2021 Annual Report

RESEARCH
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. Every aspect of life is fueled by metabolism,
a constant cascade of chemical reactions that ensure we
have the energy to survive and thrive. But sometimes
things go wrong, depriving our cells of the energy and
resources required for healthy function.
When energy production or distribution breaks down, the
results can be catastrophic — diseases such as cancer,
Parkinson’s and diabetes are all known to have varying
degrees of metabolic involvement.
Scientists in Van Andel Institute’s Department of
Metabolism and Nutritional Programming explore the
intricate mechanics of cellular metabolism and their
implications for health and in disease. Using cuttingedge
techniques, they are investigating metabolism’s
interaction with other critical systems, such as the immune
system, and revealing how environmental exposures and
metabolic dysfunction contribute to diseases such as
diabetes, autoimmunity, cancer and neurodegeneration.
Our scientists are also parsing the ripple effect that
nutrition may have through the generations, exploring
how our diets could lay the epigenetic foundations for the
health of our descendants.
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Dr. Russell Jones 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
Dr. Connie Krawczyk 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
Dr. Adelheid Lempradl 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.
Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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 to maintaining health.
Ning Wu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Ning Wu 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 Dr. 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.
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