

“Our hope is that one day soon, Van Andel Institute will 

find a way to fight back against diseases like Parkinson’s 

and make a significant impact toward the eradication 

of cancer.” 

When athletes use their fame to touch people’s lives 

through faith and goodwill, wonderful things can happen. 

Tim Tebow, a world-renowned quarterback, athlete, 

author and public speaker is not shy about what motivates 

him—and it isn’t a first down. It’s living a spiritual life. 

In September 2016, Tebow took time out of his busy 

schedule to tour VAI and visit with David and Carol 

Van Andel, Associate Director of Research Dr. Patrik 

Brundin and members of the Institute. Tebow also gave 

the keynote speech at the 10 th annual Van Andel Institute 

Golf Outing, and the day proved to be an inspirational 

experience for the Heisman Trophy winner. 

“It was extremely inspiring to visit with David and Carol 

Van Andel and Dr. Brundin,” Tebow said. “After meeting 

with everyone, and hearing about Dr. Brundin’s incredible 

approach to Parkinson’s disease research, I was filled with 

a sense of hope and optimism.” 

Tebow’s speech highlighted his 

unwavering commitment to his faith 

and how it has guided him throughout his life. 

He also touched on the work of the Institute 

and the importance of giving back. 

“I have always believed that you can do well and do 

good in life, and the generosity of the Van Andels and 

the dedication of the people working at the Institute are 

something I am very proud to support,” Tebow said. “I 

believe that faith guides us, and I can tell that the Institute’s 

mission is guided by a deep and significant belief in a 

power greater than us all.” 

In 2013, Christine Boelkins was presented with the 

Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award—an honor 

given to people who have demonstrated excellence and 

significant contributions to Van Andel Institute’s mission 

through volunteer service and commitment. 

CHUCK AND CHRISTINE BOELKINS WITH THEIR FAMILY. 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) DR. PATRIK BRUNDIN, TIM TEBOW, 

CAROL AND DAVID VAN ANDEL. 


Our Angels of Excellence 

Carol Van Andel, executive director of the David and Carol 

Van Andel Family Foundation, is always looking for new 

ways to spotlight the generosity of Van Andel Institute’s 

volunteers, advocates and donors. In 2013, she created the 

Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award to celebrate the 

efforts of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional 

service on behalf of Van Andel Institute’s mission. 

Van Andel created an event that is focused on gratitude 

and celebrating the rich and diverse Van Andel Institute 

community. 

Van Andel is consistently impressed by the dedication and 

spirit of the Angel of Excellence Award recipients, and for 

her, they serve as a reminder of what is possible when 

talent and generosity are paired with action. 

“Every day, I am touched by the impact of these women,” 

Van Andel said. “They are community leaders who are 

choosing to give of themselves, and in the process, they 

are making a real difference for others. It’s an absolute 

honor to work alongside them.” 

“This event is close to my heart,” Van Andel said. “Our 

Angel of Excellence recipients bring such joy, creativity 

and purpose to our leadership boards and planning 

committees. Because of their work, we are able to support 

research that benefits the millions of people living with 

cancer and Parkinson’s disease, and science education 

programs that inspire thousands of students.” 

In April 2016, the award was given to Peggy Greydanus, 

Debbie Kinney, Jamie Mills and Rachel Mraz, four women 

who organize and sponsor impactful fundraising events 

and helped build important relationships between young 

professionals and the Institute. 

Greydanus and Kinney both serve on the Hope on the Hill 

Gala planning committee and help organize the Institute’s 

signature annual event that raises funds to benefit the 

Institute’s biomedical research and science education 

programs. For more than 10 years, the two incredibly 

dedicated volunteers worked directly with Van Andel 

to create and support some of the most spectacular 

fundraising galas in West Michigan. 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) RACHEL MRAZ, DEBBIE KINNEY, 

CAROL VAN ANDEL, PEGGY GREYDANUS AND JAMIE MILLS. 

Mills worked directly with Van Andel to co-create A 

Conversation About Breast Cancer, the first in a series of 

community-minded, health advocacy events held at the 

Institute. In addition to her health advocacy efforts, Mills is 

a top sponsor of events such as Hope on the Hill, the 

Van Andel Institute Golf Outing and Couture for a Cure and 

is a tireless ambassador on behalf of the Institute. 

Rachel Mraz is a West Michigan business leader with a 

passion for philanthropy. Her connections to the Grand 

Rapids business community and enthusiasm for the 

Institute’s mission inspired her to create the Van Andel 

Institute JBoard Ambassadors in 2009. The JBoard hosts 

events, engages the West Michigan community and 

provides philanthropic support for the Institute’s initiatives. 

Under Mraz’s leadership, the JBoard continues to be a 

significant community engagement force and a meaningful 

way for young people to partner with the Institute. 

“Our Angel of Excellence 

recipients bring such joy, creativity 

and purpose to our leadership 

boards and planning committees. 

Because of their work, we are 

able to support research that 

benefits the millions of people 

living with cancer and Parkinson’s 

disease, and science education 

programs that inspire thousands 

of students.” 

Carol Van Andel 


Trina Taylor - A Moment on the Runway 

EVENTS 

Trina Taylor’s life is filled with passion, positivity and hope. 

A mother, working professional, model and cancer patient 

advocate, she lives by her own personal motto, “make 

memories on purpose.” 

TRINA TAYLOR WALKS THE RUNWAY AT COUTURE FOR A CURE. 

In 2012, Taylor was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal 

cancer—a disease that affects 200,000 new people in the 

United States every year. The news was devastating, but 

Taylor, determined to not let her diagnosis define her, has 

been fighting ever since. Her willingness to fight gave her 

the strength to work with her physician and enroll in a 

clinical trial at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer 

Center at Johns Hopkins University supported by the 

Van Andel Research Institute-Stand Up To Cancer 

Epigenetics Dream Team. Agreeing to participate in the 

trial, which uses a combination treatment to reprogram 

cancer cells to better respond to chemotherapy, was 

a gamble, but it was also an act that would change the 

course of her life. 

“The importance of a clinical trial is that it gives so many 

people like me hope—hope for what’s next,” Taylor said. 

To honor Trina’s indomitable spirit, grace and work as an 

outspoken advocate for cancer patients, she was invited 

by Carol Van Andel to walk the runway at the 11 th annual 

Couture for a Cure—a significant fundraiser for Van Andel 

Institute and the premier fashion event in West Michigan. 

On a fall night, with hundreds of eyes focused on her every 

step, Taylor walked out on the runway filled with bright 

lights and dazzling color. When the spotlight hit her, she 

did something unusual for any model —she paused and 

“The importance of a 

clinical trial is that it 

gives so many people 

like me hope—hope 

for what’s next.” 

Trina Taylor 

looked out into the audience. She couldn’t help it. Five 

hundred people were giving her a standing ovation, and it 

was a moment she wanted to cherish. 

“I always take in a deep breath right before I take my first 

step. In my mind, I’m carrying all of these women who are 

dealing with the same things I am—being bald, living with 

cancer. For me, it’s empowering,” Taylor said. “That night, 

instead of walking the runway, I was taking a bow—and in 

that bow, I was saying, ‘Thank you!’” 


Dr. Hui Shen – Starting a Conversation About Women’s Health 

Hundreds of people gathered in Van Andel Institute’s 

Cook-Hauenstein Hall in November 2016, to hear from 

scientists who have dedicated their lives to fighting cancers 

that affect women. A Conversation About Women’s Health, 

hosted by Carol Van Andel, gave those in attendance a 

chance to hear from leaders in cancer research and learn 

about advancements in cancers affecting women. The 

event highlighted the work of Dr. Hui Shen, a young, vibrant 

scientist who joined Van Andel Research Institute in 2014. 

Dr. Shen uses leading-edge technology to investigate the 

molecular background of ovarian cancer. In November 

2015, she received the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s Liz 

Tilberis Early Career Award, which is given to junior faculty 

with a strong commitment to an investigative career in 

ovarian cancer research. Shen also participates in the 

Van Andel Research Institute–Stand Up To Cancer 

Epigenetics Dream Team and is a member of The Cancer 

Genome Atlas, a multi-institutional effort to better 

understand the molecular basis of cancer through 

genomic analysis. 

“The fact that scientists like 

Dr. Shen are using every 

technology and resource 

available to take on cancers 

that affect women 

is something that should 

give all of us a great deal 

of hope.” 

Carol Van Andel 

Dr. Shen’s presentation during A Conversation About 

Women’s Health focused on her work in epigenetics—a 

groundbreaking new area of cancer research, and where 

she sees new avenues for improved diagnostics and 

therapies. Van Andel believes the Institute’s community 

health-focused events provide a lasting resource for 

patients, caregivers and people who want to take a 

proactive role in their own healthcare. 

DR. HUI SHEN 

CAROL VAN ANDEL SPEAKING AT A CONVERSATION ABOUT 

WOMEN’S HEALTH HOSTED BY CAROL VAN ANDEL. 


Donor Highlight 

Joe Rudnick & Tapistry Brewing 

Joe Rudnick brews craft beer with heart. After a 20-year 

career as an engineer with Pfizer, he decided to follow 

his passion and opened Tapistry Brewing Company in 

2013. In addition to brewing great beer, Rudnick feels very 

strongly about community engagement and living life with 

a generous spirit. 

After his father passed away from a long battle with cancer, 

Rudnick found Van Andel Institute’s website while doing 

some web browsing, and was impressed by the Institute’s 

mission and fundraising philosophy. 

“I found the Institute when I was searching online after 

cancer took my father’s life at 59—and when I learned 

that the Institute applies every dime to research and 

doesn’t waste it, I knew I wanted to partner with 

them," Rudnick said. 

Rudnick and Tapistry Brewing Company are active partners 

in Purple Community’s Hops for Hope fundraising initiative. 

During the yearlong annual event, breweries, restaurants 

and pubs donate a portion of specialty beer sales to 

support the Institute’s cancer and neurodegenerative 

disease research. An active community member, and a 

dedicated craftsman, Rudnick is proud to partner with a 

Michigan-based organization that values donor dollars and 

uses funds to impact human health. 

“I have a great amount of respect for the Van Andel family 

and everyone at Van Andel Institute, and I really appreciate 

their determination to help those affected by cancer and 

disease,” Rudnick said. “Cancer has affected my life in 

multiple ways, and I think it’s important to help scientists 

discover new ways to fight this disease and give people a 

ray of hope.” 

PHILANTHROPY 

“I was searching online 

after cancer took my 

father’s life at 59—and 

when I learned that the 

Institute applies every 

dime to research and 

doesn’t waste it, I knew I 

wanted to partner 

with them.” 

Joe Rudnick 

JOE RUDNICK, TAPESTRY BREWING. 


Sources of Funding 

Sources of Funding for Research & Education 

7% 

Private philanthropy 

19% 

Grants and contract 

revenue (direct) 

68% 

Endowment income 

6% 

Other 

Sources of Funding for Operating & Overhead Expenses 

75% 

Grants and contract 

revenue (direct) 

25% 

Endowment income 

and other revenue 


Society of Hope 

PHILANTHROPY 

The Society of Hope recognizes individuals 

and couples who have notified us that they 

have included Van Andel Institute in their 

will or other deferred giving plan. Through 

our acknowledgment of and gratitude to 

these exceptional people, we hope that their 

generosity will inspire others. 

Vivian G. Anderson 

Stanley & Blanche Ash 

Kevin & Michelle Bassett 

John & Nancy Batts 

Philip & Shirley Battershall 

Fred & Julie Bogaert 

J. Scott Grill 

Joan Hammersmith 

Arthur Joseph Jabury 

Ms. Maryanna Johnson 

Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Long 

Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols 

LG & Helen Myers 

Jone E. Phillips 

Alan R. Ryan 

George Sietsema 

Eva Sonneville 

Fred L. Tape 

John E. VanFossen 


Tributes 

Gary R. Aarup 

Lawrence & Mary Lou Hicks 

Chuck Boelkins 

Pat & Julie Greene 

Maurice J. Clark 

David & Deborah Clark 

Lee W. Formwalt 

Sanders Foundation 

Chad Henke 

Peter & Lisa Foy 

Paul Leonard 

Jeff & Sue Swain 

Raja Achanta 


Gerald Bovenkamp 

Chris Bovenkamp 

Fabiola Crettaz 


Marcy Gates 

Stephen Klotz 

Kathy Heyboer 

Member First Mortgage, LLC 

Rob Leonard 


Mark Ameel 


Peg Bowen 

Susan Formsma 

Rob & Allison DeVilbiss 

Ed & Carol DeVilbiss 

Rahmon W. Gharajanloo 


Nancy Hickey 


Ken Lewis 


The Anderson Family 


Dan Braak 


Deb Diemer 


Georgia Gibbs 

Thomas Lamoreaux 

Bart Huisman 

Kenneth & Ann Steenwyk 

Sandra Likic 


Bruce Applebach 

Clinton & Joanne Hop 

Alyssa Arends 

John & Susan Nelson 

Susan Armstrong 


Zhaohui Bao 


Peter Baranovic 


Reinhard Behringer 


Eugene Bleiler 

Marty Faasse 

Patricia Bloemendaal 

Dirk & Jill Bloemendaal 

Barbara S. Bradley 

Douglas & Michele Bradley 

Florence Brower 

Martin & Melissa Weerstra 

Anita Buckowing 

Denise Hart 

Sara L. Butcher 

Donald Butcher 

Mark Bylenga 

William & Jackie Bylenga 

Hongxia Chen 


Curtis B. Christie 


Tomáš Čičák 


Ann Durham 


Robert Duvall 

Gail Bowers 

Zsolt Eichinger 


Kerry Ellis 


Julio Escalera 


July Estrada 


Shirley Evans 

Anonymous 

Francis Fan 


Laura Gifford 

William & Kathryne Bussey 

Marcy Engelmann 

Mark G. Gilmore 


Sherry Grimard 


Debbie Gris 

Daniel & Deborah Goris 

Diane Hansen 

Marlene Stoops 

Bruce Hari 


Henry Hemond 

HR Services Auto Owners 

Insurance 

Robert R. Israels 


John Kailunas 

Lea Knight 

William R. King 

Richard King 

Melinda Krei 


Tamara Kroll 

Marie Creger 

Mary Lou LaClaire 

Todd & Hester Hendricks 

Timmy Lamse 

Pat Campau 

Nicole Langewender 


John Littleton 

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Klein 

Kathy Lloyd 


Philip Longstreet 

Donna Tolan 

Ariane Lopez 


The MacIntosh Family 


Al Mahieu 

Ryan & Lisa Volkers 

Al & Barb Masselink 

Darin Masselink 

Benny Mathew 



MacKale McGuire 

Renata Olson 

Debra Schultz Schut 


Sherry Singer 


Tim & Cyndy Swain 


The Walters/Patullo Family 


Kate McNamara 


The Metsker Family 


Erika Mikusova 


Cecilia Neuman 


Philip "Pop Pop" Nicely 

Michael & Sally Murdock 

Terry Nienhuis 


Wolfgang Passoke 


Manali Phatak 


Tom & Greta Rickmeyer 

Paul & Charlene Fitzpatrick 

Pete Rowe 

Amy Charles 

Thomas Schindler 


Serenity Salon 

Valerie Burns 

Alfonso Sernas 


Bobbie Sethuraman 


Dave & Lynn Setsma 

Joanne Arnoys 

Ellen Fowler 

Ken & Beverly Nyenhuis 

Grace Nyenhuis 

Jacob & Leona Nyenhuis 

Ronald & Carole Nyenhuis 

Laura Schnyders 

Carolyn Setsma 

Donald & Barb Setsma 

Betty Tymes 

The Shapiro Family 


Tricia Shaw 


Lisha Shekar 


Leigh J. Shutes 


Bill Slicker 


Keith Smith 

Carol Smith 

Jeyapraba Srinivassan 


Dr. Mathew Steensma 

James & Judith Czanko 

Charles & Hannah Steinhardt 

George & Julia Steinhardt 

George Steinhardt 

George & Julia Steinhardt 

Irene Stewart 

William & Adeline Gipson 

Juergen Stoverock 


Jack Swain 


Sally Swain 


The Swain Family 


Christy A. Tape 

Denise Nise 

Monica Skinner 

Rolf-Guenter Teichmann 


Aruna Thota 


Jesus Alfredo Rodriguez 

Tolosa 


Madge Torrey 

Michael & Kathleen Torrey 

David & Carol Van Andel 

Czech Holdings LLC 

Kim Van Stee 

Alvin & Joyce Docter 

George F. Vande Woude 

Ray Loeschner 

Dan Vasilauskas 


Maria Walsh 


The Walters/VanLandingham 

Family 


Mary Weglicki 

Jim & Kathy Weglicki 

Herbert White 

Nathan & Gail Perton 

The Wilder Family 


Debbie Wittenbach 

Stephen & Debra Wittenbach 

David Wohns, M.D. 


Wendy Wohns 


Sally Yang 


The Zack Family 


Mary Zimmer 

Larry & Joyce Zimmer 


Memorials 

For our friends who have lost a loved one, we mourn with you. We appreciate your trust in us 

to fight disease in memory of your family and friends—with the hope for a healthier tomorrow. 

Allison Aardema 

Steven & Julie Aardema 

James Ackley 

Stephen Haarman 

Art Alberts, Ph.D. 

William Alberts 

Wynston Alberts 

Jason & Cindy Dawes 

Dr. Kathryn M. Eisenmann 

Peterson Haak 

Carole Howard 

Dwight Lakey 

Brad Long 

Betsy Salzman 

Robert C. Anderson 

David & Lynne Robinson 

Vivian G. Anderson 

David & Lynne Robinson 

Frank L. Archer 

Timothy & Marcye Van Dyke 

Alyssa Arends 

Dean & Beth Havens 

Lynda Armstrong 

Mark Press 

Allan L. Arnoys 

Rob Arnoys 

Mary Badanek 

Katherine Sanders 

John Bambini 

Kim & Christopher Engle 

Keith Bassett 

Regena Bassett 

John H. Batts 

Lester & Vivian Hoogland 

Shirley Baumgardner 

Dwane & Joyce Baumgardner 

Harlan Berens 

Verl & Vicky Bleeker 

Nicole Beuschel 

Sue Baar 

Ernest Bevins 

David Bevins 

Joe Blaskis 

Sharon Blaskis 

Mary Boerema 

Jean Swaney 

Glenn Bonkosky 

Gerald & Tracy Kneeshaw 

Bob Bonney 

George LaPlante 

Pamela Boomer 

Russell & Sara Tiller 

Donna Boorstein 

Dr. William M. Boorstein 

Jim Bos 

Grace Bouwman 

Lorraine Boyd 

Frieda & James Jaynes 

Phyllis Brown 

Jacqueline Kozal 

Robert A. Brown 

G. Michael & Mary Minton 

Robert J. Brown 

Anonymous 

William Buis 

American Legion W. G. 

Leenhouts Squadron 6 SAL 

Anonymous 

Mitchell & Kristyn Arends 

Lori Barkel 

Rick & Janice Berens 

Robert & Valerie Bernecker 

Judith Borough 

Jack & Lois Brott 

Joyce Buis 

Gary & Judith Bylsma 

Thomas & Julie Carey 

Whitney Carnahan 

James & Dorothy Chamness 

Wayne & Laura Debruyn 

Victor & Ruth Dejonge 

Debra DeLeeuw 

Lawrence & Linda Denuyl 

Douglas & Sharen Dinkins 

Kenneth & Gladys Dozeman 

Daniel & Jannis Ebels 

Carolynne Etheridge 

William & Barbara Lawton 

Suzanne Linn 

Medtronic, Inc. 

Jacquelyn Pullen 

Judith Rabbai 

Jack & Ardith Shultz 

Benjamin & Judith Smith 

Harlan & Cheryl Sprik 

Bernard & Jacqulin Stack 

Rodney Truttman 

Robert & Barbara Turner 

Douglas & Kathleen VanLente 

John & Claudia Watson 

West Michigan Health 

Information Management 

Association 

Gary & Phila White 

Kenneth & Marcia Wierda 

Bob Burgers 

Jason & Kimberly Jerke 

In Memoriam – Dr. Art Alberts | July 23, 1964 – December 4, 2016 

With great sadness, we said farewell in December to our 

friend and colleague Dr. Art Alberts after his courageous 

several-year battle with brain cancer. 

Alberts was one of Founding Research Director Dr. George 

Vande Woude’s first recruits to Van Andel Institute in 2000. 

A dedicated and passionate scientist, Alberts was a lead 

investigator in the Center for Cancer and Cell Biology who 

was instrumental in establishing the Institute’s prestige in 

the world of biomedical research. His research focused on 

cell motility and mDIA2 regulation. 

A proud mentor, Alberts served as a Van Andel Institute 

Graduate School professor and trained several students 

and postdoctoral scientists who have gone on to 

successful careers in academia. He was known for his 

forthright nature, intensity, humor and iconic wardrobe. 

Whether helping a graduate student consider a new 

perspective or asking challenging questions of a prominent 

scientist during a seminar or lecture, Alberts could be 

counted on for his impassioned commentaries. 

David Van Andel, Chairman and CEO of Van Andel Institute, 

remembers Alberts as a significant force in the early days 

of the Institute and a leader in his field. PHOTO CAPTION 

“Those of us who knew Art would agree that he was a true 

original—a passionate, deeply inquisitive soul who was 

committed to the purity of science,” Van Andel said. “Art’s 

insight and genuine, uncompromising love for his work was 

evident in everything he did. His legacy lives on in the work 

we do today and the many people who were lucky enough 

to have known him.” 

Alberts was a devoted and loving husband and father, and 

is survived by his wife, Lisa and their two children, Corrinne 

and Isobel. 


Peter G. Bylsma 

Carol Bylsma 

Frank Campbell 

Paul & Lynn Getzin 

Jack Chatfield 

Lee Formwalt 

Sherriel Coates 

Brent Coates 

Harold E. Cook 

Marilyn K. Cook 

Darryl Couch 

Kathleen Couch 

Mary Couch 

Kathleen Couch 

Bonnie Crabb-Tremblay 

Dan Rogers 

Suzanne E. Cummings 


Daniel G. Cusack 


Karl Daniels 

Dr. & Mrs. Joel Vanderiet 

Aaron De Lange 

Sharon Blaskis 

Jay A. DeBoe 

Michael DeBoe 

Elaine DeHaan 

Leonard & Leonora Smit 

Susan DeRoos 

Lyle & Roberta Brockway 

Marsha Burgess 

Steven & Linda DeRoos 

Nancy Hazle 

Richard Hazle 

Mary Hutchinson 

Larry & Karen Mayberry 

Marian Siegle 

Richard & Mary Stevens 

Lynda Weston Berg 

Robert DeVos 

Marv & O'Linda Anderson 

Bonnie Butler 

Arla Mae DeVos 

Betty DeVos 

Robert Johnson 

Lavern & Lenora Lanning 

Marcia Martin 

Eric Pipenger 

Bernard & Delores Rollston 

Donald & Janice Stockhill 

Cynthia Watson 

Kaye Doherty 

Melissa Bachman 

Allen Doorn 

Phil de Haan 

Donald Downham 

Paul & Charlene Fitzpatrick 

Kathleen Drennan 

Patrick & Kristine Brady 

Loy L. Dykstra 

Baskin Livestock, Inc. 

Byron Center Baptist Church 

Matt Ellis 

Greenstone Farm Credit 

Services 

Arnold & Marlene Groeneveld 

David & Barbara Miller 

David & Coralie Miller 

Richard & Laura Miller 

Laurie Schwartz 

Donald & Lorraine Thome 

Edward Dzwonkowski 

Arline Dzwonkowski 

Jean B. Eagleson 

Lily Beck 

Stephen & Betty Beck 

Faye Buckingham 

June Glisan 

James & Elizabeth Lieberman 

Loretta Miles 

Bud & Ruth Elve 

Mark & Anne Elve 

Gloria Ender 

Dr. & Mrs. Steven C. Ender 

Jon C. Forslund 

Jean Swaney 

Butch Forystek 

James Johnson 

John P. Foxworthy 

Jean Swaney 

Terrie Frank 

Roy & Maureen Warren 

Diane Frede 

Walter & Mary Ann Andersen 

William & Carol Betts 

Al Budnick 

Elwood Staffing Services, Inc. 

Andrew Evans 

Harley & Rosemary Huffman 

Larry & Jan Jewell 

Joanne Marshall 

Carl & Anne Newberg 

Robert & Cathleen Newberg 

Deborah Pitsch 

Gayle Platte 

Sharon Sydloski 

Mark Zacha 

Betty J. Frederick 

Raymond Frederick 

Jean Frick 

Allan & Barbara Lowe 

Lorraine Futrell 

Ronald & Helen Colburn 

Harold Gantt 

Barry & Mary Gantt 

Helen Ganzhorn 

Robert & Andrea Rander 

Norma J. Girod 

Beverly & John Scranton 

Josephine Granzo 

Donald & Kathleen Brockriede 

Brian Fitzpatrick 

Neil Fitzpatrick 

Lighthouse Assembly of God 

Michael Ludwig 

Abby Greer 

Mike & Sandy Waller 

Randee Grossa 

Sally Shumway 

Carol A. Haarman 


Dean Hanson 

Sara Taylor 

Chuck Harger 

Ronald & Frances McKellar 

James Hass 

Richard Hillman & Barbara 

Burby Hillman 

Robert Hawley 

Gregory & Patricia Hohs 

Robert & Carol Peters 

Michael & Brenda Radlinski 

Don & Susie Thomas 

Marilyn M. Hefferan 


Henry Hemond 

Rebecca Christopherson 

Steven M. Hertel 

Antoinette Hertel 

Jim Hickey 

Catherine Amodeo 

Dee Hickmott 

Sid Hickmott 

James W. Hoerner 

Anne Rossi 

Marvin Hollemans 

Shirley Roskam 

Julie L. Holtrop 

Philip & Marie Holtrop 

Arthur T. Howson 

Grace Bouwman 

Carolyn Calcutti 

Kay L. Hurt 

William & Brenda Davidson 

Charles Huffman 

M. Terry & Joan Hurt 

Pauline Mitchell 

Robin Stiyer 

Lyle R. Irish 

Bernadine Aidif 

Jason & Cindy Dawes 

Randy & Betsy Smith 

Martha Jackson 

Dr. Bruce A. Jackson II 

Robert Jarchow 

Daniel Jarchow 

Mary M. Johnson 

Paul & Betsy Greenwald 

Ondrea M. Kamps 

William Stewart 

Mary Jane & Jay Kanipe 

Daniel & Karen Mott 

Mark L. Kastner 

Brenda Kastner 

Marian Katzenstein 

Dorothy Armstrong 

Ron Kitchen 

Maple Hill Golf Course, Inc. 

Norman Klein 

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Klein 

Larry Kneeshaw 

Gerald & Tracy Kneeshaw 

Charles Knop 


David Kosten 

Michael DeBoer 

Donald R. Kozal 

Karen Best 

Anne Kozal 

Patricia R. Kozal 

Karen Best 


Memorials (continued) 

Alida P. Kuipers 

Edmund & Ann Anderson 

Christopher & Sandra Bajema 

John Boom 

David Carlson & Elizabeth 

VanBeek Carlson 

Mark & Margaret Christensen 

Larry & Barb Langshaw 

Rose Mulder 

Elsa Slomp 

Harold & Fran Soper 

Phyllis Van Andel 

Paul & Crystal VanBeek 

Michael & Peggy Vanhamersveld 

Bruce D. Langlois 

Joanne K. Langlois 

Norma Leopold 

Lawrence & Mary Lou Hicks 

Wes & Roxanne Lake 

Allan C. Lowe 

Allan & Barbara Lowe 

Wade Mackay 

Jean Swaney 

Thomas & Susan Swaney 

Jessica Marcellino 

Dean & Michelle Snow 

Robert McDowell 

Michael Hillman 

Richard & Barbara Hillman 

Burby Hillman 

Leah Meldrum 

Warren & Deborah Westerhuis 

Shirley Meyer 

Thomas & Barbara Jackoboice 

James Mieras 

Daniel Terry 

Thaddeus Misiak 

Greg & Debra Misiak 

Jean R. Murphy 


Eleanore L. Nicolette 

Anne Benson 

Gary & Bev Brouwer 

Loretta Cahill 

Jerry & Suzanne Callahan 

Paul & Constance Ceton 

Jane Hondelink 

Charles & Carole Johnson 

Judson Lynch 

Dawn McCotter 

Steve & Laura Triezenberg 

Gregory & Ingrid Vander Lende 

Richard & Jill Zuker 

Mary Nolan 

Timothy Nolan 

Tom Piazza 

Joseph & Margaret Biersack 

Denise Picardat 

Bethany Mulligan 

Frank Pinto 

Anonymous 

Paula Birlen 

Edda Bossio 

Luigi Bossio 

Donna Doyle 

Alfredo Eijan 

Frank Franone 

Debbie Grimm 

Patti Janus 

Viola Janus 

Giacomino Mannarino 

Virginia Marzec 

Mario Naccarato 

Diane Novak 

Christine Pepino 

Sal Provenzano 

Nina Rizzo 

Gina Sicoli 

James Sicoli 

Ortenzia Sicoli 

Josephine Szczygiel 

Gary Turner 

Glen & Tracey Turner 

Loraine Turner 

Raymond Volpacki 

Curtis Whitmore 

Ernie Popiel 

Joseph Popiel 

Victoria Purgiel 

Larry & Barbara Adamski 

Patricia Cybert 

James & Frieda Jaynes 

Patrick Purgiel 

David Raab 

Diana Wales 

Florence Rauser 

Daniel & Elizabeth Alt 

Leon & Diane Brechting 

A. Christopher Engle 

Kathleen Leavell 

Florence Rauser 

Dietrich & Betty Lou Roth 

Louis Seguin 

Kyle Razmus 

Ivy Razmus 

Glenn Rick 

Brad & Julie Rick 

Pauline Roskam 

Shirley Roskam 

Cynthia Santarelli 

Arline Dzwonkowski 

Margaret Saunier 

Thea Scholten 

Kimberly Wyngarden 

Sharon Wynkoop 

Dwight W. Sawyer 

Jacquolyn Sawyer 

Anita Scavelli 

James Wright 

Kathleen M. Schafer 

Patrick & Angela Farrell 

Alan & Dorothy Gould 

Kehoe Family Protection Trust 

Lake Michigan Insurance Agency 

Jim & Norma Peterson 

William & Linda Schafer 

Dick & Carol Schermer 

Lyn Cooper 

Grandpa & Grandma 

Schermer 

David DeJonge 

Papa R. Schewe 

Angie Adkin 

Rick Schewe 

Suzanne Brown 

Amy Martin 

Kathy Sturm 

James R. Schmalz 

Leslie Schmalz 

Amy L. Schneider 

Richard & Carol Briggs 

James & Kathryn Coombs 

Juniper Shores Association 

Alonzo Keathley 

Dorothy Schneider 

Chester Schut 


Leon Schutter 

Carol Schutter 

Steve Sedlacek 

Jessi Sedlacek 

Carrie Shaver 

Steven Ender & Karen Gislason 

Ender 

Chris Shaw 

Tom & Barb Shaw 

Wendy Simpson 

Carole Yost 

Don Slager 

Kenneth & Judith Slager 

Clarence Slomp 

Jean Garehan 

Fox Shawmut Hills 

Gary & Ruth Kuipers 

Meily Kuperus 

Wayne & Marilyn Rietberg 

Elsa Slomp 

Terri Vanden Bos 

Carolyn A. Smith 

Kim Chrisman 

Richard Stoops 

Marlene Stoops 

Madge Strikwerda 

Dr. James L. Strikwerda 

Billy Swaney 


Russel B. Swaney 


Daryl Ter Haar 

Patricia Ter Haar 

James R. Teunis 

Kathleen Teunis 

Larry Urban 

Yvonne Urban 

Jay Van Andel 

Nancy Van Andel 


Lois Van Dyke 

West Michigan Tag & Label, Inc. 

Hank Van Ee 


Dorothy Vande Woude 

David & Susan Birdsall 

Chris & Susan Braithwaite 

David & Elaine Cain 

David & Carol Van Andel Family 

Foundation 

Jim & Gail Fahner 

Ronald & Mary Frick 

Steven & Brenda Heacock 

Kelly Himelright-Nemzek 

Stephen Hughes 

Ramesh Kumar 

Ray Loeschner 

The Lowy-Mock Family 

Charitable Fund 

Gerilyn & Jamie May 

Marianne K. Melnik, M.D. 

Pamela Murray 

Sara & Jay O'Neal 

Ellen Pesto 

Patrick & Alana Placzkowski 

Research!America 

Kim Spolarich 

Mark Stetter 

The Right Place, Inc. 

Carleton Woods 

Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. 

Liam Sullivan & Linda Zarzecki 

Martin Vanden Berg 

Dr. James L. Strikwerda 

Carl L. VanderZee 

The Family of Carl VanderZee 

Marlene Vis 

Lonnie Vis 

Marilyn Vos 

Matthew & Shari Berger 

Joanne K. Wallin 

James & Frieda Jaynes 

Lloyd B. Webb 

Alice Antczak 

Jean Henk 

Fred Johnson 

Michele Kladder 

Dennis Malone 

Moiron, Inc. 

Steven & Sheila Paavo 

Yvonne Webb 

William Webber 


Rosalie Wila 


Jerome M. Willim 

Hope Willim 

Jane E. Wilson 

Nancy Porter 

Randy Winchester 

Monica Dolce 

Nona Wirt 

Howard Wirt 

Doc Withey 

Jean Swaney 

Debbie Wittenbach 

Anonymous 

Drs. David & Heather May 

Jeffery & Brenda Pouliot 

Terry Pulling 

Carl & Kimberly Rossi 

James & Randi Wilson 

Craig A. Wood 

Ronald & Frances McKellar 

Herb Zeitter 

Shirley Zeitter 

Henry F. Zeman 

Paul & Julie Carufel 

Jerome Ziomkowski 


Merle & Maxine Varty 

Robert Varty 


Signature Special Event Sponsors 

We are fortunate to have extraordinarily dedicated signature event sponsors. 

Thank you for partnering with us and supporting our mission throughout the year. 

A Charmed Life Nail Salon 

Alliance Beverage Distributing 

Amway 

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel 

Aon Risk Services 

ARTISTRY 

Steve & Kathryn Bandstra 

Bank of America Charitable 

Foundation 

Barnes & Thornburg LLP 

Barracks 616 

BDO USA, LLP 

BD's BBQ 

Belwith Products, LLC 

Berends Hendricks Stuit 

Insurance Agency Inc. 

Matt & Sheri Berger 

David & Jill Bielema 

Blacklamb 

Blank Rome LLP 

Bluewater Technologies 

Chuck & Christine Boelkins 

Bowers Harbor Vineyards 

Brothers Leather Supply Co. 

Bruce Heys Builders, Inc. 

Brush Studio 

Mark & Jennifer Bugge 

Buist Electric 

Allison Burr 


Calvin College 

Scott & Heidi Campbell 

Cancer & Hematology Centers 

of Western MI, PC 

Cascade Rental Center 

Chemical Bank 

The Chop House 

CitySén Lounge 

Natalie Cleary 

Colliers International 

CrossFit Luminary 

The Crown Jewel Spa & Salon 

Crystal Clean Auto Detailing 

Crystal Mountain Resort 

Cumulus Broadcasting 

Custer, Inc. 

CWD Real Estate Investment 

Cygnus27 

Cynthia Kay & Company 

Czech Assest Management 

Davenport University 


Family Foundation 

Dear Prudence 

Deloitte 

Design 1 Salon Day Spa 

Aaron & Afton DeVos 

Dick's Sporting Goods 

Divani 

Jeffrey & Mary Dixon 

DK Security 

The Douglas & Maria DeVos 

Foundation 

Droscha Sugarbush 

Eastbrook Homes 

Eenhoorn, LLC 

Eileen DeVries Family 

Foundation 

Ellis Parking 

Eurest 

Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. 

Ferris State University 

Fifth Third Private Bank 

FireKeepers Casino Hotel 

First National Bank of Michigan 

FOODesign by Chef Brech 

Foot & Ankle Specialists of 

West Michigan 

Fred L. Hansen Corporation 

Frederik Meijer Gardens & 

Sculpture Park 

Dan & Lou Ann Gaydou 

The Gilmore Collection 

Golf Galaxy 

Goodwill Industries 

Dan & Magee Gordon 

Wes Gordon 

Gordon Food Service Inc. 

Grand Rapids Christian Schools 

Grand Rapids Community 

College 

Grand Rapids Symphony 

Grand Valley State University 

Granger Group 

Grey Skies Distillery 

Martin & Peggy Greydanus 

Jana Hall 

Harvey Automotive 

Paul & Sheryl Haverkate 

Honigman 

Hotel Walloon 

Howard Miller 

The H.T. Hackney Co. 

Huizenga Group 

Ice Sculptures, Ltd. 

The I.C.N. Foundation 

Michael & Susan Jandernoa 

Jandernoa Foundation 

Jeffery Roberts Design 

Kathi A. Wilson, DDS 

Keeler 

Andy & Christina Keller 

Kendall College of Art & Design 

John & Nancy Kennedy 

Craig & Debra Kinney 

The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck 

Al & Robin Koop 

Lacks Enterprises, Inc. 

Lake Michigan Credit Union 

Ray & Jeannine Lanning 

Joe & Amanda Lanser 

Leigh's 

Leo's 

Life EMS 

Lighthouse Insurance Group, Inc. 

Little River Casino Resort 

Long Road Distillers 

Love's Ice Cream 

Gary & Vicky Ludema 

Luxeire 

Macatawa Bank 

Maple Hill Golf Course, Inc. 

McAlvey, Merchants & 

Associates 

M.C.L. by Matthew Campbell 

Laurenza 

McShane & Bowie, PLC 

Meijer 

Mark & Mary Beth Meijer 

Merrill Lynch - Bank of America 

Corporation 

Metro Health Hospital 

Michigan State University 

College of Human Medicine 

Mika Meyers, Beckett & 

Jones, PLC 

Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols 

The Mitten State 

MLive Media Group 

Modern Day Floral 

Mike & Rachel Mraz 

My Auto Import Center 

National Christian Foundation 

West Michigan 

Neiman Marcus 

New Holland Brewing Co. 

Norris Perne & French 

Northern Cross Foundation 

Northstar Commercial 

Lee & Alexandra Perez 

Peter C. & Emajean Cook 

Foundation 

Pine Rest Christian Mental 

Health Services 

Pioneer Construction 

Pitsch Companies 

Posh Petals 

Preusser Jewelers 

Priority Health 

RE/MAX of Grand Rapids, Inc. 

Regal Financial Group LLC 

Deidre & Jeff Remtema 

Reserve Wine & Food 

The Richard & Helen DeVos 

Foundation 

Brenda & Tom Rinks 

Rockford Construction 

Sarah & Todd Rollman 

John & Therese Rowerdink 

Rowerdink, Inc. 

Saint Mary's Health Care 

SecurAlarm Systems 

The Sharpe Collection 

Sip Organic Juice Bar 

Six.One.Six 

Slows BarBQ 

Sobie Meats 

Spectrum Health 

Rob & Susan Stafford 

Standard Lumber 

Steelcase Inc. 

Stephen Klotz Family Foundation 

The Steve & Amy Van Andel 

Foundation 

Tom & Mary Stuit 

Sweetie-licious Bakery Café 

Taconic Charitable Foundation 

Steve & Cheryl Timyan 

Todd Wenzel Automotive 

Townsquare Media 

Tre Cugini 

Truscott Rossman 

Twisted Rooster 

Urban Institute for 

Contemporary Arts 

U.S. Bank 

Van Eerden Food Service 

Dave & Beth Van Portfliet 

Brian & Lori Vander Baan 

Marsha & Larry Veenstra 

The Veldheer, Long, Mackay & 

Bernecker Group of Merrill 

Lynch 

Russell & Christine Visner 

Waddell & Reed - Aaron DeVos 

Wallinwood Springs Golf Course 

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP 

Wells Fargo 

West Michigan Women 

Magazine 

Wheelhouse 

Scott & Rebecca Wierda 

Williams Kitchen & Bath 

Greg & Meg Willit 

Bob & Karen Wiltz 

Wolverine Power Systems 

Wolverine Worldwide 

Women's Lifestyle 

Aaron & Amanda Wong 

Wuskowhan Players Club 

XS Energy Drink 

Your Shower Door 

Jim & Jane Zwiers 


Institute Leadership Team 

“From our founding, early 

development and growth 

into a global institute, our 

most important asset has 

always been abundantly 

clear—people.” 



Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO 

David Van Andel is Chairman and CEO of Van Andel 

Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also an 

entrepreneur involved in several other business interests 

in the natural and life science products industries. 

The son of Jay Van Andel, founder of the Van Andel 

Institute and co-founder of Amway Corporation, he 

is currently a member of Amway’s Board of Directors 

and serves on its Executive, Governance and Audit 

committees. Prior to leading Van Andel Institute, he had 

been in various positions at Amway since 1977, including 

chief operating officer of Amway’s Pyxis Innovations 

Business Unit and he was senior vice president–Americas 

and Europe, overseeing Amway business activities in 

North America and 22 European and 11 Latin 

American affiliates. 

Jerry Callahan, M.B.A., Ph.D. 

Vice President, Innovations & Collaborations 

Jana Hall 

Chief Operations Officer 

Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. 

Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Research Institute 

Timothy Myers 

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 

Terra Tarango 

Director & Education Officer, 


Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D. 

President & Dean, 


Linda Zarzecki 

Vice President of Human Resources 


Board and Council Members 

Van Andel Institute Trustees 


Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute 

John Kennedy 

President & Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical 

Mark Meijer 

President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance 

Van Andel Research Institute Trustees 



Tom R. DeMeester, M.D. 

Professor & Chairman Emeritus, Department 

of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of 

Southern California 

James B. Fahner, M.D. 

Chief of Hematology and Oncology, 

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital 

Michelle Le Beau, Ph.D. 

Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology; 

Director, University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer 

Center; Director, Cancer Cytogenetics Laboratory, 

University of Chicago 

George Vande Woude, Ph.D. 

Distinguished Scientific Fellow, Founding Research Director, 


Ralph Weichselbaum, M.D. 

Chairman, Department of Radiation; Head, Ludwig Center 

for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago 

Max Wicha, M.D. 

Distinguished Professor of Oncology, Department of 

Internal Medicine; Founding Director, University of 

Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Van Andel Education Institute Trustees 



James E. Bultman, Ed.D. 

Former President, Hope College 

Donald W. Maine 

Former President, Davenport University 

Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D. 

President, Aquinas College 

Gordon L. Van Harn, Ph.D. 

Emeritus Provost & Professor of Biology, Calvin College 



Board of Scientific Advisors 

Michael Brown, M.D. 

Paul J. Thomas Professor of Genetics & Director of the 

Jonsson Center of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas 

Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas 

Richard Axel, M.D. 

Professor of Neurosciences, Columbia University 

Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D. 

Chairman of the Department of Molecular Genetics, 

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas 

Tony Hunter, Ph.D. 

Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory; American 

Cancer Society Professor; Renato Dulbecco Chair; Director, 

Salk Institute Cancer Center 

Philip A. Sharp, Ph.D. 

Professor of Biology & Head of the Cancer Center, 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 


External Scientific Advisory Board 

Tony Hunter, Ph.D. 

Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory; American 

Cancer Society Professor; Renato Dulbecco Chair; Director, 

Salk Institute Cancer Center 

Marie-Francois Chesselet, M.D., Ph.D. 

Charles H. Markham Professor of Neurology; Distinguished 

Professor of Neurology and of Neurobiology, Reed 

Neurological Research Center 

Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D. 

Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs; Dean of Medicine, 

University of California Irvine 

Theresa Guise, M.D. 

Professor of Medicine; Jerry W. & Peg S. Throgmartin 

Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Division of 

Endocrinology, Indiana University 

Rudolph Jaenisch, Ph.D. 

Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

(MIT); founding member of the Whitehead Institute for 

Biomedical Research at MIT 

Max S. Wicha, M.D. 

Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor, 

Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director, 

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center 


Advisory Council 



Nancy Ayres 

Former General Manager, Flexco 

James Boelkins, Ph.D. 

Former Provost, Hope College 

Joseph Krajcik, Ph.D. 

Professor, Department of Teacher Education at Michigan 

State University 

Carol Van Andel, B.A. 

Executive Director, David & Carol Van Andel 

Family Foundation 


Board of Directors 

James Fahner, M.D. 

Chief of Hematology & Oncology, Helen DeVos Children’s 

Hospital 

Thomas Haas, Ph.D. 

President, Grand Valley State University 

Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. 

Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Research Institute 

Michael J. Imperiale, Ph.D. 

Director, Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology; Associate 

Chair, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, 

University of Michigan 

Pamela Kidd, M.D. 

Hematopathologist & Medical Director of the Hematology 

& Flow Cytometry Laboratories, Spectrum Health & Helen 

DeVos Children’s Hospital 

Lynn Matrisian, Ph.D. 

Vice President, Scientific and Medical Affairs, Pancreatic 

Cancer Action Network 

Gordon Van Harn, Ph.D. 

Emeritus Provost & Professor of Biology, Calvin College 


Board and Council Members 

CO-CHAIRS: TIMOTHY LONG AND VICKY LUDEMA. 

Thank you, Board of Governors. 

As members of the Van Andel Institute Board of 

Governors, your support of the Institute helps advance 

our efforts to improve the health and enhance the 

lives of current and future generations. Thank you for 

being our partners, serving as our ambassadors and 

contributing significantly to our success. 

Van Andel Institute Board of Governors 

Alice Andrews 

R. Tony & Kathleen Asselta 

Nancy Batts 

Paul Becker & Eve Rogus 

David & Jill Bielema 

Charles & Christine Boelkins 

James & Martha Bultman 


John & Marie Canepa 

Mike & Kim Carnevale 

Ron & Lori Cook 

Dave & Karen Custer 

Stephen C. Czech 

Mark & Mary Jane de Waal 

Robert & Allison DeVilbiss 

Douglas & Maria DeVos 

Richard & Helen DeVos 

Daniel & Pamella DeVos 

Dick & Betsy DeVos 

Eileen DeVries 

Randall & Terri Disselkoen 

Michael & Lynette Ellis 

Jim & Gail Fahner 

David & Judy Frey 

Dan & Lou Ann Gaydou 

Gene & Tubie Gilmore 

Gary & Pam Granger 

Martin & Margaret (Peggy) Greydanus 

Jim & Kathy Hackett 

Jana Hall 

Lewis & Teresa Hendricks-Pitsch 

Paul & Rose Heule 

Dirk Hoffius 

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga 

Allen & Helen Hunting 

Bea Idema 

José & Sue Infante 

Earle & Kyle Irwin 

Michael & Sue Jandernoa 

Sidney & Cate Jansma 

Peter & Veronica Jones 

John & Deb Kailunas 

David & Nancy Kammeraad 

John & Nancy Kennedy 

Craig & Debra Kinney 

John Knapp 

Diane Kniowski 

Tim & Kimberly Long 

Gary & Vicky Ludema 

Don & Peg Luy 

Donald W. & Kathleen Maine 

Hank & Liesel Meijer 

Lena Meijer 

Mark & Mary Beth Meijer 

Rusty & Jenn Merchant 

R. George Mickel 

Jack H. Miller 

Jamie Mills & James Nichols 

Louis & Nancy Moran 

Mark & Elizabeth Murray 

William & Sandi Nicholson 

Juan & Mary Olivarez 

Richard Pappas 

Dale & Sonja Robertson 

John & Therese Rowerdink 

Martin D. Sass 

Mike & Cindy Schaap 

Peter & Joan Secchia 

Blair & Michelle Sharpe 

George & Linda Sharpe 

George & Missy Sharpe 

Budge & Marilyn Sherwood 

Brent & Diane Slay 

Peter Stamos & Soonmee Cha 

Robert & Susan Stafford 

Tom & Mary Stuit 

Duke & Sue Suwyn 

Renee Tabben 

Steve & Laura Triezenberg 


Steve & Amy Van Andel 

Michael & Michelle Van Dyke 

Dan & Ann Van Eerden 

George & Dot Vande Woude 

Gordon & Mary Van Harn 

Brian & Lori VanderBaan 

Stuart & Nelleke Vander Heide 

Michael & Gayle VanGessel 

Dave & Beth Van Portfliet 

John Veleris 

Geoff & LeeAnne Widlak 

Greg & Meg Willit 


JBoard Ambassadors 

CO-CHAIRS: HEIDI CAMPBELL AND RACHEL MRAZ. 

Thank you, JBoard members. 

As JBoard members, you are leaders who exhibit the 

power of young professionals to make a difference. 

We appreciate the energy and dedication you bring 

to the Institute. Thank you for your vision and your 

friendship in our efforts to fight disease and advance 

our mission. 

Natalia Alejos 

Zeke Alejos 

Lisa Alles 

Timothy Alles 

Jennifer Baldini 

Charles Bassett 

Lindsay Benedict 

Angie Bissell 

Brandon Bissell 

Brian Blodgett 

Heidi Campbell 

Scott Campbell 

Don Carlson 

Heather Carlson 

Heather Christmann 

Natalie Cleary 

Matthew Cook 

Paige Cornetet 

Blake Crabb 

Aaron DeVos 

Afton DeVos 

Samuel DeVries 

Christa Disselkoen 

Stephen Disselkoen 

Kaitlyn Disselkoen Swan 

Lindsey Dubis 

Bo Fowler 

Jennifer Fowler 

Kevin Gardenier 

Linsey Gleason 

Andrew Grashuis 

Nicole Haglund 

Hailey Harold 

Brandi Huyser 

Eric Jones 

Katie Kileen 

Kevin Kileen 

Eric Kovalak 

Michael Lomonaco 

Erica Lonn 

Kimberly Loomis 

Jack Lott 

Geoff Ludema 

Kate Meyer 

Phillip Mitchell 

Caitlin Mlynarek 

Evan Mlynarek 

Mike Mraz 

Rachel Mraz 

Alyssa Nance 

Chris Nance 

Kendra Osowski 

Matt Osterhaven 

Gregory Paplawsky 

Alexandra Perez 

Leland Perez 

Laurie Placinski 

Nicole Probst 

Deidre Remtema 

Jeff Remtema 

Charlie Rowerdink 

Tanya Rowerdink 

Lindsay Slagboom 

Meriden Smucker 

Timothy Streit 

Libby Stuit 

Paul Stuit 

Amber Sturrus Hoover 

Justin Swan 

Charity Taatjes 

William Templin 

Trevor TenBrink 

Jane Tomaszewski 

Sarah Tupper 

Aaron Van Andel 

Chris Van Andel 

Jesse Van Andel 

Kyle Van Andel 

Daniel VandenBosch 

David Vanderveen 

Sarah Vanderveen 

Marc Veenstra 

Alison Waske Sutter 

Amanda Whowell 

MeiLi Wieringa 

Lisa Wolf 

Nathaniel Wolf 

Charlie Wondergem 

Brian Yarch 

Courtney Yarch 

Lisa Zigterman 

Megan Zubrickas 


333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | P 616.234.5000 | vai.org

2016 Annual Report

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