2007 Annual Report

programs around the world. We are pleased to announce the formation
of VARI International, headed by Dr. Bin Tean Teh. VARI International was
formed to organize and formalize the Institute’s international opportunities.
Currently, two laboratories with foreign host institutes are in operation. New
in 2007 was the formation of the National Cancer
Centre of Singapore (NCCS)–VARI Translational
Research Laboratory (headed by Dr. Teh). The
NCCS–VARI laboratory is focusing on translational
research on cancers that are prevalent in Asian
countries. The Nanjing Medical University (NMU)–
VARI Antibody Technology Laboratory (headed
by Dr. Brian Cao), established in 2005, continues
its work in the development of a variety of murine
and human monoclonal antibodies and antibody
fragments for potential clinical diagnostic and
therapeutic applications.
Cancer Immunodiagnostics. Dr. Haab was promoted to Senior Scientific
Investigator in August, and elected to a three-year term on the Board of
Directors of the U.S. Human Proteome Organization.
Finally, in the fall we presented the Daniel
Nathans Memorial Award to Harald zur Hausen
and Douglas R. Lowy. Dr. zur Hausen’s lab
identified infection by papillomavirus as the
main cause of cervical cancer, and Dr. Lowy’s
studies were instrumental in developing a
new way to prepare vaccines that prevent
infection by the virus. The importance of this
work in terms of improving human health
worldwide is obvious, and we are pleased
to have these distinguished researchers join
the list of Nathans Award recipients.
The Program of Translational Medicine under the
direction of Dr. Craig Webb has established the
essential infrastructure and partnerships that allow
VARI to collaborate with other institutions that will engage in exploiting
our cutting edge biomarker-driven clinical research. In 2007, this led to
the development of a specific, personalized medicine protocol, in which
genomic technologies are being used in conjunction with the powerful
biomarker software package developed by Dr. Webb and colleagues to
identify drug combinations to target the cancer proteins in tumors from
late stage cancer patients.
Congratulations go out to Dr. Brian Haab, who heads the Laboratory of
Research at VARI has implications for many different diseases, including:
Clearly, we have much to be proud of
and have cemented Van Andel Institute’s
reputation in the international research
community since we opened our doors in 2000. When we open the
doors to Phase II at the end of 2009, we anticipate having an even
greater impact.
George Vande Woude, Ph.D.
Van Andel Research Institute Director
VARI Director
www.vai.org
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