2022 Spring/Summer Highlights of Hope

HIGHLIGHTS OF 

HOPE 

SPRING/SUMMER ’22 ISSUE 

2 VAI welcomes six new scientists 4 New program launched in cancer research 

5 Rallying to the grand challenge of Parkinson’s 

6 VAI scientists have record-breaking year for scientific grants 

8 VAI scientists recognized as top of their fields 9 Research highlights 

10 Newest Grad School cohort illustrates growth 

12 A day in the life of a VAI grad student 13 Graduate School highlights 

14 From Afterschool Cohort to Fulbright Scholar 16 In-person field trips return 

17 Education highlights 18 Events 24 Event sponsors 

26 VAI Purple Community partners put in the time, effort & talent 

28 VAI Marathon Team runners back in action 

29 VAI Student Ambassador Program making moves 

30 Gifts in action: Funding new equipment to peer into cells 32 Memorials & Tributes

RESEARCH 

VAI welcomes six new scientists 

and their labs 

In the past year, VAI recruited six new faculty — an achievement that expands our scientific capacity and impact in Grand Rapids and 

beyond. These exceptional experts, each of whom leads their own lab at the Institute, bring with them a wealth of expertise at the 

forefront of scientific innovation and discovery. 

Nick Burton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Department of Epigenetics 

Joined VAI from University of Cambridge 

Dr. Nick Burton explores how our environment, 

especially microbes, can impact our health and 

the health of our offspring — even before they 

are born. His research has extensive implications 

for understanding how epigenetics contributes to 

human disease and how the environment we are 

exposed to today affects not only our own health, 

but also our children’s. 

“In the last decade, it has become increasingly 

clear that an individual’s environment and their 

epigenetics play a major role in determining 

whether or not they will go on to develop many 

different pathologies, ranging from diabetes to 

autism. We are now beginning to understand 

the mechanisms underlying many of these 

observations. At Van Andel Institute, I look 

forward to working alongside many world-class 

researchers looking to solve these mechanisms 

and find new ways to improve human health.” 

— Dr. Nick Burton 

Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, Ph.D., Professor 

Department of Epigenetics 

Joined VAI from University of Kentucky 

Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf investigates how 

environmental factors, such as toxicants, impact our 

genetic code and contribute to cancer. Her research 

is illuminating powerful new insights that could 

influence our understanding of health and disease, 

providing a path forward for new strategies for 

cancer prevention and treatment. 

“Our environment has a profound impact on our 

health, down to the molecular level. My research 

addresses some of today’s health challenges 

by developing a deeper understanding of 

the mechanisms underpinning this critical 

relationship. Van Andel Institute is a global 

center for leading-edge epigenetics research, 

and I am thrilled to be part of it.” 

— Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf 

Stephanie Grainger, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Department of Cell Biology 

Joined VAI from San Diego State University 

Stem cells give rise to every cell type in the human 

body and play important roles in health and disease. 

Dr. Stephanie Grainger seeks to understand how 

these special cells develop, how they are maintained, 

and how they can become cancerous, with the goal 

of developing new strategies for combating cancer. 

“Traditional cancer therapies do not target 

the rare cells that initiate cancer growth, and 

instead take a brute force approach of killing 

any cells that are growing. This includes the 

cells in your intestines, skin and hair and is why 

chemotherapy causes side effects like an upset 

stomach and hair loss. These rare cells, which 

behave similarly to a specialized group of cells 

in our bodies called stem cells, are often able to 

regrow tumors once therapy is withdrawn. One 

of the main goals of my research group at VAI 

is to figure out how these rare cells talk to each 

other in normal and cancerous conditions. Once 

we figure that out, we can more effectively kill 

off these cells that initiate cancer.” 

— Dr. Stephanie Grainger 

2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Sara Nowinski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Department of Metabolism and Nutritional 

Programming 

Joined VAI from University of Utah 

Dr. Sara Nowinski investigates how cells determine 

the amount of energy needed for everyday life 

and how they adjust to meet those requirements. 

Her research has uncovered new insights into the 

intricate balance between nutrient availability and 

cellular respiration — both critical components for 

maintaining health. 

“Mitochondria are well known for their role in 

energy production as the ‘powerhouses of the 

cell,’ but there is still so much we don’t know 

about how cells control and fine-tune their 

activity in different situations. I’m incredibly 

excited to join the Department of Metabolism 

and Nutritional Programming at VAI and 

look forward to the discoveries we will make 

together.” 

— Dr. Sara Nowinski 

Evan Worden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Department of Structural Biology 

Joined VAI from Johns Hopkins University 

Dr. Evan Worden leverages VAI’s powerful suite of 

cryo-electron microscopes to explore the complex 

molecular interactions that give rise to cancer. To 

date, his research has revealed novel insights into 

poorly understood regulatory elements in the genetic 

code and illuminated how aberrations in these 

processes can transform healthy cells into malignant 

ones. 

“Our understanding of how epigenetics 

contributes to cancer has exploded in the last 

decade. This opened the door for us to use 

structural biology to answer really detailed 

questions about how the genetic elements 

expressed in cancer are regulated. I’m excited to 

continue this work at Van Andel Institute.” 

— Dr. Evan Worden 

Qiang Zhu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Department of Neurodegenerative Science 

Joined VAI from University of California, San Diego 

Dr. Qiang Zhu investigates the genetic, epigenetic 

and cellular factors that lead to neurodegenerative 

diseases such as ALS and frontotemporal dementia. 

To date, his work has revealed the complex 

mechanisms underlying the most common genetic 

cause for both of these diseases — an insight that 

has provided novel targets for the development of 

new therapies. 

“The lack of therapies that impede progression 

of ALS and frontotemporal dementia is a major 

gap in patient care. I’m heartened that my 

research to date has contributed to clinical 

exploration of potential treatments and am 

excited to expand my efforts at VAI. The Institute 

has exceptional research facilities and a highly 

supportive, collaborative scientific environment. 

I look forward to teaming up with my colleagues 

to achieve our shared goal — new, more effective 

treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.” 

— Dr. Qiang Zhu 

In 2021, VAI was ranked by Nature Index as no. 24 in the Life Sciences 

category out of the top 100 nongovernmental/nonprofit organizations 

(up from no. 29 in 2020). 

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 3

RESEARCH 

New program launched to develop 

future leaders in cancer research 

The scientific leaders of tomorrow are the trainees of today — 

and Van Andel Institute is committed to helping them achieve 

success and improve human health, now and in the future. 

As part of our dedication to this goal, we launched VAI’s Cancer 

Epigenetics Training Program for exceptional postdoctoral fellows. 

These trainee scientists have completed their Ph.D.s but are 

pursuing additional training before starting their own independent 

laboratories. 

Cancer epigenetics is a growing field with untold potential to impact 

human health. Epigenetic abnormalities are universally found 

across cancers and serve as major drivers for transforming healthy 

cells into sick ones, making epigenetic alterations promising new 

targets for the development of life-changing cancer treatments. 

The Cancer Epigenetics Training Program combines extensive 

professional development with comprehensive, interdisciplinary 

research training by VAI’s internationally recognized cadre of 

experts. Postdoctoral trainees in the program also have access 

to the Institute’s state-of-the-art shared scientific resources and 

technologies as well as opportunities to participate in established 

translational research programs and partnerships led by VAI 

investigators. 

“In the past few years, VAI has become a global destination for 

groundbreaking, collaborative cancer epigenetics research,” said 

VAI Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones. “Postdoctoral trainees 

will emerge from our Cancer Epigenetics Training Program with 

extensive, rigorous training and a solid foundation from which to 

launch their independent research careers.” 

The program is supported by a five-year, $1.7 million grant from 

the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. 

Jones and VAI Associate Professor Dr. Scott Rothbart will lead the 

program in collaboration with Dr. Erica Gobrogge, program director 

of VAI’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. The program also benefits 

from the guidance of its advisory committee, which includes 

renowned scientists from across the U.S. 

By supporting exceptional trainees today, VAI is helping to ensure a 

brighter, healthier future fueled by innovation and discovery. 

The Cancer Epigenetics Training program is supported by a National 

Cancer Institute T32 training grant (no. T32CA251066). The content is 

solely the responsibility of VAI and does not necessarily represent the 

official views of the National Institutes of Health. 

“In the past few 

years, VAI has 

become a global 

destination for 

groundbreaking, 

collaborative 

cancer epigenetics 

research.” 

— Peter A. Jones, 

Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon) 


Rallying to the 

grand challenge 

of Parkinson’s 

disease 

How do a person’s genetics impact their risk for 

Parkinson’s disease? 

That’s the question more than 500 people from around the 

world explored during Van Andel Institute’s annual Grand 

Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease scientific symposium and 

parallel Rallying to the Challenge meeting for people with 

Parkinson’s and care partners, co-hosted with the U.K.’s Cure 

Parkinson’s. Held virtually in October 2021, these events tackled 

how two specific genes — LRRK2 and GBA1 — contribute to 

Parkinson’s disease risk and how they may be leveraged to 

develop new and urgently needed treatments. Attendees 

heard scientific presentations from leading researchers and 

participated in panel discussions with advocates and people 

with Parkinson’s. 

As part of Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease and Rallying to 

the Challenge, we recognized two scientists for their exceptional 

contributions to the Parkinson’s field and community. VAI 

presented the 2021 Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding 

Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research to Dr. Ted Dawson, 

of Johns Hopkins University for his groundbreaking research 

into the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying 

Parkinson’s disease — many of which have informed the 

development of potential new medications. 

Cure Parkinson’s and VAI presented Dr. Camille Carroll, of 

University of Plymouth with the 2021 Tom Isaacs Award, which 

honors individuals who have had a significant impact on the 

lives of people with Parkinson’s and/or involved them in a 

participatory way in research. This award recognizes Carroll’s 

commitment to engage people with Parkinson’s in research and 

to foster collaboration between scientists, physicians and the 

Parkinson’s community. 

Save the date! The next Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s 

Disease and Rallying to the Challenge will be held Sept. 28–29, 

2022. Visit grandchallengesinpd.org to learn more. 


RESEARCH 

VAI scientists have recordbreaking 

year for scientific grants 

Our scientists surpassed the Institute’s 

all-time funding record in 2021, earning 

more external grants than ever before. 

These important awards do more than 

support our groundbreaking research — 

they are vital, objective validation of this 

research. 

In 2021, VAI scientists earned 33 new 

grants, totaling more than $39 million. 

Achieving this milestone would not have 

been possible without the exceptional 

support from VAI donors, whose generous 

gifts often fuel the early, foundational 

research required to attain these highly 

competitive grants. 

Many of this year’s grants will support 

projects that harness the collective 

expertise of VAI scientists and collaborators 

across the U.S. Here’s a snapshot. 

Specialized Programs of Research 

Excellence (SPORE) | National Cancer 

Institute of the National Institutes 

of Health 

This five-year grant, estimated at $12.4 million, 

will support nearly 20 scientists as they 

work to improve epigenetic therapies for 

cancer. The project is co-led by Coriell 

Institute for Medical Research’s President 

and CEO Dr. Jean-Pierre Issa, Van Andel 

Institute’s Chief Scientific Officer 

Dr. Peter A. Jones and Johns Hopkins 

University and VAI’s Dr. Stephen Baylin. 1 

Read more at bit.ly/vaispore 

Transformative Research Award | National 

Institutes of Health Common Fund 

VAI’s Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik and Maine 

Medical Center Research Institute’s 

Dr. Joseph Nadeau earned a five-year, 

$9.6 million Transformative Research Award 

from the National Institutes of Health 

to answer a set of questions that could 

fundamentally transform our understanding 

of health and disease: If you were born 

multiple times under the exact same 

circumstances, would you turn out to be the 

same person each time? And if not, what 

implications could the differences have for 

your health? Although they may sound like 

science fiction, the answers could provide 

real-world insights into new strategies for 

combating cancer, obesity and a host of 

other health concerns and diseases. 2 

Read more at bit.ly/vaitransform 

6 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE 

VAI GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENT SVETLANA DJIRACKOR

Collaborative Research Network grants | 

Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s 

Two VAI scientists and their collaborators 

were awarded more than $15 million to 

advance Parkinson’s disease research 

and accelerate the development of new 

therapies. 

This pair of awards, called Collaborative 

Research Network grants, comes from 

Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s, a 

coordinated research initiative to accelerate 

the pace of discovery and inform the 

path to a cure for Parkinson’s through 

collaboration, research-enabling resources 

and data sharing. 

VAI’s Dr. Michael Henderson and colleagues 

at Yale University and University of 

Pennsylvania were awarded $9 million to 

identify areas and cell types in the brain 

that may be particularly vulnerable to 

Parkinson’s disease. 3 

VAI’s Dr. Hong-yuan Chu and colleagues at 

Emory University were awarded $6.3 million 

to investigate the brain’s motor cortex — 

which helps manage movement — and its 

role in Parkinson’s. Changes to the cells 

that comprise this critical brain region have 

long been implicated in the disease. They 

also will collaborate with scientists at SUNY 

Downstate and Inscopix. 4 

Read more at bit.ly/ASAPChu and bit.ly/ 

ASAPHend 

Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award 

| National Institute of General Medical 

Sciences of the National Institutes 

of Health 

Maximizing Investigators’ Research Awards 

are highly competitive and prestigious fiveyear 

grants and, in 2021, one was awarded 

to VAI Assistant Professor Dr. Stephanie 

Grainger. The award is worth nearly 

$2.4 million over the life of the award. 

Grainger’s project will explore a critical 

type of cellular communication that drives 

healthy development and, when disrupted, 

can spur cancer, osteoporosis, heart 

conditions and other diseases. 5 

Research Scholar’s Grant | American 

Cancer Society 

VAI’s Dr. Scott Rothbart earned a four-year, 

$792,000 Research Scholar’s Grant from 

the American Cancer Society to investigate 

the mechanisms that power a promising 

class of potent anti-cancer drugs. Called 

EZH2 inhibitors, these drugs work by 

targeting an enzyme named EZH2 that has 

long been of interest to cancer researchers 

because it interacts with the proteins that 

support DNA. As such, EZH2 plays a major 

role in switching genes that regulate cell 

proliferation “on” or “off” — a process that 

can lead to cancer if it goes awry. It 

also helps tumors evade attack by the 

In 2020, VAI 

ranked among 

the top five 

National 

Institutes of 

Health-funded 

organizations 

in Michigan, 

just after the 

state’s larger 

universities and 

health systems. 

immune system. 6 VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 7 

Source: United for Medical Research. 

2020. NIH in Your State: Michigan. 

unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-yourstate/ 

Funding Acknowledgements 

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under award numbers: 1 P50CA254897; 

2 

1R01HG012444; and 5 R35GM142779. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily 

represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health 

3 

Research reported in this publication was supported by funds from Emory University as part of an Aligning Science Across 

Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network award. 

4 

Research reported in this publication was supported by funds from Yale University as part of an Aligning Science Across 

Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network award. 

6 

Scott B. Rothbart, Ph.D., is supported by a Research Scholar Grant, RSG-21-031-01-DMC, from the American Cancer Society. 

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the granting 

organizations.

RESEARCH 

VAI scientists recognized 

as top of their fields 

It’s no secret that VAI 

scientists are among the 

world’s best. This year, 

five of our investigators 

were honored with 

inclusion on the Clarivate 

Highly Cited Researchers 

List, a distinction marking 

them as leaders in 

their fields. 

The annual list identifies 

scientists from around the 

world who demonstrate 

significant influence in 

their area of study through 

the publication of multiple 

highly cited papers during 

the last decade. Citations, 

or references, to a 

scientist’s published work 

by other researchers is 

universally considered to 

be a measure of influence 

and impact in the scientific 

community. Only about 

1 in 1,000 scientists in the 

world make this elite list, 

according to Clarivate. 

Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon) 

Chief Scientific Officer 

Director, VAI Cancer Center 

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

Deputy Chief Scientific Officer 

Director, VAI Parkinson’s Disease Center 

Read more online at bit.ly/ 

vaihrc21 

Russell Jones, Ph.D. 

Chair, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional 

Programming 

Peter Laird, Ph.D. 

Professor, Department of Epigenetics 

X. Edward Zhou, Ph.D. 

Senior Research Scientist, Li Lab 

Department of Structural Biology 


Research highlights 

Looking for the latest from VAI’s scientists? Here’s a snapshot of 

advances from the Institute’s labs. 

Understanding gut inflammation may hold clues to mitigating Parkinson’s onset 

Chronic inflammation in the gut may propel processes in the body that give rise 

to Parkinson’s disease, according to a study by Dr. Patrik Brundin’s lab at VAI and 

colleagues at Roche. The findings add to a growing list that links the gut and the 

immune system to Parkinson’s, and track with several large-scale studies that 

show an association between Parkinson’s and inflammatory bowel diseases, such 

as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. 1 

Read more at bit.ly/vaicolitis 

‘Roadmaps’ of the brain reveal regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease 

Much like a supply truck crossing the countryside, the misfolded proteins 

that damage neurons in Alzheimer’s disease travel the “roads” of the brain, 

sometimes stopping or even re-routing to avoid roadblocks, reports a study by 

VAI’s Dr. Michael Henderson and collaborators at University of Pennsylvania. 

Understanding how and why this happens could clear the way for the 

development of new therapies to slow or stop disease progression. 2 

Read more at bit.ly/vaitau 

‘Tasty’ protein may lead to new ways to treat metabolic and immune diseases 

The same taste-sensing molecule that helps you enjoy a meal from your favorite 

restaurant may one day lead to improved ways to treat diabetes and other 

metabolic and immune diseases. TRPM5 is a specialized protein concentrated in 

the taste buds, where it helps relay messages to and from cells. It has long been 

of interest to researchers due to its roles in taste perception and blood sugar 

regulation. VAI scientists Dr. Wei Lü and Dr. Juan Du have published the firstever 

high-resolution images of TRPM5, which reveal two areas that may serve as 

targets for new medications for diseases like diabetes. These structures also may 

aid in the development of low-calorie alternative sweeteners that mimic sugar. 3 

Read more at bit.ly/vaitrpm5 

Study sheds light on how DNA mutates in 

melanoma, a deadly skin cancer 

The mutations that give rise to melanoma result 

from a chemical change in DNA fueled by sunlight 

— not just a DNA copying error as previously 

believed, reports a study by VAI’s Dr. Gerd Pfeifer. 

The findings upend long-held beliefs about the 

mechanisms underlying the disease, reinforce 

the importance of prevention efforts and offer a 

path forward for investigating the origins of other 

cancer types. 4 

Read more at bit.ly/vaimelanoma 

An overactive sweet tooth may spell trouble for 

our cellular powerplants 

Although we’ve long known that eating too much 

sugar can contribute to Type 2 diabetes and other 

disorders, the exact way this overconsumption 

sets the stage for metabolic diseases on a cellular 

level has remained elusive. But now, a study led 

by VAI’s Dr. Ning Wu has shown that surplus 

sugar may cause our cellular powerplants — 

called mitochondria — to become less efficient, 

reducing their energy output. The findings 

highlight the cellular implications of excessive 

sugar consumption and provide an important 

new model to study the initial metabolic events 

that may contribute to diabetes development. 5 

Read more at bit.ly/vailipids 

Funding Acknowledgements 

Research reported in this publication was funded by: 

1 

Van Andel Institute and Roche. Early work on this project was supported in part by the European Research Council. 

2 

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research award no. 16879 (Henderson); the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under awards T32AG000255 (Lee), 

P30AG10124 (Trojanowski) and U19AG062418 (Trojanowski);the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. P50NS053488 

(Trojanowski) and R01NS099348 (Bassett); the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under award no. F30 MH118871-01 (Cornblath); and the National 

Science Foundation under award nos. PHY1554488 (Bassett) and BCS1631550 (to Bassett). Bassett also acknowledges support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the ISI 

Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Paul G. Allen Foundation. 

3 

Van Andel Institute; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R56HL144929 (Lü) and R01HL153219 (Lü); a McKnight Scholar Award (Du); 

a Klingenstein-Simons Scholar Award (Du); a Sloan Research Fellowship in neuroscience (Du); and a Pew Scholars in Biomedical Research Award from the Pew Charitable Trusts (Du). 

4 

Van Andel Institute and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R21CA228089 (Pfeifer). 

5 

Van Andel Institute; the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01GM120129 (Wu); and the National Institute on Aging of the 

National Institutes of Health under award no. RF1AH061872 (Han). 

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or other granting organizations. 


RESEARCH 

Newest 

cohort 

illustrates 

growth at 

Graduate 

School 

Van Andel Institute Graduate School 

trains the biomedical research leaders 

of tomorrow, a focus that dovetails with 

the Institute’s overarching mission to 

transform human health for generations 

to come. We move ourselves — and the 

world — closer to lasting breakthroughs 

by welcoming a diversity of experiences, 

cultures and thoughts. 

Richard Cassidy 

Kansas City, Kansas 

Svetlana Djirackor 

Nairobi, Kenya 

In Fall 2021, the Graduate School’s largest 

and most diverse cohort arrived — 

14 students representing eight countries. 

The new cohort bolsters VAI’s growing 

reputation as a global destination for 

doctoral students. 

This array of students and perspectives 

helps us to better understand the full scope 

of health threats facing humanity. Every new 

cohort that arrives at VAI strengthens our 

organization and gives new shape to our 

mission; indeed, for the last few years, each 

successive cohort has grown larger and 

more diverse. 

Sofia Ievleva 

Voronezh, Russia 

Yanqing Liu 

Shandong Province, China 

The 2021 cohort includes students from 

The Bahamas, China, India, Iran, Kenya, 

Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. Although their 

paths were different, they arrived here 

united in one goal: to become the leaders 

who take us into the bright future where 

diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s are met 

with life-changing treatment and care. 

Kate Thurlow 

London, United Kingdom 

Xiao Wang 

Yunnan Province, China 


James Eapen 

Cochin, India 

Abigail Godec 

Denver, Colorado 

Thomas Goralski 

Livonia, Michigan 

Paige Matusiak 

LaGrange Highlands, Illinois 

Shantinique Miller 

Nassau, The Bahamas 

Christina Straham 

Flint, Michigan 

Riley Wedan 

Savage, Minnesota 

Mehrshid Faraji Zonooz 

Tehran, Iran 


RESEARCH 

A day in the life of a VAI 

Graduate School student 

The life of a VAI graduate student varies greatly from year to year. 

Some years are spent more in the classroom, and others in the lab. 

But no matter how a student’s typical day looks, they are all working 

toward careers as biomedical research leaders. 

Nadia Dehghani is a third-year Ph.D. student in the labs of Dr. Rita 

Guerreiro and Dr. José Brás. Nadia studies genetic contributors to 

dementia. We caught up with her to get a glimpse into the life of a 

VAI grad student. 

What does a typical day with your thesis research look like? 

Days can be vastly different from one another, or vastly different 

from what was “ideally” planned! My time is generally spread across 

ongoing projects at varying milestones — data generation and 

troubleshooting, data analysis and write-up, and responding to peer 

reviewers who offer feedback on my research. 

Additional daily constants include discussing and consolidating 

approaches to projects and reading newly published scientific 

studies. These can be directly related to my thesis research, or may 

offer a new approach for me to consider. Most days, I also engage 

with a scientific seminar or a formal class; this semester, 

I have enrolled in the fantastic Lab Leadership class organized by 

Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik, chair of VAI’s Department of Epigenetics. 

How has the Graduate School’s unique setup benefited your 

studies and research? 

We are very fortunate to be led by the vision and philosophy of 

Dean Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg. With our highly dedicated and 

supportive Graduate School staff, we’ve cultured a stimulating and 

collegial environment where graduate students are seamlessly 

integrated within VAI. 

Most recently, we moved into new, designated facilities on VAI’s 

campus for students’ scholarly and professional development — a 

result of the Graduate School’s exciting growth and recognition. As 

students, developments in our research approaches are aided by 

perspectives from peers and mentors; the growing diversity within 

the Graduate School makes this possible and increasingly practical. 

To learn more about VAI Graduate School, visit vaigs.vai.org. 

(STARTING AT LEFT, GOING ACROSS) NADIA DEHGHANI 

& DR. RITA GUERREIRO; LEENA KARIAPPER PRESENTING AT VAI GRADUATE SCHOOL 


Graduate School 

highlights 

Origins of Cancer probes intersection of cancer, neuroscience 

The 2021 Origins of Cancer symposium, held in July, explored the intersection of cancer 

and neuroscience, an area that holds great promise for better understanding the complex 

biological interactions that give rise to disease. Students and scientists joined together 

for the virtual conference to discuss how the future of cancer research may combine two 

discrete areas of study by exploring the common threads that unite them. This annual 

event, organized and hosted by VAI Graduate School students, serves as a shining example 

of collaboration — a value that is at the heart of VAI’s ethos. 

Taylor Boyd joins Graduate School leadership 

The Institute’s commitment to training the scientific leaders of tomorrow leapt forward in 

October 2021 with the hiring of Taylor Boyd as director of assessment and professional 

development. Boyd, who previously served in the Office of the Provost at Grand Valley 

State University, is responsible for assessing the Graduate School’s curriculum and cocurricular 

activities. He also assists VAI faculty in enhancing their teaching and mentoring 

skills, as well as in monitoring the progress of student learning. Boyd will also lead the work 

to sustain the Graduate School’s accreditation. 

3 quick facts 

about VAI 

Graduate School 

• The Graduate School has 

graduated 34 students to date: 30 

Ph.D. and four M.S. Of the 

30 Ph.D. graduates: 

70% have gone to postdoctoral or 

research associate positions 

20% have taken positions in industry 

• As of September 2021, 44 students 

were enrolled in our Ph.D. program. 

The student body includes: 

28 women 

13 international students 

2 students from populations 

underrepresented in the biomedical 

workforce (by NIH standards) 

4 students enrolled in dual-degree 

(M.D.-Ph.D.) programs 

• In 2020, Graduate School 

students and alumni contributed 

24 authorships on 17 research 

publications, with 12 authorships on 

11 papers in 2021. 


EDUCATION 

From Afterschool Cohort to 

Fulbright Scholar: One student’s 

journey with VAI 

Van Andel Institute for Education strives to foster a love of 

learning in every student who walks through our doors. Whether 

they join us for a field trip or attend one of VAI’s Afterschool 

Cohorts, our mission is to teach them how to think and act like 

a scientist. 

Former Afterschool Cohort student Eli Bieri exemplifies the impact 

of our work. Bieri, a passionate and curious scientist, was recently 

awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue work in amphibian 

conservation. 

“I remember hearing toad calls when I was a little kid, in the 

summertime from my backyard, and I was just innately drawn to 

that noise,” Bieri said. “From then on, I spent so much free time 

just wading through ponds and swamps, looking for frogs and 

snakes and turtles.” 

“I remember doing this project where I was testing what effect 

common pesticides or herbicides would have on African Clawed 

Frogs. What I really loved about that project was that I felt like the 

instructor really treated me like a scientist,” Bieri said. “He was like, 

‘You are scientists! You’re doing science!’ That’s the kind of thinking 

that translates into a career in science, and I’m really grateful 

for that.” 

These days, as a Fulbright Scholar, Bieri is participating in a two-year 

master’s program at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, 

Australia. Working with Dr. Jodi Rowley, he studies how aggressive 

wildfire suppression may negatively impact the country’s amphibian 

population. Bieri and Rowley hope their research will lead to better, 

more sustainable practices for both humans and amphibians 

alike. Eventually, Bieri would like to work at the intersection of land 

management and public policy. 

“I remember hearing toad calls when I was a little kid, 

in the summertime from my backyard, and I was just 

innately drawn to that noise. From then on, I spent 

so much free time just wading through ponds and 

swamps, looking for frogs and snakes and turtles.” 

— Eli Bieri 

As he grew, Bieri searched for new ways to satisfy his inquisitive 

nature. When a family friend received a pamphlet on VAI’s student 

programs, she thought of Bieri and passed the information on to 

his mother. That small decision would ultimately set Bieri on his 

trajectory toward a career in science and biology. 

While enrolled in Afterschool Cohort, Bieri quickly realized 

he’d found a place where his curiosity could be channeled into 

something productive and fun. Cohorts are designed around 

hands-on investigations where students ask questions and 

discover answers using scientific tools and resources. In fact, the 

classrooms at VAI for Education are home to many of the same 

reptiles and amphibians Bieri often searched for in his backyard. 

“VAI had a significant impact on Eli’s natural curiosity,” said his 

mother, Gail Greco-Bieri. “It was the spark that lit the fire for him to 

validate the ‘whys’ he thought about, and he continues to question 

today. VAI taught Eli to think like a scientist, and he’s not stopped 

ever since.” 

We are grateful to the Rottman Family Charitable Foundation for their 

support of Afterschool Cohort. 

ELI BIERI 



EDUCATION 

In-person field trips return at 

Van Andel Institute for Education 

In the early days of the pandemic, Van Andel Institute 

for Education pivoted to offer our suite of student and 

teacher programs in a virtual format. We knew that 

educators, parents and kids were in uncharted territory, 

and we worked swiftly to support them where they needed 

us most. 

At the start of the 2021–22 academic year, the Institute 

returned to an in-person format for one of our most 

popular offerings: field trips. With appropriate safety 

protocols and masking in place, we welcomed classrooms 

back to our educational labs at 216 Division Ave. As of 

January 2022, there have been 23 field trips serving more 

than 400 students for this academic year. 

Our educational philosophy is guided by the principle that 

immersive, hands-on scientific investigations are best for 

creating classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical 

thinking thrive. Although we successfully offered virtual 

field trips for months, and continue to do so upon request, 

it was clear that all of us missed the benefits of in-person 

learning. 

“We are so happy to have students back in our labs, 

doing experiments that get them thinking and acting like 

scientists and nurturing a curiosity for the world around 

us,” said Terra Tarango, director and chief education officer 

of Van Andel Institute for Education. “We will always work 

tirelessly to create fun, safe learning environments for 

every student who walks through our doors.” 

To learn more about our field trip offerings, visit vaei.org. 

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) STUDENTS FROM 

CROSSROADS CHARTER ACADEMY COLLABORATE; TWO CLASSMATES 

EXAMINE THE PROPERTIES OF GLITTER; STUDENTS PREPARE TO CONDUCT 

AN EXPERIMENT DURING THEIR FIELD TRIP TO VAI FOR EDUCATION; 

STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER DURING FIELD TRIPS TO VAI FOR EDUCATION 


Education highlights 

The pandemic has brought many challenges to the classroom. Our educators worked 

hard to make sure that teachers and administrators could support students to the 

best of their ability with a suite of instructions, resources, projects and professional 

development offerings to help create classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical 

thinking continue to thrive. Resources mentioned here can be found at vaei.org. 

Better Together: A Virtual Event for K–12 Administrators 

To combat learning loss, VAI hosted several networking events for K–12 

administrators to help address concerns related to the pandemic. More than 

350 administrators from 20 states and two continents have registered for Better 

Together events. 

VAI’s Admin Guides 

These relevant and comprehensive guides are designed to equip administrators 

with strategies for school development. This year featured “Beyond Learning 

Loss: Six Ways Schools Can Thrive in the Aftermath of the Pandemic” and “7 Tips 

for Successful School Improvement Planning.” The Admin Guides have been 

downloaded more than 500 times. 

Blue Apple Timely Topics 

Our expert educators created nine free Blue Apple Timely Topics connecting to 

current events, such as “Celebrating Black History Month,” “Respectful Debate” 

and “Spooktacular STEAM.” In 2021, these lessons were downloaded more 

than 2,800 times and were used throughout the U.S. and more than 25 other 

countries. 

Flex PD 

VAI’s popular Flex PD is a comprehensive, affordable professional development 

model that promotes tangible shifts in instruction for teachers and 

administrators. Our plans are customizable to fit educators’ individual needs and 

include immersive workshops, learning sessions and coaching. 

NexGen Inquiry Quests 

Our new NexGen Inquiry Quests are story-driven video lessons that capture 

student interest by introducing them to real-world problems they can solve 

with hands-on, scientific investigations. Each Quest includes three inquirybased 

investigations that help students exercise critical and creative thinking, 

collaboration with peers, and the application of solutions that will make the world 

a better place. In one Quest, students play the role of an electrical engineer who 

is troubleshooting a power outage. In another, students learn “crime scene” 

forensics to locate a reptile that’s gone “missing” from VAI’s classrooms. 

“Once again, thank 

you for supporting 

our teachers. You 

(VAI) have been a 

wonderful asset and 

support system as 

our teachers navigate 

implementing projectbased 

learning in our 

schools.” 

— Hilary B., 

Allegan Public Schools 

Field Trips 

Our field trips immerse students — and their teachers — in learning science 

through investigation. Students conduct unique, grade-specific investigations and 

participate in hands-on discovery with activities like mock fossil digs, engineering 

challenges and robotics coding. After being held virtually for the 2020–21 

school year, field trips returned to an in-person format with appropriate safety 

precautions in fall 2021. 


EVENTS 

VAI Golf Outing 

In September, golfers gathered at the majestic Wuskowhan 

Players Club in West Olive, Michigan, for the 14th annual 

VAI Golf Outing. The 2021 event featured a scramble 

tournament, lunch, dinner and a brief award presentation. 

For nearly 15 years, the VAI Golf Outing has brought the golf 

community of West Michigan together in support of the 

Institute’s biomedical research and educational programs. 

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, the Veldheer, Long, Mackay & 

Bernecker Group of Merrill Lynch. 

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; MOLLY KRAUSE, KAREN CUSTER, KELLIE CUSTER & TERRI DEBOER; 

DAVID VAN ANDEL KICKS OFF THE DAY; ANN CALLAHAN & SHAWN PREMER; RYAN FORMSMA, 

ERIC HELZER, CHRISTOPHER STRALKOWSKI & STAN ELENBAAS 


Please note: All events followed health and safety protocols related to the 

COVID-19 pandemic in place at the time of occurrence. 

Couture for a Cure 

Back live and in action, Couture for a Cure brought glitz, glam and 

generosity together at the Institute for a 16th year. The event 

featured a New York-style runway show by Leigh’s and highlighted 

the Fall 2021 collection of designer Veronica Beard. Co-founders 

of the eponymous brand — Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica 

Swanson Beard — shared a special virtual message with the 

evening’s guests, who also enjoyed a seated dinner, table service 

and fabulous musical stylings from AB. Guests also learned more 

about VAI’s work into ovarian cancer research. New products and 

on-trend looks from Artistry appeared on the runway, and all 

guests took home swag bags of exclusive gifts, treats and Artistry 

products. 

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Leigh’s, and our 

Title Sponsor, Amway. 

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) SCOTT & REBECCA WIERDA WITH DAVID & CAROL VAN ANDEL; MODEL ON THE RUNWAY; MODEL SHOWING 

OFF ONE OF THE NIGHT’S CHIC LOOKS; CAROL VAN ANDEL; CONSUMERS CREDIT UNION’S LYNNE JARMAN-JOHNSON (CENTER, IN BLACK & GOLD) 

WITH A GREAT GROUP OF GUESTS AT THE EVENT ENTRANCE; MODEL SHOWS OFF A GLAMOROUS LOOK ON THE RUNWAY 


EVENTS 

Hope on the Hill Gala 

As the culminating event of our 25th anniversary, the 21st 

annual Hope on the Hill Gala marked a quarter century of 

progress at the Institute with a night of glamour, mystery 

and support of VAI’s mission. Guests broke out their best 

black-tie attire to celebrate those who, for the past 25 years, 

have helped make great strides at the Institute: our donors, 

our community, and the scientists and educators they support. 

The event included a seated dinner of delectable cuisine and 

artisan cocktails, live entertainment from AB and world-class 

electroviolinist Svet, and presentations from Institute leaders on 

VAI’s history, breakthroughs and dreams for the future. 

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Fifth Third Private Bank. 


Thank you to all donors and guests who 

supported us through our virtual events in 

2021, including: 

• VAI Forum on Depression & Inflammation 

• Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Virtual Dinner 

& Award Presentation 

• Grand Rapids Griffins VAI Purple Community Game 

• Board of Governors Annual Dinner 

• Around the World 

• VAI Public Lecture Series 

• Virtual Coffee Connection Events 

While we wish we could have seen more of you in person 

in 2021, we are so happy you were able to join us in some 

capacity to celebrate VAI’s research and education efforts 

from the last year — and the last quarter century. 

(STARTING AT TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) SENATOR MARK HUIZENGA 

& KRIS HUIZENGA, BILL & MARY JACKSON, RUSTY & JENN MERCHANT & 

MAUREEN WATSON-BOLGER & MATT BOLGER (FAR RIGHT); 

DAVID & CAROL VAN ANDEL; JAKE KENNARD & KATE ZWIERS & 

NICOLE & DAVID ZWIERS; SVET; DAVID VAN ANDEL; 

ENTRYWAY TO THE EVENT; DJ AB 


EVENTS 

A Conversation About Pancreatic 

Cancer — Hosted by 

Carol Van Andel 

Despite incredible advances in cancer detection and treatment, 

pancreatic cancer continues to pose a particular challenge to 

physicians and patients because it often lacks obvious early 

symptoms. By the time the disease is found, it is typically quite 

advanced, complicating treatment and leading to poorer patient 

outcomes. 

Thanks to new breakthroughs, there is hope. In November, 

guests at A Conversation About Pancreatic Cancer — Hosted by 

Carol Van Andel learned about the latest advances in pancreatic 

cancer research, with a focus on promising opportunities for 

early detection. Speakers included pancreatic cancer experts 

Dr. Brian Haab, a VAI professor whose lab is at the forefront of 

new diagnostic efforts, and Dr. J. Bradley Morrow, director of 

endoscopy at Mercy Health St. Mary’s. For the past five years, 

Drs. Haab and Morrow have collaborated on developing new 

diagnostics for pancreatic cancer. 

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, The Howard Miller Company. 

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; GUESTS HEAR FROM DR. BRIAN HAAB; 

DR. J. BRADLEY MORROW AND MARANDA; DR. J. BRADLEY MORROW 


Gaming for Hope 

In 2021, VAI hosted our inaugural Gaming for Hope, a fully 

online, 24-hour gaming marathon that blended a passion for 

online gaming and streaming with raising funds to support the 

Institute’s work. Streamers of all ages and experience levels played 

numerous games over the course of the day, including singleplayer 

FIFA 21, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, League of Legends, 

and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Featured streamers joined in 

on the action, and giveaways and prizes were up for grabs for those 

who fundraised for the Institute. 

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Element Four. 

(STARTING AT TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) COLIN GRAHAM & DAVENPORT ESPORTS INTERN; MAE LEXI ZURITA; 

COLIN GRAHAM; MIKE “POROSAURUS” NAVARRO 


EVENTS 

Thank you to our generous 

event sponsors 

To learn more about sponsoring an event, contact Sarah Rollman at 

sarah.rollman@vai.org. 

Winterfest Celebration 

Rob & Dawn Arnoys 

Steven & Amanda Barbour 

Bluewater Technologies 

Jerry & Suzanne Callahan 

Custer Inc. 

Mike & Jean Dery 

Edge Natural Resources 

Ernst & Young 

Grand Rapids Christian Schools 

HB Wealth Management 

Hines Corporation 

Dr. Jurgen & Becky Luders 

Macatawa Bank 

McShane & Bowie PLC 

Mercy Health 

MMS Education 

Mike & Sally Murdock 

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. 

P.L. Capital 

Pioneer Construction 

Red Glasses Movement 

Rockford Construction 

Sharpe 

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP 

Geoff & LeeAnne Widlak 

Around the World 

James & Shirley Balk 


Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh 

Caledonia Dental Group 

Greenridge Realty, Inc. 

Huizenga Group 

John Hancock Financial Services 

Lake Michigan Credit Union 

Leigh’s 

The Meijer Foundation 

Mike & Rachel Mraz 

Lee & Alexandra Perez 

Lisa M. Rose & Dr. Ken Hoffman 

West Michigan Woman 

This list includes sponsors of 2021 signature events. 

Design & Discovery 

Alpine Events 

Autocam Medical 

Franco & Alessandra Bianchi 


Robert & Sandra Borsos 

The Brooks Family 

Byrne Electrical Specialists 

Cascade Engineering 

Cauley Ferrari of Detroit 

Cottage Home 

The Currie Foundation 

Randy Damstra & Julie Duisterhof 

David & Carol Van Andel Family 

Foundation 

Dominique & Julie DeNooyer 

Dunn & Laug Wealth 

Mike & Barb Ellis 

Ernst & Young 

EV Construction 

Geerlings Development 

Company/Midwest Construction 

Group 

Jeff & Ann Harten 

Matt & Jen Haworth 

Heidi Huizenga 

The Hilldore Group — Baird 

Holland Hospital 

Inontime 

James Group 

Jeffery Roberts Design 

Kyle Geenen Group 

Al & Linda Lanning 

Management at Morgan Stanley 

Michigan Homes & Cottages 

Mike Schaap Builders, Inc. 

Paul & Anne Nemschoff 

Nicolai North America 

Padnos 

Priority Health 

Progressive AE 

Rowerdink Inc. 

Marc & Jeanne Schupan 

SeyferthPR 

SIBSCO 

24 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE 

Spectrum Health 

Craig & Wendy Spoelhof 

John & Judy Spoelhof 

Scott & Jan Spoelhof 

Kathleen Stewart Ponitz 

Kenneth & Nancy Teutsch 

Visbeen Architects Inc. 



Woodways International 

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids 

VAI Golf Outing 

Applied Imaging 


Bouma Corporation 

Consumers Credit Union 

Cornerstone University 

Custer Inc. 

Erhardt Construction 

First National Bank 

Gallagher Insurance 

Grand Rapids Christian Schools 

Ben & Molly Hunting 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. 

Macatawa Bank 

Merrill Lynch — Veldheer, Long, 

Mackay & Bernecker Group 

Metro Health — University of 

Michigan Health 

Midwest Capital Advisors 

Northern Jet Management 


Pine Rest 


John & Therese Rowerdink 

Secrest Wardle 

Sharpe 

Standard Lumber 

Thomas & Mary Stuit 

Summit Point Roofing 

US Signal 

Brian & Lori Vander Baan 

Dave & Beth VanPortfliet 

Wells Fargo 


Couture for a Cure 

Amway 

Andy J. Egan Company 


Chuck & Christine Boelkins 

Cheeky Strut 


Mimi Cummings 

CWD Real Estate Investment 


Foundation 

Deloitte 

Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh 

Eileen DeVries Family Foundation 

Eurest 

First National Bank of Michigan 

Gallagher 

Jana Hall 

Paul & Sheryl Haverkate 

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga 

Bill & Starr Humphries 

Jandernoa Foundation 

Jeffery Roberts Design 

Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones 

Kool Auto Group 


McAlvey Merchant & Associates 



The Steve & Amy Van Andel 

Foundation 


Greg & Meg Willit 

Zip Xpress, Inc. 

Hope on the Hill Gala 

Advantage Commercial Real 

Estate 

Al & Robin Koop Foundation 

Amway 

Aon 

Aquinas College 

AssurancePlus 


John & Ginny Baysore 

Jeff & Meg Bennett 

Betz Industries

BHS Insurance 

Dave & Jill Bielema 


Chuck & Christine Boelkins 

Buist Electric 


Cancer & Hematology Centers of 

Western Michigan, P.C. 


Ryan & Jessica Cook 

Crowe LLP 

Tom & Tracy Curran 

Custer Inc. 

Czech Asset Management 

Davenport University 


Foundation 

Deloitte 

Dick & Betsy DeVos Family 

Foundation 

The Douglas & Maria DeVos 

Foundation 

Eenhoorn 

Pete & LeAnn Engles 

Fifth Third Private Bank 


Grand Valley State University 

Martin & Peggy Greydanus 

Jana Hall 

Kurt & Madelon Hassberger 

Hope College 

Howard Miller 

Huizenga Group 

ICN Foundation 

Jandernoa Foundation 

Matt & Sarah Jones 

Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones 

Craig & Debra Kinney 

Blake & Mary Krueger 

John & Katie Kuiper 


Ray & Jeannine Lanning 

Gary & Vicky Ludema 

Macatawa Bank 

McAlvey Merchant & Associates 

Meijer 

The Meijer Foundation 

Merrill Lynch — The Veldheer, 

Long, Mackay & Bernecker 

Group 

Michigan State University College 

of Human Medicine 

Bill & Pat Mills 

New Holland Brewing Co. 

Northern Jet Management 

NPF Investment Advisors 


Pageworks 

Peter C. & Emajean Cook 

Foundation 

The Peter F. Secchia Family 

Pioneer Construction 

Pitsch Companies 

Plastic Surgery Associates/Grand 

Pearl Spa 


Quality Air Service 


Eve Rogus & Paul Becker 

Rowerdink Inc. 

Tony & Dawn Semple 

Sharpe 

Spectrum Health 

David & Linda Spencer 

Rob & Susan Stafford 

Steelcase Inc. 

Stephen Klotz Family Foundation 

The Steve & Amy Van Andel 

Foundation 

Taconic 

Thomas S. Fox Family 

Truscott Rossman 

University of Michigan Health 

West 

Mike & Michelle Van Dyke 

Dan & Ann Van Eerden 

Christian & Kara VerMeulen 

Russ & Chris Visner 


Wells Fargo 


Williams Kitchen & Bath 

Wolverine Worldwide 

Jim & Jane Zwiers 

A Conversation About Pancreatic 

Cancer — Hosted by 

Carol Van Andel 




Howard Miller 

Leigh’s 


Dr. Bart & Wendy Williams 

Gaming for Hope 


Element Four 

Herman Miller 

Mercantile Bank of Michigan 

NVINT 

Service Express 

Varnum 


VAI PURPLE COMMUNITY 

VAI Purple Community 

partners put in the time, 

effort and talent 

As one of Van Andel Institute’s core values, collaboration plays a central role in all 

work done at the Institute. 

Whether it’s the latest research breakthroughs in cancer and Parkinson’s, 

educational innovations for K–12 and graduate students, or well-crafted plans for 

signature events, we know the meaning of working together for something bigger 

than us. 

Our incredible community partners hold collaboration in high esteem, too. They 

work directly with the grassroots fundraising program VAI Purple Community to 

put their time, effort and connections to use in supporting VAI’s work. In 2021, VAI 

Purple Community programs raised more than $380,000, which — like all funds 

raised through VAI community and signature events — goes directly to the research 

and education programs at VAI. 

Here are just a few highlights from last year’s VAI Purple Community events: 

• West Ottawa Public Schools put on fundraisers all year long in support of VAI. 

In a typical year, each West Ottawa sports team holds a Purple Game, with the 

proceeds going directly to VAI’s work. While 2021 was certainly not a normal year, 

the girls’ soccer team was able to hold their Purple Game at the end of the 2020–21 

school year. The players wore specially made jerseys featuring the names of people 

dear to them who have been affected by cancer, Parkinson’s or another disease — a 

tangible reminder of why we do the work we do here at the Institute. 

• Otsego Public Schools hold a huge football game in support of VAI every other 

year, thanks in large part to Holly McCaw, Otsego’s director of communications and 

a 2020 recipient of the Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award. In 2021, they had 

to postpone their VAI Purple Community event to the spring, which required some 

creativity. Out of that came the first-ever VAI Purple Community Otsego 5K, featuring 

purple shirts, purple dust throws at race checkpoints and more. Organizers hosted 

games throughout the week leading up to the race, and a carnival closed out 

race day. 

• Duncan Lake Middle School has partnered with VAI for many years for its 

annual cancer walk. In 2021, the walk was held outside in the spring. Attendees 

could donate to dunk a teacher, participate in a silent auction online, or purchase a 

variety of popsicles, ice cream and other cool treats, with all funds going directly to 

cancer research at the Institute. 

To learn more about VAI Purple Community and how to start your own event, visit 

purplecommunity.org. 

(STARTING AT TOP, GOING DOWN) RUNNERS RACE 

ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AT VAI PURPLE COMMUNITY 

OTSEGO 5K; WHEN NOT RACING, ATTENDEES COULD TRY 

TO DUNK A TEACHER; A GOLF CART DECKED OUT FOR 

THE OCCASION; RUNNERS WERE COVERED IN PURPLE 

POWDER AT RACE CHECKPOINTS 


(STARTING AT TOP LEFT, 

GOING CLOCKWISE) WALKERS 

DECKED OUT IN PHOTO PROPS 

BEFORE THE RACE; ATTENDEE 

SHIRTS FEATURED NAMES OF 

LOVED ONES HONORED IN 

THE WALK; WALKERS TAKE A 

BREAK TO HAVE FUN HULA 

HOOPING; A GROUP OF 

WALKERS MOVES AROUND 

THE TRACK; AN ATTENDEE 

SHARING WHAT THE CANCER 

WALK MEANS TO HER; 

WALKERS PARTICIPATING IN 

FUN AND GAMES WHEN NOT 

ON THE TRACK 

(STARTING AT FAR LEFT, GOING 

CLOCKWISE) SPECTATORS 

CHEER ON THE ATHLETES; 

ATTENDEES SHOWING OFF 

THEIR VAI PURPLE COMMUNITY 

SWAG IN THE STANDS; A WEST 

OTTAWA PLAYER LAUNCHES 

THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD; 

WEST OTTAWA GIRLS’ SOCCER 

TEAM CELEBRATING THEIR 

SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING 


VAI PURPLE COMMUNITY 

VAI Marathon Team runners back 

in action at four global marathons 

With marathons around the world 

canceled, postponed or downsized in 

2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 

pandemic, Van Andel Institute Marathon 

Team runners also found themselves in 

a holding pattern. They were ready and 

excited to run a world-class marathon and 

raise funds in support of VAI’s research and 

education efforts, but many had to wait to 

put all that energy to good use. 

After two years of waiting and a smallerthan-usual 

number of runners in the 2021 

races — the number of runners allowed in 

each race was capped as part of health and 

safety precautions — the VAI Marathon 

Team is coming back strong in 2022, with 

a limited number of complimentary entries 

to four races for runners fundraising on 

behalf of the Institute: 

• BMW Berlin Marathon: Sept. 25 

• TCS London Marathon: Oct. 2 

• Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Oct. 9 

• TCS New York City Marathon: Nov. 6 

Each year, dedicated runners train for 

these world-renowned races while raising 

funds for the Institute. They have each 

been touched by the diseases studied by 

VAI scientists (including cancer, Parkinson’s, 

and Alzheimer’s and related dementias), 

whether through a loved one’s diagnosis or 

even their own. Each of them understands 

the incredible value of the Institute’s K–12 

and graduate education programs that are 

training the next generation of scientific 

leaders. And each of them wants to do their 

part to make sure our efforts can continue 

to improve health and enhance lives for 

years to come. 

“Running a marathon is tough, and training 

for a marathon is grueling,” said former VAI 

Marathon Team member McKenzie Hollern 

Southerington. “But I ran for VAI because 

I knew I’d be helping bring hope to people 

who are fighting something much more 

difficult.” 

Did you know? 

In 2021, six athletes ran the 

New York City Marathon and 

11 ran the Chicago Marathon. 

Comparatively, in 2019 — the 

last year these races were held 

prior to COVID-19 pandemic 

restrictions — nearly 40 athletes 

ran these two marathons on 

behalf of VAI. We look forward to 

being back at it in full force for 

both races (and more) this year! 

Entries for the 2022 Berlin Marathon are sold out. To 

learn more about the VAI Marathon Team and how 

to join, visit vai.org/marathon-team/. 


VAI Student 

Ambassador Program 

making moves 

Van Andel Institute’s Student 

Ambassador Program serves as 

a tangible reminder of the power 

and passion exuded by the younger 

generations. Twenty-eight students 

came together virtually at the beginning 

of the 2021–22 school year to form the 

program’s third cohort. These bright, 

driven students meet once a month 

throughout the school year to connect 

with Institute scientists, educators and 

staff and learn how their efforts make a 

concrete difference to VAI’s work. They 

also meet with Institute staff to explore 

topics such as crafting a communications 

plan to support a fundraiser and how to 

pursue support from business sponsors. 

VAI Student Ambassadors combine 

everything they learn in the program 

to launch a fundraiser on behalf of the 

Institute, with 100% of proceeds going 

directly to our research and education 

programs. They also receive exclusive 

mentorship from the Institute’s heart and 

soul: Carol Van Andel, executive director 

of The David and Carol Van Andel Family 

Foundation and wife of VAI Chairman and 

CEO David Van Andel. 

Our current Student Ambassadors are hard 

at work on their culminating fundraiser — 

a movie night at Celebration Cinema on 

March 5 featuring the highly anticipated film 

“The Batman,” with the goal of selling out 

the 330-seat movie theater. 

To learn more about the Student Ambassador 

Program, or if you know someone who 

may be interested in applying, visit 

purplecommunity.org. Applications for the 

2022–23 school year will open May 1, 2022. 

Upcoming Volunteer 

Opportunities 

Grand Rapids Griffins Purple Community Game 

(March 18) 

Volunteer Coffee and Catch Up 

(May 6 and Nov. 4) 

VAI Volunteer Celebration 

(Aug. 4) 

Weekly Volunteer Team 

(Wednesday mornings, 9–11 a.m.) 

Volunteer with VAI 

Van Andel Institute Purple Community 

is our grassroots fundraising program, 

bolstered by dedicated volunteers 

supporting VAI’s mission to improve 

health and enhance the lives of current 

and future generations. 

We have more than 50 active 

volunteers who support a variety of 

VAI events each year that raise critical 

funds in support of the Institute’s 

groundbreaking research into diseases 

like cancer and Parkinson’s, as well as 

our science education programs. 

VAI Purple Community volunteers 

support the Institute for a multitude 

of reasons. Some have been 

personally impacted by the diseases 

our scientists study or have a friend 

or family member who has been 

affected. Others want to help foster 

and encourage the next generation 

of scientific minds, and Van Andel 

Institute for Education and Van Andel 

Institute Graduate School do just that! 

With an average of nearly 40 

community-led events per year, there 

are plenty of ways to get involved with 

VAI Purple Community, including: 

• Organizing and hosting an event 

• Volunteering at a VAI Purple 

Community event 

• Corporate partnerships 

• Becoming a VAI Student Ambassador 

To learn more about how you can get 

involved, visit purplecommunity.org or 

email purplecommunity@vai.org. 

Please note: Volunteer opportunities, 

especially for in-person events, are 

subject to change based on health and 

safety recommendations at the time of 

the event. 

(AT LEFT) 2019 BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON 


PHILANTHROPY 

Gifts in action: 

Funding new 

equipment to 

peer into cells 

Each gift to Van Andel Institute helps our scientists move another 

step closer to improving health and enhancing lives, especially with 

regard to diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s and related 

dementias. When these contributions come together in support of VAI’s 

work, their potential impact grows larger yet. 

In 2021, VAI received an incredible gift from the estate of the late Gasper 

“Gabe” Amodeo, a long-time supporter of our work who passed away in 

February 2021. Amodeo was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 

years prior to his passing, and he had a specific interest in supporting 

research into this insidious disease. 

Paired with a substantial gift from Richard and Paula Nelson — two 

dedicated supporters of VAI who have been personally touched by 

Parkinson’s disease through Richard’s own diagnosis — these funds have 

allowed VAI to purchase two ZEISS Axioscan 7 microscope slide scanners 

to be housed in the Institute’s Optical Imaging Core. These instruments 

will help facilitate the research of many VAI scientists and collaborators, 

including those focused on understanding the underpinnings of 

Parkinson’s in the hopes of guiding the creation of new treatments for 

this disease and others like it. They are scheduled to be delivered and 

installed in March 2022. 

VAI currently has a single ZEISS Axio Scan.Z1 — a previous version of the 

Axioscan 7 — that is utilized nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The newest iteration of this technology digitizes specimens to create highquality, 

virtual microscope slides, and will be of great use to researchers 

in the Department of Neurodegenerative Science and throughout the 

Institute. 

Whether through new equipment or the support of a new study, the 

generosity of our donors powers research and education initiatives with 

the potential to change lives. Pairing gifts together allows VAI to make the 

biggest impact possible with donor funds. 

Remembering VAI in your estate plans helps ensure the Institute 

can continue its work to improve health and enhance lives for 

generations to come. For more information on ways to give, 

please contact Philanthropy Directors Kate Frillmann (kate. 

frillmann@vai.org) or Steve Ozinga (steve.ozinga@vai.org). 


(STARTING AT LEFT) 

GASPER “GABE” AMODEO; 

RICHARD & PAULA NELSON 

High-tech equipment at the Institute — 

including tools like the Leica microscope 

(pictured here) and the ZEISS Axioscan 7 

microscope slide scanners (funded in part by 

donor support) — enables VAI scientists to 

move their research further toward improving 

health and enhancing lives. 


PHILANTHROPY 

MEMORIALS 

We appreciate your trust in us to fight disease in memory or in honor of your family and friends — with hope for a healthier tomorrow. 

To make a gift in memory or in honor of a loved one, please call 616.234.5392. 

Dominic Amante 

Scott & Audrey Olthof 

Gasper J. Amodeo 

Catherine Amodeo 

Cindy Catalano 

Joseph & Marianne DiLorenzo 

The Grand Rapids Community 

Foundation 

Inglenook Condominium Association 

Patrick Leikert 

Daniel Veneklase 

William E. Anderson 

David & Ardith Robinson 

Allan L. Arnoys 

Joanne Arnoys 

Philip H. Battershall 

Martin & Susan Allen 

John Barrows 

Evie Bowers 

Joan Buchanan 

Gordon & Janice Bundy 

Martha Chalmers 

Diane Comfort 

David & Judith Devlin 

Marilyn Garter 

Shane & Ann Hansen 

Barnaby Jacob 

Jeffrey Koeze 

Madelaine Lane 

Gordon Lewis 

Rodney & Mimi Martin 

William & Ruselle Petchauer 

Frank & Lynette Spies 

Star Truck Rentals, Inc. 

Peter & Joan Steketee 

Jan Michel & Elisa ter Kuile 

David & Garnet Vanderleek 

William & Pat Waanders 

Warner 

Thomas Wisnom 

G. Thomas & Doris Worthington 

Raymond C. Becker 

James & Connie Becker 

Robert & Jane Boonstra 

Janice Buckley 

Roger & Karen Grinwis 

Lisa Locatis 

Philip & Marcia Mejeur 

Robert & Carolyn Walton 

Elizabeth Belson 

Lenora Lowe 

Nicole L. Beuschel 

Sue & James Baar 

Ernest C. Bevins 

David Bevins 

George W. Blasen 

Robert & Paula Hampson 

Thomas & Pamela Palmer 

Steven & Elizabeth 

Scharphorn 

Kathryn Thwaites 

Dale J. Bordewyk 

Shirley Bordewyk & family 

Robert L. Bradford 

Marvin & Ruth Bradford 

Patsy Jo Brinkert 

Kim Maurice 

Tom Brownell 

Tony Brownell 

Peter G. Bylsma 

Carol Bylsma 

Michael Calvaruso 

Jeffrey & Kelli Wynsma 

Richard A. Cebelak 

Mike & Sue Anderson 

Teresa Casey 

John & Nancy DeWildt 

Krin & Kevin Dreuth 

John & Mary Fix 

Paul & Carolyn Grady 

Pauline Jones 

Kellie & Kent Koth 

Ron & Kathy Mysliwiec 

Frank Palczewski 

Linda & Steven Parks 

John & Patricia Peters 

Marsha Potter 

Richard H Brown Foundation 

Norma J. Chapman 

Norma Chapman 

Roger Cook 

Roger & Judy Abbott 

Marilyn Cramer 

Helen & Ronald Van Farowe 

Lawrence DeSantis 

Kenneth & Arlynn Beimers 

Michelle Brainard & Julie O’Brien 

Ben & Gwen DeSantis 

Jon & Vicki Gardner 

Robert & Katie Kluting 

Ed & Susan Labanowski 

Christine & John Ritzenhein 

Kyle Rogers & Jerry Rogers 

Rodney Rothley & Mary Jensen 

Dave & Kimberly Shelton 

Darlene Snyder 

Kathleen Sparkman 

Anna Steinbrecher 

Jennifer Stevens 

Nate & Jeni Thomasma 

Sandra & Steve Vander Molen 

Todd Wawee 

Robert C. DuHadway 

Bill & Linda Peterson 

Ron Dykstra 

Christopher Chea 

Melissa A. Eden 

Keith & Carolyn Murphy 

John S. Edison 

Edith Vasu 

Carla Fail 

Andrew Hoeksema 

Patsy R. Ferrell 

Gretchen & Michael LaBell 

Joyce A. Fortier 

Jacqueline Kozal 

William R. Foster 

John Marshall 

Susan Freyer 

Jonathan & Julie Freyer 

Gerald Goeldel 

Kim Maurice 

Betty & Richard Goodenough 

Frieda Jaynes 

Marjorie R. Haan 


Carol A. Haarman 

Stephen Haarman 

James F. Hass 

Richard Hillman & Barbara 

Burby Hillman 

Olivia Haverkamp 

Derek Jacobsen 

Billie M. Janer 

Andrew & Courtney Kolanowski 


Gisela Kah 

Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs 

Mark L. Kastner 

Brenda Kastner 

Nathanael Kastner 

John R. Kendall 

Carole DuHadway 

Min Ja Kim 

Dr. Chung Yul Kim 

Leah E. Koldenhoven 

David & Carol Van Andel 

Family Foundation 

James M. Kozal 


Steven Kruithoff 

Edward & Karen Bezilla 

Joann Lehman 

Bernie Lehman 

MaryKay Lehman 

Laura Miersen 

Gertrude A. Lofgren 

Kim Maurice 

Michelle Marie Lunn 

Michelle Lunn Hope Foundation 

Donald W. Maine 

Kenneth & Jill Peirce 

William R. McCallister 

Kathryn & Richard Hansen 

Robert H. McDowell 

Richard Hillman & Barbara 

Burby Hillman 

Sandra McNeil 

Joyce Snow 

Eleanor Medendorp 

Mark & Mary Fletcher 

Jack & Marcy Medendorp 

Randall L. Meredith 

Donna & Ervin Miller 

Mary H. Milidonis 

Mike Everett 

Richard L. Miller 

Paul & Mary Jane Jackman 

Micheline Jura 

Caroline Stacy 

Claudette Wandt 

Barb & Gary Woodhull 

Verne Miller 


Betty Ann Morin 

J. Brooks 

Jane Nichols 

John Nichols 

Robert D. Oberto 

Carole DuHadway 

Gregory D. Olson 

J. Brooks 

Angela N. Pasteur 



Patty Peck 

Theresa Kettlewell 

Thomas M. Peck 

Susan Van Dellen 

Denise Picardat 

Brian Picardat 

Valerie J. Poppema 

Mike & Lieschen Jacobs 

Cindy Keson 

Richard L. Pullen 

Ruth Kemp 

Neda L. Raterink 

Gary Raterink 

Rosie Ridder 

Dawn & Shawn Walton 

Harvey Ringerwole 

Timothy Sanders 

Nicole A. Robach 

West Michigan Tag & Label, Inc. 

Ellen K. Roberts 

Florence Benson 

Gerald & Betty Hecht 

Eileen McKenna 

James Kilduff & Shannon 

Neumann Kilduff 

Mel & Mary Pasch 

Robert & Judy Plumer 

Lucy Roberts 

Douglas & Tina Rudd 

Austin & Miriam Zimmerman 

Daniel T. Robinson 

Anonymous 

Richard D. Roetman 

David & Sallie Brinks 

Ken A. Ross 

Margaret Fondren 

David L. Rossi 

Anne Rossi 

Fred R. Rozema 

James & Jeri Kett 

Roger & Susan Levering 

The Rozema Family Fund 

James R. Schenden 

Pamela Allen 

Donald & Marilyn Cory 

James & Becki Hansen 

Randy & Linda Lincoln 

Luce Plumbing, LLC 

Joanne Schenden 

Kirk & Cindy Warner 

James R. Schmalz 

Leslie Schmalz 

Teri Sivertson 

Martha Elias 

Robyn R. Sorrell 

Kim Maurice 

Heather Sturr 

Eric Sturr 

Randall S. Sullivan 

Ryan Bassett 

Mark Bryan & Juan Carlos 

Carretero 

Larry & Edith Young 

Susan L. Suwyn 

Dale & Susan Prins 

Morris W. Symon 

Rick & Willow Chapla 

Marilyn Van Portfliet 




PHILANTHROPY 

MEMORIALS (continued) 

Dr. George F. Vande Woude 

David & Susan Birdsall 



James & Gail Fahner 

David Garfinkel & Janet 

Westpheling & John Hibbard 

Dr. Anthony Hunter 

Emily Knowles Kellett 

Eun Mi Koo 

Michigan State University 

College of Human Medicine 

Michael & Pamela Murray 

Ann Schoen 

Bill VanDenBerge 

Connor & Mallory Millar 

Steven R. VandenBrink 

Kim Maurice 

Elizabeth F. VanderJagt 

Grandville Bible Church 

Lake Michigan Dental 

Lois Mol 

Casey Tjalsma 

Steven Vanderjagt 

William J. VanRegenmorter 

William & Rosemary Stevenson 

Katherine A. Veldink 

Kim Maurice 

Nina C. Veneklase 

Catherine Amodeo 

Rebecca M. Vogelsang 

Stephen & Jennifer Czech 

Katelyn M. Wallace 

Walter & Nina Gorak 

Maryrita Weiss 

Thomas & Susan Swaney 

Eric Westra 

Hilary Hoekwater 

David Wiersema 

Kilwins 

Carol L. Winton 

Dave & Jody Lockwood 

Nicole A. Wyble 

Joseph & Sara Robach 

Dan Young 

Joseph & Kelley Young 

William R. Zoller 

Mark Miller 

Maria Van Til 

Bill Zollverein 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner 

& Smith Inc. 

Charles Zwiers 



TRIBUTES 

Darrin Batdorff 

Grandville Middle School 

Raymond Becker 

Priscilla Becker 

Liz Sadlowski Burns 

Jonathan & Beth Mast 

Rachel Ducat 

Michelle & Brian Retzler 

Pauline Flaga 

Cathy & Mike Flaga 

Lee W. Formwalt 

Sanders Foundation 

Tom Halstead 

Eugene & Barbara Gutting 

David H. Kammeraad 

Richard Spruit & Marisa Fahnenstiel 

Sandy Kelly 

Lesley Goebel 

Matthew Kirkwood 

Kristen Mahoney 

Belinda Klein 

Cassandra & Brandon Zeivel 

Kathleen P. Maine 


David M. Munn 

Ann & Herbert Alvarado 

Olivia Nino 

Esperanza Watt 


M. Rodrick & Kathleen Bolhous 

Ronald K. Rutkowski 

Nancy & Leonard Fouty 

Steve Sanxter 

Meghan Sanxter 

Ruth Secor 

Steve Secor 

Nikki Stevenson Serrano 

Toni Sadlowski 

Louie Stein 

Carolyn Stein 

Todd Stevens 

Kathleen Teunis 


Mike & Lynette Ellis 

James & Gail Fahner 

Judy VanEk 

Beth Andringa 

Char Veenstra 

Karen & Brian Meidema 

Richard Vokes 

Carolyn Stein 

Dona Whitehouse 

Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs 

Karen Zylstra 

Grandville Middle School 

Graham Hoekstra 

Sara & Scott Pedersen 

Ashley K. Owen 

Sheldon & Emma Weiss 

Brian Toronyi 

Susan Toronyi 

These lists represent gifts made between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021. The accuracy of these lists is very important to us. Please contact 616.234.5392 if an error has been made. 



Van Andel Institute 

represents a family 

legacy. Founded by 

Join the Jay and Betty Van Andel 

Circle of Hope 

A significant and growing number of individuals and households have 

remembered VAI in their estate plans. These planned giving intentions 

will greatly benefit the Institute’s research into diseases like cancer, 

Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s and related dementias, as well as our work 

to educate the next generation of scientific leaders and foster curiosity, 

creativity and critical thinking in K–12 classrooms. 

Jay and Betty 

Van Andel, that 

VAI honors those who have included the Institute in their estate plans 

through the Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of Hope. When you notify 

us of your intentions, you are invited to become a member. More 

information about the benefits of membership can be found at 

vai.org/plannedgiving. 

legacy is now 

carried forward by 

Chairman and CEO 

David Van Andel 

and his wife, Carol. 

We welcome a conversation about estate giving that 

makes the most sense for you while also supporting 

the mission of VAI. Additional information about 

estate giving can be found at vai.giftlegacy.com. 

Please contact: 

Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy Director 

616.234.5515 

Kate.Frillmann@vai.org 

Steve Ozinga, Philanthropy Director 

616.234.5040 

Steve.Ozinga@vai.org 

JAY VAN ANDEL 

BETTY VAN ANDEL

2022 Spring/Summer Highlights of Hope

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