2020 Annual Report

2020
ANNUAL REPORT

Through cutting-edge biomedical
research, inspired scientific education and
relentless commitment,
Van Andel Institute is unleashing
innovations that will improve health and
enhance lives for generations to come.

Table of Contents
Note: Some photos in this edition of the Annual
Report were taken prior to distancing guidelines
related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 A letter from David Van Andel
4 Research
6 Erin Dean: Turning uncertainty into action
and hope
7 Scientists taking on cancer
8 Brent Brinks: A commitment to sparking
life-changing innovation
9 Making promising progress in Parkinson’s
10 Research highlights
11 Hubs for translating impact from lab to clinic
12 VAI principal investigators
20 Van Andel Institute Graduate School, in the
words of its students
22 Graduate School highlights
24 Education
26 From cohort to college: Analis Floyd
27 VAI helps bring the classroom to everyone
28 Education highlights
30 Events and Philanthropy
32 Event photos
39 Signature special event sponsors
40 Consumers Credit Union: A community
partnership of action and hope
42 Jim and Jane Zwiers: Embodying the spirit
of philanthropy
43 Uniting young, ambitious professionals
in support of VAI’s mission
44 Southside Hockey Fights Cancer brings hope
to a difficult year
45 Philanthropy highlights
46 Circle of Hope and By the numbers
47 Institute leadership team
48 Board members
50 Board of Governors
51 JBoard Ambassadors
52 In Memoriam
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 1

A letter from David Van Andel
As we approach the celebration of Van Andel Institute’s
25th anniversary in 2021, I’d like to take a moment to first
reflect on 2020, the final year leading up to this important
milestone.
2020 brought with it countless challenges, but also many
triumphs. It pushed our Institute and society as a whole
to pivot and adapt. While there was certainly much to
overcome as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was
a surge of creativity and innovation as well.
Of all our touchstones and accomplishments this year
— and they are many, featured in prestigious scientific
journals and media coverage — we are perhaps most
proud of the overarching philosophy we have embraced
since the early days of VAI’s existence: that collaboration
is key to advancement. You’ll find evidence of this in the
following pages, in stories and anecdotes that reflect our
dedication to working together with one another and with
organizations around the world to improve the health
and enhance the lives of those here today as well as the
generations to come.
Our gratefulness knows no bounds, in large part
because we are indebted to thousands of individuals
and organizations in our hometown and beyond who
have aligned with our mission to alter the very course
of humanity and have continued to offer their support
through a tumultuous year.
This year forced changes to our collective reality, but the
progress made by VAI scientists and educators exemplified
our tenacity and commitment to sharing breakthroughs
and triumphs with the world. We will never stop working to
pursue scientific discoveries and stay on the cutting edge of
K–12 and graduate education. To that end, we have brought
together some of the brightest minds known to humankind,
men and women whose verve and passion know no bounds
in the quest to assuage a world in constant flux.
Your ardent support and your belief in what we do on the
Medical Mile empowers us to continue working urgently
to end diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
and to advance curiosity, creativity and critical thinking in
classrooms worldwide.
We hope the stories and images on the pages that follow
help to reflect the dynamic culture we’ve worked so hard to
develop and grow. We will work just as diligently during the
next quarter-century on behalf of so many in need.
As we celebrate our progress and set our compass for
distant horizons of groundbreaking discoveries, I thank
you — and the Institute thanks you — for your unwavering
support.
Gratefully,
David Van Andel
Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO
2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 3

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
FOR RESEARCH
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH BRINGS
SCIENTISTS TOGETHER TO TAKE DISEASES
APART. HOW DO YOU ARRIVE AT REVOLUTIONARY
TREATMENTS AND BREAKTHROUGHS? UNLEASH
A GLOBAL COALITION OF BRILLIANT SCIENTIFIC
MINDS AND FOSTER AN ENTREPRENEURIAL AND
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS — ALL WHILE DOING A
WORLD OF GOOD.

Erin Dean: Turning uncertainty into action and hope
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer
among women in the United States, but how that
diagnosis affects each person varies greatly. When
Erin Dean was diagnosed in October 2017, she set down
a path that she never imagined.
“As a wife and mother to three wonderful and active
kids,” Erin said, “how do you fit a cancer diagnosis into
your schedule?”
Even before her diagnosis, Erin long supported Van Andel
Institute’s Couture for a Cure and the Duncan Lake Middle
School Cancer Walk, which directly benefit biomedical
research at VAI. Being involved took on a new meaning
after her diagnosis.
“I planned to run the Bee Brave 5K on a good friend’s
team that year,” Erin said. “But then I received my
diagnosis just a few days before race day, and I needed
to step back to understand what this meant for my life.”
Erin underwent a variety of treatments and will have
ongoing hormone therapy for another seven years. But
while 2020 was a trying year for the world, it was also her
first year without a major medical issue.
She is now training for the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon on behalf of VAI and was previously honored
during the ceremonial puck drop at the 2019 Grand
Rapids Griffins Purple Community Game. Her daughter,
Emily Dean, joined VAI’s Student Ambassador Program as
her own way to give back to the Institute.
“VAI’s work means more chances at life,” Erin said. “Even
though so many of us get a second lease on life, it’s not
without side effects — some of which are long-lasting.
Thinking about advancements that one day might make
going through cancer a little less horrible? It really gives
us hope.”
Scientists taking
on cancer
Scientists recognized for collaborative
efforts in cancer research
The American Association for Cancer Research
awarded 2020 AACR Team Science Awards to VAI
Professor Dr. Peter W. Laird, Director’s Scholar
Dr. Stephen B. Baylin and Associate Professor
Dr. Hui Shen for their pivotal roles in the
establishment and success of The Cancer Genome
Atlas (TCGA), a landmark National Institutes
of Health-led project that revolutionized our
understanding of cancer and is hailed as an
exemplar of scientific collaboration. The awards
recognize more than 100 individuals who were
central to TCGA from its inception through today.
Baylin holds a primary appointment at Sidney
Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns
Hopkins University.
SURROUNDED BY HER FAMILY, ERIN DEAN (CENTER) DROPS THE
CEREMONIAL PUCK AT THE 2019 GRAND RAPIDS
GRIFFINS PURPLE COMMUNITY GAME
6 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
Newly discovered potential biomarker
could ‘flag’ tumors sensitive to metabolic
therapy
A recently identified potential biomarker could help
scientists pinpoint which cancers are vulnerable
to treatment with biguanides, a common class of
medications used to control blood sugar in Type 2
diabetes. Biguanides have long been of interest to
cancer researchers because of their ability to target
cellular metabolism, which fuels the growth and
spread of malignant cells. The discovery, published
by Dr. Russell Jones and collaborators, may give
scientists a way to objectively determine which
types of cancer are sensitive to biguanide treatment
and illuminates how and why some patients may
respond better to biguanides than other patients. 1
1
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research under grants MOP-142259 (Jones) and MOP-
123352 (Duchaine); The Medical Research Council under grant MC_UU_0015/2
(Hirst); and funding from ImmunoMet Therapeutics. The Goodman Cancer
Research Center Metabolomics Core Facility is supported by grants from the
Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
and Terry Fox Research Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the
authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the granting
organizations.
Seeking a new test to diagnose
pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a difficult foe and a master of
evasion. By the time it is diagnosed, it frequently is
far advanced, which limits options and complicates
treatment. Adding to the challenge, some pancreatic
cancers don’t respond to existing medications. The
result often is an agonizing decision: pursue treatment
that may or may not work, or focus on quality of life.
VAI Professor Dr. Brian Haab wants to change this
reality. He and his colleagues are developing a simple,
experimental blood test that distinguishes pancreatic
cancers that respond to treatment from those that
do not. This critical distinction could one day guide
therapeutic decisions and spare patients with resistant
cancers from undergoing unnecessary treatments with
challenging side effects.
“Knowing which type of pancreatic cancer a person
has is critical to choosing the right treatment strategy
for each patient,” Haab said. “We hope that our new
test, which detects a marker produced by cancer cells
of one subtype and not the other, will one day be a
powerful tool to help physicians and patients make the
best decisions possible.”
The experimental test is slated to undergo additional
clinical validation. 2
2
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute;
the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award
no. U01CA152653 (Haab and Brand) and award no. U01CA226158 (Haab); the
Lustgarten Foundation (Tuveson); and the German Research Foundation (Plenker).
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of the granting organizations.
Collaborating in a national initiative
against cancer
Biospecimens are the bedrock of scientific research —
without them, we wouldn’t be able to study cancer or
develop new treatments and diagnostics.
Last summer, VAI’s Biorepository was awarded a
$2.7 million, two-year subcontract from the Frederick
National Laboratory for Cancer Research currently
operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., on
behalf of the National Cancer Institute to serve as the
biorepository for the Cancer Moonshot Biobank study,
a national initiative to transform cancer treatment and
prevention through accelerated research.
“We are honored to be part of the Cancer Moonshot
Biobank study and look forward to doing our part to
support research and improve cancer care,” said
Dr. Scott Jewell, director of VAI’s Core Technologies and
Services, which includes the Institute’s Biorepository.
The Cancer Moonshot was launched in 2016 by the
Obama Administration. Its strategic aims, determined
by a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts, are designed to
answer critical scientific and medical questions while
ensuring the samples collected represent the diversity
of the U.S. population. 3
3
The project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the
National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under contract no.
HHSN261201500003I, Task Order HHSN26100042 through Leidos Biomedical
Research, Inc. under subcontract no. 20X062Q. The content of this publication
does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health
and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or
organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 7

Brent Brinks: A commitment to sparking
life-changing innovation
Brent Brinks and the company he leads, Buist
Electric, helped build VAI from the ground up —
literally. In 2009, Buist Electric’s work was critical in
completing the second phase of the Institute’s building.
Since then, the Brinks family and Buist Electric have
passionately supported VAI both through individual
giving and sponsorship of Winterfest, VAI’s annual
fundraiser for Parkinson’s research, and Hope on the Hill,
VAI’s annual gala.
“As a people-focused company, it’s very important to us
to give back to our community,” Brent said. “With VAI,
that means supporting the groundbreaking research
that’s done right here in Grand Rapids.”
Their support took on new meaning four years ago, when
Brent’s mother, Sallie, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease. Brent is hopeful that the research underway
in the Institute’s labs will lead to life-changing ways to
slow or stop disease progression — something current
treatments cannot do.
“Without research, progress isn’t going to happen. That’s
why supporting science is so critical,” Brent said. “We
support VAI’s pursuit of breakthroughs for my mom and
for everyone with Parkinson’s.”
THE BRINKS FAMILY
8 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Making promising progress
in Parkinson’s
RESEARCH
Scientists have a gut feeling about
Parkinson’s
The gut and the brain may seem wildly different.
But an in-depth look reveals that their relationship
is much closer than meets the eye — in fact, they
share so many connections that the gut is widely
considered to be the body’s “second brain.”
It makes sense, then, that science is increasingly
pointing to the gut for insights into Parkinson’s. For
example, in 2020, VAI scientists and their colleagues
found that abnormal shifts in the vast population of
helpful microbes in the gut may tilt the production of
bile acids toward more toxic forms.
Importantly, these shifts were seen only in people
with Parkinson’s and not in people without the
disease, a key difference that suggests these acids
could provide a new way to diagnose Parkinson’s
early and track its progression. The insights may
even lead to new opportunities for developing
treatments that impede Parkinson’s-related changes
in the gut, and possibly for slowing or stopping
disease onset and progression.
The research was led by the late Dr. Viviane Labrie of
VAI and collaborators at Beaumont Health, Michigan
State University College of Human Medicine and
Oregon Health & Science University. 4
4
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute and the
Farmer Family Foundation (P. Brundin, with L. Brundin, Pospisilik and Labrie as
co-investigators).
Labrie also held awards from the Department of Defense, National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health and Michigan
State University through the Gibby & Friends vs. Parky Parkinson’s Disease Research
Award. Graham holds awards from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Aging of
the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association and The Michael J. Fox
Foundation.
Connecting the dots between Parkinson’s
and age
Aging is one of the biggest risk factors in Parkinson’s.
This connection has been known for a long time,
yet the answer to one seemingly small but complex
question remains unclear: why?
Now, scientists from VAI and the University of
Minnesota Medical School are collaborating to root
out clues, with the goal of one day developing new
ways to promote healthy aging.
Together, VAI’s Dr. Darren Moore and Dr. José Brás
and University of Minnesota’s Dr. Michael Lee and
Dr. Laura Niedernhofer seek to uncover the precise
reasons why age increases the risk for developing
Parkinson’s.
Their innovative project is supported by a $6.2 million,
three-year grant from the Aligning Science Across
Parkinson’s initiative, an international collaborative
research effort partnering with The Michael J. Fox
Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to implement
its funding.
Teaming up against Parkinson’s
In 2020, VAI and Cure Parkinson’s (formerly The
Cure Parkinson’s Trust) welcomed a new partner
to our collaborative endeavor to find life-changing
treatments for Parkinson’s — the John Black
Charitable Trust. The strategic partnership is now
worth $6.75 million.
Together, we are thrilled to collaborate on the
International Linked Clinical Trials initiative, which
supports clinical trials that repurpose medications
developed to treat other diseases and that have shown
potential to slow or stop Parkinson’s progression.
VAI welcomes Parkinson’s expert
to its team
In the summer of 2020, VAI welcomed Dr. Michael
Henderson to its growing team of scientists.
An expert in Parkinson’s disease and dementia
with Lewy bodies, Henderson investigates the
role of abnormal proteins in disease onset and
progression, with the goal of developing new,
life-changing therapies. He has made landmark
contributions to the understanding of Parkinson’s
and neurodegeneration, such as showing that alphasynuclein
proteins take advantage of the brain’s
own structure to spread and that an enzyme called
glucocerebrosidase (GBA) plays an important role in
propelling alpha-synuclein’s propagation.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 9

Research highlights
VAI plans an ambitious path forward
In the fall of 2020, Van Andel Institute finished outlining its new strategic vision for
the next five years. This plan, called Research 4.0, lays out a bold path for the future
of VAI’s research and builds on the strong foundations and success of the past — all
made possible in part thanks to our donors and their steadfast dedication to our
mission.
Importantly, the plan affirms our focus on basic research discovery in epigenetics,
neurodegenerative science, cell biology, structural biology and metabolism. It also
renews our commitment to cancer and Parkinson’s through the establishment of
two new Focal Centers — the VAI Cancer Center and the VAI Parkinson’s Disease
Center — which serve as hubs for translating groundbreaking discoveries into clinical
trials. In addition, Research 4.0 kick-started an ambitious campaign to recruit new
scientists to VAI in order to grow our scientific capacity and broaden our impact.
Understanding how brain cells maintain balance to keep us healthy
Imagine standing on the moon and having eyes so powerful that you can clearly
watch a tennis match on Earth. Now imagine that same optical power packed into
a high-tech microscope, and you have cryo-EM — a groundbreaking technology
that helps scientists study the smallest components of life in exquisite detail. Using
the Institute’s state-of-the-art cryo-EM, VAI scientists Dr. Wei Lü and Dr. Juan Du,
in collaboration with Dr. Zhaozhu Qiu of Johns Hopkins University, captured highresolution
images that help explain how cells sense and respond to their environment.
The images depict molecular “gates” that open and close, letting chemical messages in
and out while also helping maintain pH balance within brain cells — a critical function
that keeps cells alive and helps prevent stroke and other brain injuries. 5
5
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute; McKnight Scholar Awards in Neuroscience (Du, Qiu),
Klingenstein-Simons Scholar Awards (Du, Qiu); Sloan Research Fellowships (Du, Qiu); the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM124824 (Qiu); the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01NS118014 (Qiu), R01NS112363 (Lü) and R01NS111031 (Du);
the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R56HL144929 (Lü); a Pew
Scholar in Biomedical Sciences award (Du); and the American Heart Association under award no. 20POST35120556 (Ruan) and
18PRE34060025 (Osei-Owusu). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the
official views of the granting organizations.
Releasing a molecular ‘brake’ kick-starts immune cell function
The immune system’s ability to marshal specialized cells to fight off infection relies in
part on tiny molecules called microRNAs, which act as a release for the “brakes” that
keep cells dormant until needed, according to a study by Dr. Connie Krawczyk and
collaborators. The findings reveal new insights into the nuts and bolts of immune
function and add to a growing body of knowledge that could one day be leveraged to
optimize vaccines or immunotherapies for a number of diseases. 6
6
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) under
grant nos. RGPIN/2018-06257 and RGPIN/419537-2012 (Krawczyk). Brendan Cordeiro was supported by the McGill Integrated Cancer
Research Training Program, the Fonds de la Rescherche du Quebec-Santé and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The
content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the granting organizations.
First detailed images of ‘molecular machine’ provide foundation
for new therapies
Dr. Huilin Li and his team have revealed the first known atomic structure of a “molecular
machine” responsible for installing critical signaling proteins into cellular membranes.
The findings, published in Nature, shed new light on how this process works and lay the
foundation for potential future therapies for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s and cystic
fibrosis. 7
7
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute and the National Cancer Institute of the National
Institutes of Health under award no. CA231466 (Li). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
A search for the genetic roots of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. Now, Van Andel
Institute scientists believe they can strengthen our understanding of the disease’s
genetic precursors and find avenues for potential new therapies by hunting for clues in
one particular group with a unique genetic makeup: the Portuguese population. In the
largest and first study of its kind in the country, Dr. Rita Guerreiro will identify common
and rare genetic risk variants associated by mapping and analyzing the genome of a
Portuguese sample population. This data will be combined with publicly available data
from non-Portuguese populations to increase the diversity and statistical power of
ongoing international studies. 8
8
Research reported in this publication is supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under
award no. R01AG067426 (Guerreiro). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the
official views of the National Institutes of Health.
10 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

“Impacting human health through
groundbreaking research is at the heart
of VAI’s mission. Research 4.0 sets the
stage for the Institute’s future and is an
important reminder of how far we’ve come,
particularly as we gear up to celebrate VAI’s
25th anniversary. There are great things
on the horizon and, together, we
can make the world a
better place.”
Peter A. Jones,
Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
VAI Chief Scientific Officer
RESEARCH
Hubs for translating impact
from lab to clinic
How do research breakthroughs in the lab become tangible treatments for those facing
diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s? Through clinical trials, like those supported by
Van Andel Institute’s Focal Centers.
Established in 2020, the VAI Cancer Center and VAI Parkinson’s Disease Center provide
support and infrastructure for VAI scientists seeking to develop and implement
translational cancer and Parkinson’s projects in Grand Rapids, West Michigan and beyond.
In the coming years, we expect the number of projects supported by the Centers to grow,
multiplying the Institute’s impact in cancer and Parkinson’s.
Dietary interventions may slow onset of inflammatory and
autoimmune disorders
Significantly reducing dietary levels of a specific amino acid, known as methionine,
could slow the onset and progression of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders
such as multiple sclerosis in high-risk individuals, according to a study published in
Cell Metabolism by Dr. Russell Jones and his team.
Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks
and destroys healthy tissue. For example, in multiple sclerosis, the immune
system targets the protective covering of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
The subsequent damage obstructs messages traveling to and from the brain,
resulting in progressively worsening symptoms like numbness, muscle weakness,
coordination and balance problems, and cognitive decline. There currently are
no treatments that significantly slow or stop multiple sclerosis without greatly
increasing the risk of infection or cancer. These findings provide further basis for
dietary interventions as future treatments for such disorders.
Cancer Center
The Cancer Center supports projects
and clinical trials for several different
types of cancer in partnership with
organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer
Epigenetics Dream Team
Finding the cancer therapies of tomorrow
requires visionary thinking and innovative
research today. The VAI–SU2C Epigenetics
Dream Team fosters collaboration between
several of the world’s most respected
research and clinical organizations in an
effort to quickly move promising potential
therapies into clinical trials.
Research by the numbers
13 Trials launched
1 Trial in development
500+ Patients
Parkinson’s Disease Center
The Parkinson’s Disease Center
supports projects and clinical trials that
investigate potential therapies to slow or
stop Parkinson’s progression — a feat not
possible with existing treatments.
International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT)
Since 2012, VAI has partnered with Cure
Parkinson’s to support clinical trials of
medications developed to treat other
diseases that also show potential for
impeding Parkinson’s progression.
Research by the numbers
15 Trials launched
10 Trials in development
850+ Patients
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 11

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Van Andel Institute for Research is home to a team of scientists dedicated to improving the health and enhancing the
lives of current and future generations through groundbreaking biomedical research.
LEADERSHIP
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer; Director, Cancer Center
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon), 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 past president of the
American Association for Cancer Research, a Fellow of the AACR Academy, a Fellow of
the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the National
Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer; Director, Parkinson’s
Disease Center
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.
Scott Jewell, Ph.D.
Director, Core Technologies and Services; Director,
Pathology and Biorepository Core; Professor, Department
of Cell Biology
Scott Jewell, Ph.D., leads VAI’s Core Technologies and Services,
which provides technology and specialized expertise for
research investigators. Services include bioinformatics and
biostatistics, cryo-EM, optical imaging, flow cytometry, genomics, pathology and
biorepository, vivarium management and transgenics. Jewell is a past president of the
International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER).
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D.
President and Dean, Van Andel Institute Graduate School
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D., is the dean of Van Andel Institute
Graduate School. His lab, which closed in 2018 after 31 years of
productive research, explored the genetic and epigenetic control
systems of viruses to understand how infections progress and
to reveal new ways to stop them. His discoveries with herpes
simplex viruses opened up new possibilities for antiviral drug development and revealed
new insights into how human cells control gene expression.
DEPARTMENT OF EPIGENETICS
J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D., seeks to understand how we become
whom we become, and how our disease susceptibility is defined
from early on in life, even before conception, with the long-term
goal of being able to predict lifelong health outlook at birth.
12 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
Stephen B. Baylin, M.D.
Director’s Scholar; Professor
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 and was among the first to trace
epigenetic causes of cancer. His studies have led to new therapies
for breast, lung and colorectal cancers, among others. He is
co-leader of the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team, a
Director’s Scholar at VAI and co-head of Cancer Biology at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive
Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University.
Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.
Professor
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 also is a principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute’s Genome Data
Analysis Network and played a leadership role in The Cancer Genome Atlas, a multiinstitutional
effort to molecularly map cancers.
Department of Epigenetics
The Department of Epigenetics seeks to understand the
plasticity of our genomes and how our genetic output can
be stably modified to protect us from or predispose us to
complex diseases such as cancer, infection, obesity and
Parkinson’s. Faculty investigate the molecular processes
that fine-tune how DNA is packaged and how this packaging
is stabilized to form disease programs. In this way, they will
mine the origins of these complex diseases, mapping them to
genetic and environmental inputs now, in our early lives, and
even before birth.
Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D.
Professor
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.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 13

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., studies the ways in which cells pack and
unpack DNA. This elegant process twists and coils roughly
2 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.
Hui Shen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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 many
cancer types, including breast, kidney and prostate cancers.
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D.
Professor
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D., investigates the mechanisms that regulate
DNA and gene expression in an effort to better understand how
they impact cancer development. His research has led to the
discovery of several new “readers” of epigenetic marks that may
serve as targets for cancer treatment.
Piroska Szabó, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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.
Timothy J. Triche, Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
As a statistician and computational biologist with an interest
in clonal evolution and cancers of the blood, the work of
Tim Triche, Jr., Ph.D. focuses on wedding data-intensive
molecular phenotyping to adaptive clinical trial designs, in
an effort to accelerate the pace of drug targeting and
development in rare or refractory diseases.
Hong Wen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Hong Wen, Ph.D., investigates the molecular underpinnings of
pediatric cancers, with a focus on how epigenetic dysregulation
impacts genes expression and drives malignancy. Her work holds
great promise for developing new, improved therapies for these
devastating diseases.
DEPARTMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE
Darren Moore, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Darren Moore, Ph.D., seeks new diagnostic and treatment
approaches for Parkinson’s by investigating the inherited form
of the disease, which comprises 5% to 10% 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.
14 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
José Brás, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
José Brás, Ph.D., investigates how variations in our genes impact
the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such
as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Using cutting-edge technologies and bioinformatic approaches,
he has identified new genetic mutations that impact disease risk.
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
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
to 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.
Hong-yuan Chu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Hong-yuan Chu, Ph.D., investigates how and why dopamineproducing
cells die off in Parkinson’s, a process that underlies
many of the disease’s hallmark symptoms. He plans to leverage
this new knowledge to develop new, more precise ways to slow
or stop disease progression.
Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D.
Professor
Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D., searches the human genome for
minuscule changes that contribute to the onset, progression
and drug resistance of many diseases, including cancer and
Parkinson’s. 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.
Department of
Neurodegenerative Science
The Department of Neurodegenerative Science focuses on
elucidating disease mechanisms and identifying novel diseasemodifying
therapeutic approaches for major neurodegenerative
diseases, with a special focus on Parkinson’s disease.
Additional areas of interest include dementias (Alzheimer’s
disease, dementia with Lewy bodies) and psychiatric disorders
(depression, anxiety). Department faculty have research
interests and expertise in the molecular underpinnings of
neurodegenerative disease through an understanding of genetic
risk, epigenetics, cell biology, biomarkers, neuropathology,
neuroinflammation, neural circuits and patient-derived
biospecimens. Their mission is to leverage new knowledge for the
development of treatments for Parkinson’s and related disorders.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 15

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D., parses the genetic variations that
contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal
dementia. Her research has led to new insights into the genetic
contributors to these diseases, which currently have no cure
and no treatments that slow progression.
DEPARTMENT OF CELL BIOLOGY
Michael Henderson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Michael Henderson, Ph.D., investigates the causes of
neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia with
Lewy bodies, and the factors that control disease progression.
He hopes to translate his findings into new therapies that slow
or stop this progression.
Bart Williams, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
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.
Brian Haab, Ph.D.
Professor; Associate Dean, Van Andel Institute Graduate
School
Brian Haab, Ph.D., searches for new ways to diagnose and
stratify pancreatic cancers 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.
Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, VAI; Director, DeVos Cardiovascular Research
Program (a joint effort between VAI and Spectrum Health);
Medical Director of Research, Frederik Meijer Heart and
Vascular Institute, Spectrum Health
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 VAI.
Matt Steensma, M.D.
Associate Professor
Matt Steensma, M.D., studies the genetic and molecular factors
that cause benign tumors to become cancers, in search of
vulnerabilities that may be targeted for treatment. As a scientist
at VAI and practicing surgeon at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos
Children’s Hospital, he is committed to translating scientific
discoveries into treatments that improve patients’ lives.
Tao Yang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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.
16 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
Emeritus Faculty (In Memoriam)
George Vande Woude, Ph.D.
On April 13, 2021, the world lost
Dr. George Vande Woude, Van Andel Institute’s
founding research director and a worldrenowned
scientist whose storied career
revolutionized our understanding of cancer.
His vast scientific contributions, exceptional
vision and commitment to building world-class
research programs will galvanize discovery and
Department of Cell Biology
The Department of Cell Biology pursues fundamental discoveries
about how changes in cell growth, survival and function underlie
human diseases and identifies new strategies that could contribute
to improved quality of life. A central theme in all department work is
exploring how tissue-specific stem cells are regulated to maintain
physiological homeostasis in tissues and how inappropriate growth of
cells with these characteristics causes tumorigenesis.
scientific excellence for years to come.
Among Dr. Vande Woude’s most lauded breakthroughs is the 1984 discovery of the human
MET oncogene, which is now a major target for personalized cancer therapies. He was the first
to determine the structure and enhancer function of long terminal repeats, specific sequences
of the DNA that govern gene expression. He also was the first to show that mutations can
transform normal genes to cancer-promoting genes, or oncogenes. These foundational
discoveries — along with the findings detailed in more than 300 published, peer-reviewed
papers — will continue to shape cancer research and treatment now and into the future.
Over his career, Dr. Vande Woude accrued an impressive list of scientific accolades. He was
elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1993, and the American Association for Cancer
Research Academy and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2013.
The proper regulation of cellular division, differentiation and survival
is required for all development in multi-cellular organisms, and the
dysregulation of these processes causes all human disease. The
Department of Cell Biology focuses on discovering the mechanisms
that underlie these processes, with a goal of understanding both
how they normally occur and how alterations in these processes
cause human disease. To this end, laboratories in the department
investigate the molecular mechanisms that control cellular processes
such as proliferation, apoptosis (programmed cell death), senescence
(cellular aging), signal transduction (how cells respond to signals from
their environment), and differentiation (how cells
change characteristics).
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 17

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
DEPARTMENT OF STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
Huilin Li, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor; Director, Cryo-EM Core
Huilin Li, Ph.D., uses cryo-electron microscopy 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.
Juan Du, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Juan Du, Ph.D., seeks to understand the brain’s intricate
communication systems using state-of-the-art structural biology
approaches, such as cryo-EM. Her work has revealed new insights
into critical processes such as temperature regulation in the human
body, which has implications for development of new medications
for neurological disorders.
Wei Lü, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Wei Lü, Ph.D., is working to unravel how brain cells communicate
with each other. Using techniques such as cryo-EM, his work
has contributed to the field’s understanding of molecules that
play crucial roles in the development and function of the
nervous system.
Karsten Melcher, Ph.D.
Professor
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.
Department of
Structural Biology
The Department of Structural Biology aims to understand
biology and human diseases at their most basic level.
Scientists in the department use a series of advanced
biophysical and biochemical techniques, such as
cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, mass
spectrometry and patch-clamp electrophysiology, to
determine the atomic structures of proteins and proteinnucleic
acid complexes and investigate their biological
functions both in vitro with purified samples and in cells.
The determination of these structures illuminates the
underpinnings of normal cellular function as well as
disease-related dysfunction. They also reveal the action
mechanisms of many existing drugs and may guide the
development of novel therapeutics.
18 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
DEPARTMENT OF METABOLISM AND NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMMING
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Russell Jones, Ph.D., investigates metabolism at the cellular level
to understand how it affects cell behavior and health, with a
specific eye on cancer and the immune system. By revealing how
cancer cells use metabolic processes to fuel their growth and
spread, he hopes to develop new treatments that help patients
by changing the standard of care for cancer.
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D., investigates the links between
metabolism, epigenetics and the immune system, with the goal
of understanding how they work together to keep us healthy and,
when things go wrong, to promote disease.
Adelheid Lempradl, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Adelheid Lempradl, Ph.D., is investigating how the dietary choices
of parents may impact the health of their offspring in the hopes
of translating her findings into new ways to prevent disease and
create a healthier future.
Ning Wu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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.
Department of Metabolism and
Nutritional Programming
For the human body to function properly, it must have the right amount of
energy and resources in the right place at the right time. The Department
of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming focuses on understanding the
intricate mechanics of cellular metabolism and their implications for human
health. Its major focus is understanding how environmental exposures and
metabolic dysfunction contribute to complex diseases such as diabetes,
autoimmunity, cancer and neurodegeneration. Research in the department
centers on metabolism and its intersection with cancer biology, immune
function (immunometabolism), metabolic physiology (diabetes and obesity),
and intergenerational inheritance of nutritional states. By leveraging
novel model systems (cellular, animal models and patient samples) and
approaches in molecular physiology, metabolomics, immunology and
epigenetics, department faculty are able to advance numerous fields,
unlocking new understanding of how metabolism fuels fundamental cellular
processes such as cell growth, survival and differentiation in various health
and disease contexts. The department’s mission is to rigorously study
metabolism and how it is impacted by nutrition, genetics and epigenetics, in
order to develop metabolism-based therapeutics and interventions with the
ultimate goal of improving human health.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 19

Van Andel Institute Graduate School,
in the words of its students
To understand what it’s like at Van Andel Institute Graduate School, we sat down with our Ph.D. candidates to hear what they had to say about learning from
VAI’s world-class scientists.
“I liked the idea of small class sizes and
the problem-based learning approach,
because I knew I would be challenged to
a greater extent than at other institutions.
Furthermore, I was intrigued by the exciting
and high-quality research taking place at
the Institute.”
— Shelby Compton, Ph.D. candidate in the
lab of Dr. Russell Jones
“Van Andel Institute was the first community
to give me the opportunity to get research
experience as an intern, and I feel a certain
level of loyalty for that. More importantly,
after working at the Institute for several
years, I witnessed firsthand the quality of
research being conducted here and the
respect VAI shows all its scientists.”
— Jordan Prahl, Ph.D. candidate in the
lab of Dr. Gerry Coetzee
“Having smaller-sized classes helps foster
a community within the graduate program
and ensures that no one is really a stranger
here. The problem-based learning was
another draw, as this approach felt very
similar to my projects at the NIH [National
Institutes of Health] and felt like a more
natural progression of knowledge and
understanding of the material.”
— Lauren McGee, Ph.D. candidate in the
lab of Dr. Matt Steensma
20 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
“Medical school provides a solid foundation
for the basic sciences, but it doesn’t train
you how to ‘think like a scientist’ or how to
conduct biomedical research. In graduate
school, I’ve developed a complementary
set of skills in order to apply my previous
medical knowledge. Ultimately, I feel as
though dual training is synergistic, in that
my development as a physician and as a
researcher is enhanced by both training
paradigms.”
— Dylan Dues, M.D./Ph.D. student in the
lab of Dr. Darren Moore
“After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I never
wanted to sit in a large lecture hall-style
class again. The student-led discussions
and practical learning applications at the
Graduate School are an excellent way to
learn in a way that is particularly relevant to
Ph.D. careers. I am constantly impressed by
the amount of resources and support we
receive. I knew it was good when I accepted
admission, but the more I compare with my
peers at other schools, the more I realize
what a uniquely supportive environment we
have at the Institute.”
— Emery Haley, Ph.D. candidate in the
lab of Dr. Juan Du
“The small class size and faculty-to-student
ratio was one of the main selling points for
me — I knew that I would not fall through
the cracks. This was also apparent from
interacting with current students; they had
a strong sense of camaraderie as a student
body and were very satisfied with their
graduate school experience. I was also very
attracted by the annual travel funds that
would allow me to network and present my
project even during my first year of
graduate school.”
— Menusha Arumugam, Ph.D candidate in the
lab of Dr. Matt Steensma
For more about the Graduate School, visit vaigs.vai.org.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 21

Graduate School highlights
Graduate student statistics
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Graduate School student earns prestigious award
In September 2020, Graduate School alumna Dr. Maggie Chassé earned a prestigious early career award
from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. This marks the second consecutive
year that a VAI Graduate School student received the Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award,
also known as the F99/K00. Fewer than 24 of the F99/K00 are distributed each year.
“It is an honor to receive this award, which will be a tremendous help as I complete my studies with the
Graduate School and transition to a professional setting,” Chassé said. “I am grateful to the National Cancer
Institute for supporting the work of students and early career scientists like me.” The award provides up to
two years of financial support for Ph.D. candidates to complete their dissertation research, and up to four
years of support for postdoctoral training. Dr. Chassé completed her Ph.D. degree at VAI in spring 2021. 9
9
Research reported in this publication is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. F99CA253749. The content is
solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Graduate School prepares for growth, moves to new space
With big plans for the future, VAI Graduate School Dean Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg is looking to double the
number of graduate students in the coming years. In the spring of 2021, the Graduate School will move to
a dynamic new facility on VAI’s campus that includes dedicated classroom and study spaces, social areas,
faculty and staff offices, and more. Applications are at record levels, and the Institute is drawing diverse
cohorts of students from around the country and world.
MAGGIE CHASSÉ
Applicant Pool
Academic Year 2018 2019 2020
Applicants 59 68 82
Admits 12 20 25
Admit Rate 20% 29% 30%
22 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESEARCH
Fall 2020 Cohort
6 Domestic 1 International
Primarily research
By Career Type
(current position, numbers current as of Sept. 1, 2020)
62%
Science-related
19%
In 2020, the Graduate School
received an impressive
110 student applications for
the upcoming academic year
— a more than 50% increase
from 2018 application
numbers. The year also saw
seven new students join the
Graduate School, and five
students completed
their degrees.
Number of Graduate
School student
applications, by year:
2020 — 110
2019 — 82
2018 — 68
Primarily teaching
14%
Further training or
5%
education
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
By Job Sector
(current position, numbers current as of Sept. 1, 2020)
Nonprofit
29%
5.5 Median years to Ph.D.
For-Profit
19%
70% Completion rate for Ph.D.
76% Completion rate for M.S. and Ph.D.
Academia
52%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 23

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
FOR EDUCATION
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION IS
DEDICATED TO CREATING CLASSROOMS
WHERE CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY AND
CRITICAL THINKING THRIVE.

From cohort to college: Analis Floyd
ANALIS FLOYD
Analis Floyd tromped through the
Grand Rapids-area marshland,
searching for crawfish and other
animals that she could observe in their
natural, swampy habitat. At times, she
reached down to take water samples, to
test for bacteria and other water quality
indicators.
This wasn’t a traditional research mission,
spearheaded by an environmental agency
or a university. Analis was in grade school
at the time, and she was out in nature
with Van Andel Institute for Education’s
Afterschool Cohort.
Analis joined Afterschool Cohort in the
2006 school year. Her elementary school
principal noticed her academic gifts and
recommended her family sign her up for
the program, which is open to students in
grades 4–7.
Afterschool Cohort immersed Floyd
and her fellow students in engaging
experiences and thought-provoking
experiments designed to help students
learn to think and act like scientists
by applying the scientific method —
proposing a hypothesis and testing it.
Analis remembers conducting experiments
to learn about bacteria on lizards and
how different soils and fertilizers affect
plant growth. At the end of each semester,
students would present their findings to
each other, which helped Analis develop
her public speaking skills.
“Afterschool Cohort opened up a lot
of opportunities for me academically,”
said Analis. “Being that young and super
curious, I was exposed to a lot that I
wouldn’t have been exposed to, being an
inner-city kid in Grand Rapids.”
Analis’ early introduction to the scientific
method through Afterschool Cohort
helped her throughout her education. At
Grand Rapids City High School, she took
advanced biology classes. She earned a
pre-physical therapy degree from Aquinas
College. As of spring 2021, she was close
to completing her master’s degree in
biomedical sciences at Grand Valley State
University while working at Grand Rapidsbased
Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy.
“To graduate from my master’s degree
program, I have to propose a thesis and
then defend it,” said Analis. “I have to do
research and experiment design and use
the scientific method. Because I did it so
much growing up and during Cohort, I
know what to look for and how to make
things clear and concise.”
Visit vaei.org for more information about
Afterschool Cohort. The program is offered at
no cost thanks to the generous support of a
VAI donor.
26 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

VAI helps bring the classroom
to everyone
EDUCATION
Classrooms have the power to transform lives. They serve as the epicenter of society’s
collective efforts to develop and encourage young minds to thrive in an increasingly fastpaced
world. When the pandemic struck, it challenged traditional classroom learning and required
education to happen nearly everywhere besides the classroom: the dinner table, the kitchen
counter, the spare room-turned-home office.
Van Andel Institute for Education was uniquely poised to meet this challenge head-on. The Institute
provided exceptional support to educators and families in a deeply stressful and uncertain
environment. Our sharp, nimble staff of expert educators quickly responded and adapted to
shifting trends in K–12 education. Learning couldn’t miss a beat, and we amped up our work.
Teachers who had spent precious time mapping out in-person lesson plans needed new material
for the world of distance learning. From the outset, VAI buckled down and transitioned our
programs to virtual and, when necessary, a hybrid format for virtual and in-person settings. VAI’s
educators also created “Keep Curiosity Alive,” a carefully curated and continually updated list of
online lessons and science experiments.
Student summer camps moved online, and in order to combat “Zoom fatigue,” the Institute
incorporated elements that would get students up, moving and away from the computer.
Afterschool Cohort, one of our most popular student programs, also moved to a fully
online format.
The Institute launched a series of webinars where teachers could connect with our expert
educators as well as each other to discuss best practices in new learning environments, and VAI’s
Flex PD teacher professional development programs went virtual with great success. The Institute
created online and hybrid versions of Blue Apple project-based learning units, so teachers could
use them in whatever environment best suited their needs. We also offered new Customized
Virtual Science Experiences, giving parents and teachers crucial access to on-demand
science lessons.
So many of society’s most cherished institutions — our schools included — were significantly
impacted by the pandemic. It challenged teachers, parents and students to rethink what a learning
environment looks like. Van Andel Institute for Education’s pivot to virtual made sure they were
supported when they needed it most.
DIRECTOR & CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER TERRA TARANGO
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 27

Education highlights
Blue Apple projects adapt to
new settings
As learning moved to virtual and hybrid
formats, Van Andel Institute for Education
adapted each inquiry-based Blue Apple project
to amplify impact in whatever setting students,
teachers and parents found themselves.
Educators across the nation used Blue
Apple materials to propel students through
these overwhelming challenges and to bring
curiosity, creativity and critical thinking to
wherever students were learning.
Blue Apple Timely Topics connect
students to current events
The pandemic disrupted even the best-laid
plans, and teachers looking for support as
they pivoted to new learning environments
found it at Van Andel Institute for Education.
The Institute launched a new program called
Timely Topics, a series of free, 15-minute mini
lessons on matters ranging from civil debate
to the changing seasons. The lessons immerse
students in meaningful discussions on current
events and relevant issues through hands-on
investigations and experiments.
Customized Virtual Science
Experiences help teachers on-demand
Students learn best through engaging, handson
lessons. This is even more important —
and challenging — in virtual settings. VAI’s
Customized Virtual Science Experiences
give teachers and parents the tools to help
students succeed with fun, interactive
science experiments. The Institute works
with educators to craft experiences to meet
their individual needs and inspire students to
explore and solve problems using scientific
methods, tools and resources.
To learn more, visit vaei.vai.org.
2,174 teacher
professional development
webinar registrations
416 students served
with virtual science
experiences
STUDENTS AT
CROSSROADS CHARTER
ACADEMY & THE SHIPLEY
SCHOOL PARTICIPATE IN
“PREVENT THE SPREAD”
28 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

EDUCATION
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 29

EVENTS AND
PHILANTHROPY
AT VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE, EVENTS AND PHILANTHROPY ARE RAISING
THOUSANDS TO HELP MILLIONS. OUR DONORS AND PHILANTHROPIC
PARTNERS ARE CONNECTED BY A SHARED SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THE
INSTITUTE’S MISSION. THEIR CREATIVITY, PASSION AND DEDICATION HAVE
HELPED VAI BECOME A THRIVING CENTER FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND
K–12 AND GRADUATE EDUCATION. THE INSTITUTE’S SIGNATURE EVENTS
SERVE AS IMPORTANT CATALYSTS FOR SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION AND BRING
TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES THAT GIVE
PEOPLE HOPE FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE.

Winterfest Celebration
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
STEVE & KELLY UELAND,
KIM & CARL SEYMOUR &
GEORGE & CHARITY BENNETT;
GUESTS GATHERED FOR EVENING
PRESENTATIONS;
GEORGE & MISSY SHARPE WITH
CAROL & DAVID VAN ANDEL;
JASON LAMOREAUX;
MIKE & SALLY MURDOCK
WITH JIM & DIANE ZUBKAS
Note: Some photos in this edition of
the Annual Report were taken prior
to distancing guidelines related to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
32 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

VAI Forum on Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s & Lewy Body Dementia
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
ERIC HAUSLER, PETE JOUWSTRA &
DONNA HAUSLER; DAVID VAN ANDEL;
MIKE & LYNETTE ELLIS,
DR. RITA GUERREIRO, DR. JOSÉ BRÁS &
MIKE & SUE JANDERNOA;
GUESTS SOCIALIZE AT GREY OAKS
COUNTRY CLUB IN NAPLES, FLORIDA
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 33

Board of Governors Virtual Dinner
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING
CLOCKWISE) KATHY & PHIL VOGELSANG;
VICKY LUDEMA PICKS UP COOPER’S HAWK
WINE PROVIDED TO GUESTS PRIOR TO THE
EVENING; GEORGE & MISSY SHARPE;
MISSY SHARPE PICKS UP COMPLIMENTARY
MINI BUNDT CAKES FROM NOTHING BUNDT
CAKES; PICKUP STATION AT COOPER’S HAWK
WINERY & RESTAURANT IN KENTWOOD,
MICHIGAN
34 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

VAI Golf Outing
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
CAROL VAN ANDEL, SUSAN SHAW,
BETH VAN PORTFLIET & MARCIE ROTH;
JARED VELDHEER, KYLE VAN ANDEL,
DAVID VAN ANDEL & JACK DOLES;
LYNNE JARMAN-JOHNSON; JARED
VELDHEER; GOLFERS WARM UP
THEIR SHOTS
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 35

Couture for a Cure
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) GUESTS SAW A
VARIETY OF ECLECTIC LOOKS FROM LEIGH’S; DAWN SHOCKLEY,
LINDA HEYS & PEGGY GREYDANUS; FEATURED DESIGNER BYRON
LARS JOINS LEIGH’S OWNER REBECCA WIERDA & CAROL VAN ANDEL
VIA ZOOM; BYRON LARS’ LOOKS FEATURE CONTOURED SILHOUTTES,
INTRICATE SEAMING, EMBROIDERY & COUTURE DETAILING;
MARANDA, REBECCA WIERDA, CAROL VAN ANDEL
& AMWAY’S CANDACE MATTHEWS
36 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Hope on the Hill Gala —
Star Light, Star Bright
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
PABLO & JENNA PRIETO (FRONT), CHRIS & ALYSSA NANCE,
TANYA & CHARLIE ROWERDINK; PEGGY GREYDANUS,
DAWN SHOCKLEY & LAURA HUIZENGA;
CAROL & DAVID VAN ANDEL PREPARE TO TOAST TO THE
20TH ANNIVERSARY; THE EVENING’S VIRTUAL FEATURED
PERFORMERS, THE DETROIT YOUTH CHOIR
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 37

A Conversation About Depression
Hosted By Carol Van Andel
DR. ERIC ACHTYES, DR. LENA BRUNDIN &
DR. MARK EASTBURG JOIN MARANDA & CAROL VAN ANDEL VIRTUALLY
238 | | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Signature special event sponsors
We are grateful to have extraordinarily dedicated signature event sponsors. Thank
you for partnering with us and supporting our mission throughout the year.
PHILANTHROPY
AHC Hospitality
AIC Insurance Services
Amway
Anonymous
Aon
Steven & Amanda Barbour
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
BD’s BBQ
Belwith Keeler
Betz Industries
BHS Insurance
Dave & Jill Bielema
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Bluewater Technologies
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
Brody’s Be Café
Buist Electric
Calamos Investments
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Scott & Heidi Campbell
Carnelian Energy Capital
Charles Anderson
Cheeky Strut
Consumers Credit Union
Cornerstone University
Corporate Cocktail Co.
Mimi Cummings
Cumulus Media
Tom & Tracy Curran
Custer Inc.
CWD Real Estate Investment
Davenport University
David & Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation
Deloitte
Mike & Jean Dery
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Jeff & Mary Dixon
Edge Natural Resources
Eenhoorn LLC
Eileen DeVries Family Foundation
Ellis Parking
Engelsma Homes LLC
Erhardt Construction
Ernst & Young
Eurest
Fifth Third Private Bank
First National Bank
First National Bank of Michigan
Foremost Insurance Group
Gallagher Insurance
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Grand Valley State University
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Patti Griswold
Jana Hall
Hansen — Balk Steel Treating Co.
Harvey Automotive
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
HB Wealth Management
HealthBridge
Dave & Donna Hockstra
Hope College
Howard Miller
J.C. & Tammy Huizenga
Huizenga Group
Bill & Starr Humphries
Ben & Molly Hunting
ICN Foundation
iHeart Media
Mike & Sue Jandernoa
Jeffery Roberts Design
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Kloostra Family Foundation
Al & Robin Koop
Craig & Deb Kinney
Blake & Mary Krueger
John & Katie Kuiper
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Lighthouse Insurance Group
Loomis, Sayles & Company
Gary & Vicky Ludema
Macatawa Bank
Making the Turn Against Parkinson’s
McAlvey Merchant & Associates
McShane & Bowie, PLC
Deb Meijer
Mercy Health
Merrill Lynch — The Veldheer, Long,
Mackay & Bernecker Group
Metro Health — University of
Michigan Health
Michigan State University — College
of Human Medicine
Midwest Capital Advisors
New Holland Brewing Co.
Northern Jet Management
Nothing Bundt Cakes
NPF Investment Advisors
Oppenheimer & Company Inc. Michael
J. Murdock
Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.
Palio
Perper Design
Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation
Pine Rest Christian Mental
Health Services
Pioneer Construction
PL Capital Advisors, LLC
Priority Health
Reds at Thousand Oaks
Tom & Brenda Rinks
Rockford Construction
Paul Becker & Eve Rogus
Rowerdink Inc.
John & Therese Rowerdink
Rycenga Building Center
San Chez Bistro
Secrest Wardle
Tony & Dawn Semple
Sharpe
Slows BBQ
Spectrum Health
Rob & Susan Stafford
Steelcase
Stephen Klotz Family Foundation
Straight Line Design
Tom & Mary Stuit
Suburban Landscapes
Summit Point Roofing
Taconic Charitable Foundation
The Chop House
The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck
The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation
Thomas S. Fox Family
TKS Security
Townsquare
Trillium Ventures
US Bank
US Signal
Sharon Van Dellen
Mike & Michelle Van Dyke
Dan & Ann Van Eerden
Dave & Beth Van Portfliet
Brian & Lori Vander Baan
Mike & Gayle VanGessel
Vintage Prime & Seafood
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
West Michigan Woman
Geoff & LeeAnne Widlak
Greg & Meg Willit
Robert & Karen Wiltz
Wolverine Worldwide
Women’s Lifestyle
Zip Xpress Inc.
Jim & Jane Zwiers
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 39

Consumers Credit Union: A community
partnership of action and hope
The support of dedicated community partners bolsters biomedical research and
educational programs at Van Andel Institute year after year. This group of cherished
supporters includes Consumers Credit Union, whose collaborative efforts with VAI are
co-championed by their chief marketing officer, Lynne Jarman-Johnson.
When Lynne joined Consumers a decade ago, the company was hosting a 5K/10K run
that became extremely popular and all-consuming. They began looking for a partner with
experience in races to help with the expertise of executing a successful, charitable race.
“In our search for a community partner with that know-how, we learned about the VAI
Purple Community 5K and got in touch about creating a partnership,” said Lynne. “Our 54th
Street office manager, Stephanie Stacey, coordinated the partnership. She ensured that we
volunteered with our feet on the ground in our communities and was the impetus for our
long-term partnership with VAI.”
“One of our values as a credit union is to be passionate. Our
passion for serving others and bridging gaps in wellness,
both financially and through our partnership with Van Andel
Institute, is a value we are honored to share.”
— Lynne Jarman-Johnson
The Consumers Credit Union Purple Community 5K has been going strong for six years. Consumers
has continued to grow their support for VAI’s mission through sponsorship of signature special
events such as the VAI Golf Outing, Couture for a Cure and the Hope on the Hill Gala.
“There are so many ways our organization can be a part of VAI’s mission, even in the midst of
such a difficult year,” said Lynne. “Our members are very community oriented, and for us to
be able to showcase that 100% of the funds raised through our VAI-focused events go directly
to research and education is an extremely powerful statement. When the pandemic hit, we
40 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

PHILANTHROPY
257 registrations for Consumers
Credit Union Virtual Public Lecture
knew our partnership was needed more than ever, and
while the Purple Community 5K is on hold, our support
is not.”
Most recently, the credit union collaborated with VAI to
host the Consumers Credit Union Virtual Public Lecture: A
Focus on Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Dementia
as part of the Institute’s Public Lecture Series, held
virtually this year.
“I think that especially right now, people are craving to
learn. This last year has been a time of deep reflection for
many people,” said Lynne. “The educational component
of being able to listen to and ask questions of scientists
is something that nobody expects to be able to do, but
that — especially now — has been very calming for many
people and many of our members.”
$210,847 lifetime total
raised by the Purple Community 5K
LYNNE JARMAN-JOHNSON AT THE 2019
CONSUMERS CREDIT UNION PURPLE
COMMUNITY 5K
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 41

Jim & Jane Zwiers: Embodying the spirit of philanthropy
Members of Van Andel Institute’s Board of Governors
embody in their everyday lives the spirit of VAI’s
mission — to impact human health and enhance lives
for current and future generations.
Jim and Jane Zwiers are a prime example. The Calvin
University alumni have been married for nearly 31 years
and together have given time and funds to VAI for almost a
decade.
“Philanthropy is a big part of our lives and our family,
especially as it connects to things like youth, education and
the outdoors,” said Jane. “Each of our children has found a
way in their adult lives to remain connected to volunteering
and nonprofit work, and we are proud that they also
continue to give back to this community.”
Like many donors and volunteers at VAI, the Zwiers have
several close family members and friends who have
been impacted by diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s.
Supporting the Institute gives them a meaningful role in
addressing these diseases at the highest levels of research.
“We are privileged to have VAI’s world-class scientists
and facilities right here in Grand Rapids; they are deeply
impacting the lives of individuals and our community,”
said Jim. “At the fundraising and informational events, it’s
inspiring to hear about their ingenuity and skills. It makes
the work of VAI come to life.”
Wedgwood Christian Services Board and volunteers and
fundraises for a variety of other charities and nonprofits.
Jim, who formerly worked as a CPA and a lawyer after
receiving his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan,
now serves as executive vice president at Wolverine
Worldwide. Like his wife, he prioritizes giving back to his
community; he sits on the board of Grand Rapids’ famed
ArtPrize and previously served on the boards of several
industry and community nonprofit organizations.
“VAI’s mission is a bold one, but to supporters, volunteers,
scientists, staff and patients, it means hope,” said Jane.
“Hope for better health, hope for better understanding
and hope for cures to some of the most challenging and
devastating diseases facing our society.”
Members of Van Andel Institute’s Board of
Governors support the Institute financially and
are ambassadors who share VAI’s mission, vision
and important work with others to advance the
Institute’s efforts. Learn more about the
Board of Governors at vai.org/help-donate/
board-of-governors/.
The pair, in addition to their philanthropic support, also
dedicate time and energy to donor initiatives at the
Institute and beyond. Jane serves on VAI’s Hope on the
Hill Gala planning committee. She also serves on the
42 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020
JANE & JIM ZWIERS (LEFT); THE ZWIERS FAMILY (RIGHT)

Uniting young, ambitious professionals
in support of VAI’s mission
PHILANTHROPY
Young professionals looking to make an impact
on research into diseases like cancer and
Parkinson’s need look no further than Van Andel
Institute’s JBoard Ambassadors. This group, more
than 80 members strong, brings together the young,
philanthropic hearts and hands of Grand Rapids in
support of VAI’s mission to improve health and enhance
lives now and for generations to come.
“Van Andel Institute’s ability to bring the community
together under a common goal is unmatched,” said Kyle
Van Andel, a member of VAI’s JBoard Advisory Council
and son of Chairman and CEO David Van Andel and his
wife Carol Van Andel. “Whether it be through education
events, or volunteering, VAI understands that anyone
and everyone can contribute in a positive way. This
ability to bring people together has led to major cuttingedge
discoveries and will continue to create more
opportunities for many generations.”
To support those breakthroughs, JBoard Ambassadors
pledge to donate $25 a month, or $300 a year, all of
which directly benefits biomedical research and K–12
and graduate education at VAI. Members have the
opportunity throughout the year to engage directly with
Institute scientists and educators and learn more about
VAI’s work through events like Virtual Coffee Connection.
Although the annual JBoard Member Mixer went virtual
in 2020, Ambassadors were still able to enjoy wine
and cheese pairings from Aperitivo in the comfort
of their own homes while learning about the latest
groundbreaking work happening at VAI. Presenters
included Chief Education Officer Terra Tarango and
postdoctoral fellows Dr. Michael Dahabieh,
Dr. Emmanuel Quansah and Dr. Payton Stevens.
2020 JBoard Advisory Council
Co-chairs: Chad Bassett & Rachel Mraz
Christopher Billmeier
Kendra Osowski
Alex Schrotenboer
Kyle Van Andel
APERITIVO’S GENERAL MANAGER EVAN TALEN
& LEAD BARTENDER & EDUCATOR BEN
VANDERWAAL WALK VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
THROUGH WINE TASTINGS
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 43

Southside Hockey Fights Cancer brings hope to a difficult year
Looking back after such a challenging year, the annual
Southside Hockey Fights Cancer weekend was a true
spot of brightness. Walking into Southside Arena on
Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, it was impossible to miss all the purple
decor and the air of excitement and hope. By the end
of the weekend, the event raised more than $59,000 in
support of cancer research at VAI. And since the event’s
creation in 2016, more than $253,000 has been raised
— an incredible show of support from Southside and the
Grand Rapids community.
Hundreds of families and players turn out each year to
support VAI during this incredible three-day weekend:
Children play games and win prizes at the Purple
Community table, and the players’ families don every shade
of purple imaginable. Teams from across Michigan come to
play against Fox Motors Hockey, whose players each sport
a unique jersey featuring the name of a loved one who has
experienced a cancer diagnosis.
The biggest event of the weekend is the All-Star Game,
during which Southside chooses one special person to
participate in the ceremonial puck drop. For the past two
years, Eric Langdon, a loving husband and father who was
diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016, has been featured as
the puck drop honoree.
Southside Hockey Fights Cancer gives the Grand Rapids
community a chance to show support for loved ones
who have faced cancer, and to have an impactful role in
the groundbreaking research into diseases like cancer
and Parkinson’s that happens every day at VAI. Thanks
to their incredible fundraising efforts on behalf of VAI,
Southside was inducted into the Institute’s Legacy Society
in 2018 — an honor bestowed on individuals, organizations
and businesses that have given more than $100,000
cumulatively to VAI.
Hockey Fights Cancer weekend at Southside holds a special
place in Eric’s heart, too: It serves as a reminder that there
are more people cheering him on — in life and on the ice
— than he could have ever imagined.
To learn more about Southside Hockey Fights Cancer and other
VAI events, visit vai.org/events.
PLAYERS HONOR LOVED ONES BATTLING CANCER (LEFT); ERIC
LANGDON DROPS CEREMONIAL PUCK AT THE 2020 GAME (ABOVE)
44 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Scored Grant Program gives research
an extra boost
In 2020, West Michigan engineering firm Prein&Newhof marked 50 years in
business. To celebrate, and to honor the firm’s co-founder Thomas Newhof and
his wife Garretta, they established the Thomas & Garretta Newhof/Prein&Newhof
Research Fund to support Van Andel Institute’s Scored Grant Award Program.
Grants from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health are the
main source of funding for scientific research in the U.S. Funding is limited each
year, and the process for earning federal grants is highly rigorous and competitive.
To earn such a grant, a scientist must show that they have enough data to support
the idea they want to investigate. But conducting the research necessary to
generate this foundational data can be hampered by a lack of funding.
That’s where VAI’s Scored Grant Award Program comes in. It provides research
funding to scientists whose federal grant applications scored very highly, but just
below the funding threshold — giving scientists with promising projects the extra
boost needed to conduct the additional research necessary to put forth a revised,
successful application in the next round of grants. In 2020, four projects were
supported by the program.
Philanthropy highlights
A year of changes brings about creative adaptations
2020 brought about relentless challenges in our communities, and Van Andel
Institute was no exception. Even with such adversity surrounding us, VAI’s Purple
Community events made a strong showing and found ways to adapt.
• 38 student ambassadors joined VAI’s Student Ambassador Program, which went
virtual in 2020. The group held a virtual silent auction in April 2021 as a
culmination of the leadership and fundraising experience they gained through
the program.
• The annual Bee Brave 5K raised more than $58,000 after overcoming obstacles
created by the pandemic to host a fun, safe event in October.
• The Student Leadership Conference went virtual for the Zoom era and is
now available completely on-demand; when teachers want to schedule a time
to virtually tour VAI, hear directly from Institute scientists and conduct fun
experiments remotely, VAI is there to help.
For information about these programs and others, visit purplecommunity.vai.org.
VAI Marathon Team offers support start to finish
Van Andel Institute’s Marathon Team gets people moving in support of our
mission to improve health and enhance lives. Established in 2017 in conjunction
with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the VAI team receives a limited number
of free entries into the Chicago race and the TCS New York City Marathon each
year. Members have access to training programs and a supportive group of fellow
runners as they count down to race day. Since the team’s creation, 145 runners
have participated and raised more than $278,000 — all of which directly benefits
biomedical research and K–12 and graduate education programs at VAI.
“I would not have been that active, in that manner, doing those things, if it wasn’t
for the cause that I was doing it for,” said Ben Cook, a previous VAI Marathon Team
member who ran in memory of his late friend Eric Westra and his battle against
osteosarcoma. ”The infrastructure and the help and training VAI provided made it
a much better experience.”
Public Lecture Series thrives in virtual landscape
Van Andel Institute held four virtual public lectures in 2020 and one public
lecture in person prior to the outset of the pandemic. VAI experts shared
with the community — in Grand Rapids and, thanks to the virtual platform,
anywhere with internet — their knowledge on the latest breakthroughs and
trends in biomedical research and science education. Topics included cancer
research trends; Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia with Lewy bodies;
metabolism and its effect on future generations; and a look at the experience of
educating in a landscape changed by the pandemic. These presentations were
given by Dr. Peter A. Jones, Dr. José Brás, Dr. Rita Guerreiro, Dr. Patrik Brundin,
Dr. Darren Moore, Dr. Heidi Lempradl, Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik and Chief
Education Officer Terra Tarango.
For information on the 2021 Public Lecture Series, visit vai.org/events.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 45

PHILANTHROPY
Circle of Hope
The Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of Hope
recognizes those who have included
Van Andel Institute in their will, trust, or other
estate plans. Through our acknowledgment of
and gratitude to these exceptional people, we
hope that their generosity will inspire others.
Anonymous
Vivian Anderson*
Blanche Ash*
Kevin & Michelle Bassett
Philip & Shirley Battershall
John* & Nancy Batts
Fred & Julie* Bogaert
William & Marilyn Crawford
Barbara Erhards
J. Scott Grill*
Joan Hammersmith*
Terry & Jacklyn Hickman
Arthur Joseph Jabury*
Maryanna Johnson
Reneé Kuipers*
Timothy & Kimberly Long
Donald* & Kathleen Maine
Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols
LG* & Helen* Myers
Robert* & Lorraine* Nyhoff
Jone E. Phillips*
Donna Rosa
Ronald Rutkowski
Alan R. Ryan*
Ralph Siegel*
George Sietsema*
Eva Sonneville*
Fred L. Tape
Hylda* & Alvin* Tuuk
John E. VanFossen
John Visser*
Carol Winton*
John Wisneski*
*Indicates deceased
Circle of Hope members
By the numbers
69%
VAI VAI Operating Revenues
2%
4%
25%
$63,900K
$22,600K
$4,100K
$2,000K
Investment
return utilized
Grant &
contract revenue
Contributions
Other revenues
30%
Operating VAI Operating Expenses Expenses
4%
66%
$64,800K Research
$28,800K
$4,300K
Management,
general & other
Education
Designated Gifts | $5,271K Total
Unrestricted
$1,519K
$585K
$844K
$1,232K
$869K
$82K
$140K
Scientific Evt Sponsorships
Cancer
Other
Cardiovascular
Neurodegenerative
Internship Program
Neurodegenerative
Internship Program
Unrestricted
Education
Other
Cardiovascular
Cancer
Education
46 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Institute Leadership Team
LEADERSHIP
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
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 Van Andel Institute and co-founder
of Amway Corporation, David is currently a member of Amway’s Board of
Directors and serves on its Executive, Governance and Audit committees.
Before leading Van Andel Institute, he had held various positions at Amway
since 1977, including chief operating officer of Amway’s Pyxis Innovations
Business Unit, and was senior vice president — Americas and Europe,
overseeing Amway business activities in North America and 22 European and
11 Latin American affiliates.
Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer
Jerry Callahan, Ph.D., MBA
Chief Strategic Officer
Jana Hall, Ph.D., MBA
Chief Operations Officer
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer
Timothy Myers, MBA, CPA
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Sam Pinto
Vice President & Chief Facilities Officer
Terra Tarango
Director & Chief Education Officer,
Van Andel Institute for Education
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D.
President & Dean, Van Andel Institute
Graduate School
Linda Zarzecki
Vice President of Human Resources
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 47

Van Andel Institute Board Members
Van Andel Institute
Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
Joan Budden
Former President & Chief Executive Officer, Priority Health
John Kennedy
President & Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical
Mark Meijer
Founder & President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance
Van Andel Research
Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
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 & 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, Emeritus; Founding
Research Director, Van Andel Institute
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor,
Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director,
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Van Andel Education
Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
James E. Bultman, Ed.D.
President Emeritus, Hope College
Susan Keipper Meell
Chief Executive Officer, MMS Education
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scholar in Residence for Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy,
Grand Valley State University; President Emeritus,
Aquinas College
Teresa Weatherall Neal, Ed.D. (hon)
Former Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools
(LEFT TO RIGHT) JOHN KENNEDY, DAVID VAN ANDEL,
MARK MEIJER & JOAN BUDDEN
48 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

BOARDS
Van Andel Institute Graduate
School Board of Directors
James B. Fahner, M.D.
Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology & Senior
Administrative Physician for Philanthropy & Community
Relations at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Institute
Pamela Kidd, M.D.
Medical Medical Director, Hematology & Flow Cytometry
Laboratories of Spectrum Health & Helen DeVos
Children’s Hospital
Karen Klomparens, Ph.D.
Vice Chair; Former Dean of the Graduate School &
Associate Provost for Graduate Education, Michigan State
University
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board; Distinguished Scholar in
Residence for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Dorothy A.
Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley State
University; President Emeritus, Aquinas College
Mary O’Riordan, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
and Frederick C. Neidhardt Collegiate Professor of
Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan
Medical School
Danny R. Welch, Ph.D.
Founding Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, University
of Kansas Cancer Center
Van Andel Research Institute
External Scientific Advisory Board
Sharon Y.R. Dent, Ph.D. (ESAB Chair)
Professor & Chair, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular
Carcinogenesis; Director, Science Park; Director, Center
for Cancer Epigenetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D.
Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center, Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology
Joseph Ecker, Ph.D.
Professor, Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Laboratory;
Director, Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute;
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator
Theresa Guise, M.D.
Professor Department of Endocrine Neoplasia &
Hormonal Disorders; Chief, Section of Bone & Mineral
Disorders at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center; Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas
(CPRIT) Scholar; Co-Director, The Rolanette & Berdon
Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas​; Co-Leader,
Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis program of the
IU Simon Cancer Center, NCI Comprehensive Cancer
Center
Tony Hunter, Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory; American
Cancer Society Professor; Renato Dulbecco Chair;
Director, Salk Institute Cancer Center
Anthony E. Lang, M.D.
Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute
Mitchell Lazar, M.D., Ph.D.
Willard & Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes &
Metabolic Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania
Thomas J. Montine, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Pathology, Stanford University
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor,
Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director,
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 49

Van Andel Institute Board of Governors
Co-Chairs
Tim Long
Vicky Ludema
Members
Chris Ade
Perry Alburg
Liz Alexander
Rosemary Anderson
Kurt Arvidson
Tony & Kathleen Asselta
Jeff Battershall
Regena Bassett
John & Virginia Baysore
Norman & Kristina Beauchamp
Stacie Behler
Bradley & Anna Bengtson
Gregory & Rajene Betz
Karl & Patricia Betz
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
Dave & Jill Bielema
Daniel Bitzer
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
Carrie Boer
M. Rodrick & Kathleen Bolhous
Chuck & Sarah Booth
Jeremy Bouwhuis
Patrick Brady
Leonard Brucato
Joan Budden
Dr. James E. Bultman
William & Jackie Bylenga
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Amy & Randall Chambers
Stacey Coffman
Mike & Kathy Cok
Steven & Diane Colvin
Stephen Comer
Matthew & Carlie Cook
Bill & Marilyn Crawford
Mimi Cummings
Tom & Tracy Curran
William Currie
Dave & Karen Custer
Stephen & Jennifer Czech
Jerry & Karen DeBlaay
Thomas & Jacquie DeJonge
Douglas & Sandra Dekock
Rob DeVilbiss
Dick & Betsy DeVos
Douglas & Maria DeVos
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Daniel & Viki Distin
Cynthia Dunlap
John Dykstra
Mark Eastburg
Michael & Lynette Ellis
Tim & Gail Emmitt
Henry & Anne Emrich
Mathew & Jennifer Fahrenkrug
Tom & Mickie Fox
Tina Freese-Decker
Edward Fritsch
Dan & LouAnn Gaydou
Todd & Brenda Gardner
Stuart & Lori Genschaw
John & Nancy Gordon
Brent & Cheryl Granger
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Jefra Groendyk
Ronald Haan
Dr. Thomas & Marcia Haas
Peter Hahn
Jana Hall
Tom & Lynn Hammer
Scott Hammontree
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
Lewis & Teresa Hendricks-Pitsch
Paul & Rosemary Heule
Steve Hodges
Dirk & June Hoffius
Rhonda & Marshall Huismann
J.C. Huizenga & Dr. Tammy L.
Born-Huizenga
Bill & Starr Humphries
Ben & Molly Hunting
John & Laura Hurley
Bea Idema
Kyle Irwin
Mike & Sue Jandernoa
Robert & Lynne Jarman-Johnson
Dr. Peter A. & Veronica Jones
John & Deb Kailunas
John & Nancy Kennedy
Craig & Debra Kinney
Stephen Klotz
Al & Robin Koop
Blake & Mary Krueger
Renee Kuipers
Michael & Brenda Lamfers
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Kenneth Larm
Wayne & Terry Lobdell
Ray B. Loeschner
Kim Long
Steve Longstreet
Gary Ludema
Michael & Suzanne Lunn
David Madiol
Kathleen Maine
John & Michele Maly-Dykema
Joe Martinez
Holly McCaw
Michael & Jen McGraw
Deb Meijer
Lena Meijer
Mark & Mary Beth Meijer
Rusty & Jenn Merchant
Howard & Lisa Miller
Jack H. Miller
Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Martha Muir
Laurie-Ann Netto
Jack Nichols
Juan & Mary Olivarez
Steve Olson
Richard Pappas
Richard Postma
Ryan Quillan
Sam & Francesca Rehnborg
Patrick Reid
Henry Rempe
Pat Ringnalda
Brenda & Tom Rinks
Jeffery Roberts
Eve Rogus & Paul Becker
Kari Luther Rosbeck
Doug Rottman
John & Therese Rowerdink
Fred & Kathy Rozema
Christine Salvati
H. Gideon Sanders
Michael & Cynthia Schaap
Megan Schmidt
Tim & Barbie Schowalter
Mr. Matthew A. Scogin
Peter & Joan Secchia
Tony & Dawn Semple
Thank you, Board of Governors.
As members of the Van Andel Institute Board of Governors, you serve as ambassadors who help advance the Institute’s mission and vision in the local community.
Thank you for being our partners and contributing significantly to our success.
50 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS
George & Linda Sharpe
George & Missy Sharpe
Nicole Sharpe
Eric & Mary Shupe
Jason & Kasie Smith
John & Judy Spoelhof
Rob & Susan Stafford
Peter Stamos & Soonmee
Cha-Stamos
Frank & Dana Stanek
Tom Stavrou
Dr. James L. Strikwerda
Thomas & Mary Stuit
Theresa Sullivan
Duke Suwyn
Steve & Cheryl Timyan
Marilyn Titche
Brian Toronyi
Dr. Steve & Laura Triezenberg
David & Carol Van Andel
Steve & Amy Van Andel
Michael & Michelle Van Dyke
Dan & Ann Marie Van Eerden
Donna Van Haren
Dave & Beth Van Portfliet
Maria Van Til
Dr. George Vande Woude
Brian & Lori Vander Baan
Allen & Nancy VanderLaan
Sharon VanDellen
Don & Janell VanDine
Michael & Gayle VanGessel
James & Mary Veldheer
John & Vanessa Veleris
Peter & Denise Versluis
Chris & Dana Vinton
Phillip & Kathleen Vogelsang
Jen Weixeldorfer
Tom & Laurie Welch
Todd & Tracy Wenzel
Ben & Jennifer Wickstrom
Geoff & LeeAnne Widlak
Scott & Rebecca Wierda
Julie Wiersema
Jim & Sue Williams
Greg & Meg Willit
Steve Wlodarski
Galit Wolf
Dr. Leslie Wong
John & Kathleen Workman
Todd Wriggelsworth &
Renee Tabben
Sean Wright
Jim & Jane Zwiers
Van Andel Institute JBoard Ambassadors
Co-chairs: Chad Bassett & Rachel Mraz
Dorothy Armstrong
Travis Arnoys
Keegan Balk
Robert & Kathryn Barcelona
Chad Bassett
Christopher Billmeier
Hannah Blackwell
Paige Cornetet
Blake Crabb
Jenna DeBest
Aaron & Afton DeVos
Samuel DeVries
Alex Ehlert-VanBeveren
Jennifer Fischer
Dana Friis-Hansen
Meghan Gartman
Zachary Gebben
Mary Hilger
Ken Hoffman & Lisa Rose
Mark Holzbach
Jordan Hoyer
Jason & Brandi Huyser
Eric Jones
Matt & Sarah Jones
Andrew Kapanowski
Margaret Kennedy
Kevin & Kathryn Kileen
Michael & Andrea Leestma
Casey Lowery
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Thomas Murray
Christopher & Alyssa Nance
Kendra Osowski
Gregory Paplawsky
Eric Payne
Stacy Peck
Leland & Alexandra Perez
Justin Pinto
Cody Pletcher
Lily Powers
Pablo & Jenna Prieto
Nicole Probst
Thomas & Kendra Ralston
Sara Ross
* THESE LISTS REPRESENT MEMBERSHIP BETWEEN JAN. 1, 2020, AND DEC. 31, 2020.
Charles & Tanya Rowerdink
Richard & Lisa Schrotenboer
Kelsey Schweibert
Jonathan & Allison Sleight
Joseph Spoelhof
Timothy Streit
Mark Stuit
Aaron & Hailey Van Andel
Chris Van Andel
Jesse & Heather Van Andel
Kyle Van Andel
Brian VanBeveren
Daniel VandenBosch
Sarah Vander Baan
Tripp & Katie VanderWal
Samuel & Sydney Vucelich
Brandon & Tina Wong
Cameron Young
Megan Zubrickas
Thank you, JBoard Ambassadors.
As JBoard Ambassadors, 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 improve the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 51

In Memoriam
Dr. Viviane Labrie, an associate
professor at Van Andel Institute, passed
away in a tragic vehicle accident Aug. 21,
2020. She was an imaginative, creative
scientist. Her ability to look at the world
through different lenses allowed her to see
things in new ways, and ultimately revealed
groundbreaking insights with the potential
to change lives. Born in Ottawa, Ontario,
and raised in the small town of Deep River,
Ontario, Dr. Labrie quickly established
herself as a globally recognized leader in her field. Although early in her career, she
already had made pioneering discoveries that continue to transform the understanding
of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, including the revelation that the appendix may
be a starting point for Parkinson’s. Her findings led to exciting new avenues of discovery
for potential treatments for these diseases and shed light on the underpinnings of many
other conditions, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and lactose intolerance.
Innately curious, Dr. Labrie’s creativity and tenacity were immediately evident and
energizing to those around her. She rapidly advanced, earning an early promotion to
associate professor in 2019 — a tremendous achievement. Throughout her career, she
earned numerous scientific awards and honors, including highly competitive grants from
the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense.
Peter Secchia, an ardent supporter
of Van Andel Institute and a member
of its Board of Governors, passed away
Oct. 21, 2020, at the age of 83. He often
was described as “larger than life” and
leaves a substantial hole in the collective
spirit of West Michigan and in the hearts
of family and friends worldwide. Along
with his wife, Joan, Secchia was a longtime
supporter of VAI from the early
years. Secchia was the recipient of many
notable awards throughout his life, including the Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence
Award, which he and Joan each received in 2017. The award celebrates individuals
who have demonstrated significant contributions to VAI through volunteer service and
philanthropy. Elsewhere on the Medical Mile, when Michigan State University was seeking
to expand its medical school, Secchia worked to ensure its new campus was located in
Grand Rapids. Today, MSU’s College of Human Medicine is housed in the Secchia Center
on the city’s Medical Mile.
52 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020

In Memoriam
Dr. Luis Tomatis, a driving force in
bringing VAI to life, passed away Sept. 29,
2020. Originally from Argentina, Dr. Tomatis
was an energetic advocate for Grand
Rapids. He was influential in creating and
maintaining the environment that enabled
the Institute to thrive and the Medical Mile
to sprout up around us. Dr. Tomatis helped
recruit top-tier scientific talent to establish
VAI’s first Board of Scientific Advisors and
appoint Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Brown
as the board’s first chairman. After serving as VAI’s founding president from 1995–2001,
he went on to become the director of medical affairs for the Richard M. DeVos family.
A cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Tomatis was a former chief of cardiovascular surgery at
Spectrum Health and MSU professor of cardiac surgery. He won numerous awards,
volunteered for organizations like the American Heart Association and the Grand Rapids
Symphony, and was responsible for arranging for invaluable medical equipment to be
sent to his homeland of Argentina.
Dr. Gordon Van Wylen passed away
Nov. 5, 2020, at the age of 100. As one
of VAI’s original trustees, Dr. Van Wylen
was instrumental in establishing the
early programs of Van Andel Institute for
Education and laid the groundwork for
VAI’s success. We continue to see his vision
in action through the programs we are
developing and implementing today, some
25 years later. A man of immense scientific
knowledge, education, experience and
integrity, Dr. Van Wylen was an accomplished educator and administrator. He served as
dean of engineering at University of Michigan, as Hope College president for 15 years,
and as founding trustee and inaugural director of Van Andel Institute for Education.
Dr. Van Wylen generously devoted his time and talent to numerous other organizations
throughout his life. He was widely regarded as a thoughtful, visionary, kind and
respectful leader.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 53

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