2016 Annual Report

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.”
David Van Andel
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 INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2016 | 19