Highlights of Hope Spring/Summer 23
This is the 2023 Spring/Summer edition of Van Andel Institute's Highlights of Hope donor publication.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF<br />
HOPE<br />
SPRING/SUMMER ’<strong>23</strong> ISSUE<br />
2 VAI scientists named Highly Cited Researchers 3 Dr. Ruan earns K99 grant<br />
4 VAI honors Parkinson’s disease scientists 5 New ways to measure cellular age<br />
6 Collaborating to fuel discovery 7 Craig Reynolds joins VAI<br />
8 VAI continues role as Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank Biorepository<br />
10 Supporting early career scientists // Clinical trial <strong>of</strong>fers hope for cancer<br />
therapies 12 Study reveals two obesity subtypes 13 Cellular waste may<br />
supercharge immune cells 14 Graduate School student awarded<br />
PhRMA Fellowship // VAI & The Scientist launch podcast mini-series<br />
15 VAI Spotlight: Dr. Triezenberg 16 Building the future <strong>of</strong> education<br />
18 Purple Community highlights 20 Donor Spotlight: Rusty & Wendy Jo Blakely<br />
22 Events 28 Event sponsors 30 Memorials & Tributes
RESEARCH<br />
Two VAI scientists named to elite<br />
Highly Cited Researchers list<br />
Van Andel Institute scientists Dr. Russell Jones and Dr. Peter W. Laird were named to the 2022 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list,<br />
a distinction marking them as leaders in their respective fields.<br />
This greatly anticipated annual list identifies researchers who have demonstrated significant influence in their chosen area or areas <strong>of</strong><br />
study through the publication <strong>of</strong> multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Their names are drawn from the publications that<br />
rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web <strong>of</strong> Science citation index.<br />
Citations, or references, to a scientist’s published work by other researchers are universally considered a measure <strong>of</strong> influence and impact<br />
in the scientific community. Jones and Laird were also included on the 2021 list.<br />
Russell Jones, Ph.D.<br />
Chair, Department <strong>of</strong> Metabolism and Nutritional Programming,<br />
Van Andel Institute<br />
Dr. Jones investigates metabolism at the cellular level to understand<br />
how it affects cell behavior and health, with a specific eye on<br />
cancer and the immune system. By revealing how cancer cells<br />
use metabolic processes to fuel their growth and spread, he<br />
hopes to develop new treatments that help patients by changing<br />
the standard <strong>of</strong> care for cancer. He is an elected member <strong>of</strong><br />
the College <strong>of</strong> New Scholars, Artists and Scientists <strong>of</strong> the Royal<br />
Society <strong>of</strong> Canada and an Allen Distinguished Investigator in<br />
Immunometabolism.<br />
Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Department <strong>of</strong> Epigenetics,<br />
Van Andel Institute<br />
Dr. Laird is an expert in epigenetics, a field that explores when<br />
and how the instructions in our genetic code are carried out.<br />
Epigenetic mistakes play major roles in cancer and, as such,<br />
serve as important targets for new treatments. Laird has<br />
developed several cutting-edge technologies, which he leverages<br />
to identify crucial epigenetic alterations that convert otherwise<br />
healthy cells into cancer cells. He is a principal investigator for<br />
the National Cancer Institute’s Genome Data Analysis Network<br />
and served in a leadership role for The Cancer Genome Atlas, a<br />
now-completed multi-institutional effort to molecularly map 33<br />
different types <strong>of</strong> cancer.<br />
2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Dr. Zheng Ruan earns prestigious<br />
K99 grant, the first in VAI’s history<br />
Earning one’s first federal grant is a major milestone in a<br />
scientist’s career. Not only do these grants provide vital funding,<br />
but they also demonstrate the promise and innovation <strong>of</strong><br />
research projects.<br />
Among the most prestigious <strong>of</strong> these early grants is a K99/R00<br />
from the National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health, which provides support<br />
throughout the transition to a scientist’s first independent<br />
research position.<br />
In 2022, Dr. Zheng Ruan, a postdoctoral fellow in the labs <strong>of</strong> VAI’s<br />
Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü, earned the first K99/R00 award in the<br />
Institute’s 26-year history. Ruan is a structural biologist, a scientist<br />
who uses cutting-edge technology to visualize the tiny molecules<br />
responsible for our health and, when things go wrong, for disease.<br />
Specifically, Ruan investigates how our cells sense and respond to<br />
changes in acid levels in the body. Too much acid can have severe<br />
consequences and contribute to a host <strong>of</strong> health conditions, such<br />
as stroke.<br />
Ruan hopes to reveal new insights into this important process and<br />
set the stage for new strategies to prevent and treat disorders<br />
caused by acid accumulation.<br />
Read more at vai.org/zheng-ruan-k99.<br />
Ruan is supported in part by the National Institute <strong>of</strong> Neurological Disorders and Stroke under<br />
award no. K99NS128258. The content is solely the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the authors and does not<br />
necessarily represent the <strong>of</strong>ficial views <strong>of</strong> the National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health.<br />
“The ability to understand how various<br />
molecules in our body work makes me<br />
feel that I’m an explorer and always<br />
headed to the unknown. Being able to<br />
discover something that no one else<br />
knows in the world and expand the<br />
uncharted knowledge <strong>of</strong> human beings<br />
is a wonderful thing to do. I feel very<br />
fortunate to be able to do what I truly<br />
enjoy and find meaningful.”<br />
— Dr. Zheng Ruan<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 3
RESEARCH<br />
VAI honors game-changing<br />
Parkinson’s disease scientists<br />
Each year, VAI brings together hundreds<br />
<strong>of</strong> scientists and people with Parkinson’s<br />
as part <strong>of</strong> our Grand Challenges in<br />
Parkinson’s Disease scientific symposium<br />
and parallel Rallying to the Challenge<br />
meeting, hosted in partnership with Cure<br />
Parkinson’s.<br />
These events <strong>of</strong>fer a unique opportunity to<br />
explore the latest in Parkinson’s research<br />
while connecting the research and advocate<br />
communities under the banner <strong>of</strong> our<br />
shared goal — finding a cure. They also<br />
provide a venue to recognize individuals<br />
who have made extensive contributions to<br />
the field.<br />
Our 2022 honorees include University<br />
<strong>of</strong> Toronto’s Dr. Anthony Lang, who was<br />
awarded the Jay Van Andel Award for<br />
Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s<br />
Disease Research. Established in 2012 in<br />
memory <strong>of</strong> VAI Founder Jay Van Andel, this<br />
award is given to scientists who have made<br />
exceptional, wide-ranging contributions to<br />
Parkinson’s research. Lang is among the<br />
most highly cited researchers in the field <strong>of</strong><br />
movement disorders. His groundbreaking,<br />
multi-faceted research seeks to understand<br />
how movement disorders such as<br />
Parkinson’s begin, how they spread in<br />
the brain, and how these insights may be<br />
translated into treatments that slow or stop<br />
disease progression.<br />
Cure Parkinson’s and VAI also recognized<br />
Drs. Ray Dorsey <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong><br />
Rochester and Michael Okun <strong>of</strong> the<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Florida with the 2022 Tom<br />
Isaacs Award, which honors the memory<br />
<strong>of</strong> the late Cure Parkinson’s co-founder.<br />
In addition to their research, Dorsey and<br />
Okun contributed to an inspiring book that<br />
outlines a plan to “prevent, advocate, care<br />
and treat” Parkinson’s.<br />
A third Honorary Award for Outstanding<br />
Contributions was presented to Dr. Patrik<br />
Brundin, a global leader in Parkinson’s<br />
research and former deputy chief scientific<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> VAI. Now in industry and an<br />
adjunct faculty member at VAI, Dr. Brundin<br />
continues to work toward new therapies<br />
that impede Parkinson’s progression and<br />
improve quality <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
Save the date! The next Grand Challenges in<br />
Parkinson’s Disease symposium and<br />
Rallying to the Challenge meeting will be<br />
held Sept. 27–28, 20<strong>23</strong>.<br />
DRS. RAY DORSEY & MICHAEL OKUN ARE<br />
VIRTUALLY AWARDED THE TOM ISAACS AWARD<br />
4 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
New cellular ‘clock’ <strong>of</strong>fers fresh<br />
way to measure age<br />
Can parts <strong>of</strong> our bodies age faster<br />
than others?<br />
The answer is yes, and VAI scientists<br />
have developed a new way to measure<br />
exactly how.<br />
Their findings, published in Nature<br />
Communications, detail a new method for<br />
pinpointing cellular age that evaluates the<br />
number <strong>of</strong> times a cell has divided rather<br />
than relying on chronological time. The<br />
more cells replicate, the more likely they will<br />
accumulate errors over time that contribute<br />
to diseases such as cancer.<br />
The research was led by Dr. Jamie Endicott,<br />
a Van Andel Institute Graduate School<br />
student who recently earned her Ph.D. in<br />
the lab <strong>of</strong> VAI Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Peter W. Laird.<br />
Laird and Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Hui Shen<br />
were the corresponding authors <strong>of</strong> the study.<br />
“Cellular aging is a major risk factor for<br />
many chronic diseases, but it can be tough<br />
to measure. Our cellular ‘clock’ gives us<br />
powerful new insights into biological aging,<br />
how it differs between cells within a single<br />
person, and how it may impact a person’s<br />
likelihood <strong>of</strong> developing disease,” Endicott<br />
said. “We have more work to do, but our<br />
goal is to translate our method into a<br />
test with broad uses, such as evaluating<br />
the effect <strong>of</strong> chemotherapy on cells and<br />
measuring whether immune cells become<br />
‘exhausted’ and thus less effective when<br />
fighting infection or cancer.”<br />
Scientists have long sought an accurate<br />
and simple way to measure biological age<br />
to better understand its role in health and<br />
disease. Although other methods exist,<br />
Endicott’s is the first <strong>of</strong> its kind. It works by<br />
measuring the progressive loss <strong>of</strong> special<br />
chemical tags on DNA called methyl groups,<br />
which regulate when genes are “on” or<br />
“<strong>of</strong>f.” The loss <strong>of</strong> these marks, which occur<br />
throughout a person’s life and correlate<br />
with cell divisions rather than chronological<br />
age, foreshadow alterations found in cancer<br />
cells. The new method builds on earlier<br />
research by Laird, Shen and collaborators.<br />
Here’s what this process looks like: Think<br />
<strong>of</strong> a healthy 50-year-old person. Endicott’s<br />
new cellular clock may reveal that person’s<br />
cells are more akin to those in a 45-yearold<br />
than a 50-year-old, meaning they are<br />
aging more slowly than their chronological<br />
age. The reverse is also true: someone who<br />
smokes, for example, may have lung cells<br />
that age faster than their chronological<br />
age, which puts them at a higher risk for<br />
developing diseases such as lung cancer.<br />
“Jamie’s work is an important step<br />
toward a larger goal: utilizing these<br />
‘clocks’ to help patients,” Laird said. “We<br />
will continue to refine and calibrate our<br />
method in the hope that we will one day<br />
be able to apply it to real-life situations,<br />
such as risk assessment and clinical<br />
decision-making.”<br />
Research reported in this publication was supported by<br />
Van Andel Institute and the National Institute on Aging<br />
<strong>of</strong> the National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health under award no.<br />
R01AG066764 (Laird and Shen). The content is solely the<br />
responsibility <strong>of</strong> the authors and does not necessarily<br />
represent the <strong>of</strong>ficial views <strong>of</strong> the National Institutes <strong>of</strong><br />
Health. Approximately 50% <strong>of</strong> the funding for this study<br />
came from federal sources; approximately 50% came<br />
from non-federal sources.<br />
DR. JAMIE ENDICOTT<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 5
RESEARCH<br />
Collaboration harnesses data to<br />
fuel discovery<br />
Discoveries are built on data.<br />
But what happens when the amount <strong>of</strong> data becomes so immense<br />
that even our most powerful computers struggle to handle it?<br />
That’s the challenge a pair <strong>of</strong> Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley<br />
State University scientists aim to solve — and they’ve earned a<br />
$200,000 Data Insights grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative<br />
to do it.<br />
The project, led by VAI Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Tim Triche, Jr., and<br />
GVSU Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Zachary DeBruine, addresses a<br />
central problem in modern, data-intensive biomedical research:<br />
how to efficiently store and analyze the massive data output from<br />
today’s technologies in a way that allows both researchers and<br />
citizen-scientists to unlock the insights within.<br />
For example, scientists can now catalog the differences between<br />
individual cells in extreme detail, illuminating variations that may<br />
contribute to cancer, Parkinson’s and many other diseases. But<br />
these answers are buried in vast swathes <strong>of</strong> data that must be<br />
analyzed and stored — a task that can be tough even for highpowered<br />
computers.<br />
“A central problem in science today is that our ability to generate<br />
data has outpaced our ability to analyze large, complex biological<br />
datasets,” said Triche. “Our goal is to improve access to powerful<br />
tools and allow exploration <strong>of</strong> the foundations <strong>of</strong> biology — how<br />
cells determine their fate, state and function; how cells interact<br />
with each other and their environment to produce health and<br />
disease; and how genetic variation between and within people<br />
influences the outcomes. By democratizing these tools, we seek<br />
to open up the field so that not just researchers or clinicians, but<br />
anyone with the desire to do so, can participate.”<br />
The project was born from the research <strong>of</strong> DeBruine, a former<br />
postdoctoral fellow in Triche’s lab who earned his doctorate from<br />
Van Andel Institute Graduate School. DeBruine is now an assistant<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor at Grand Valley State University’s Applied Computing<br />
Institute, which is housed in the Padnos College <strong>of</strong> Engineering and<br />
Computing. He also holds an adjunct position at VAI.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> his Ph.D. dissertation, DeBruine developed an elegant<br />
solution that repackages data files that are too big to run on a<br />
single computer into a compressed form. The resulting file requires<br />
1/10th the computational space as the original without losing<br />
data or performance, making it much easier and faster to comb<br />
through data. The grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will<br />
allow Triche and DeBruine to refine and scale up this solution.<br />
“We aim to make data analysis more accessible using simple<br />
solutions that don’t require resource-intensive computational<br />
pipelines or deep expertise in computer science,” DeBruine said.<br />
“Our efforts ensure that all researchers can analyze single-cell<br />
data. What that ultimately means is more people can work with<br />
information in ways that could shed new light on the diseases that<br />
impact so many.”<br />
6 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Craig Reynolds joins VAI as<br />
Vice President for Research<br />
Protections<br />
Van Andel Institute welcomed<br />
Craig Reynolds as Vice President<br />
for Research Protections in<br />
October 2022. The purpose <strong>of</strong><br />
this new position is tw<strong>of</strong>old: first,<br />
to facilitate the efforts <strong>of</strong> VAI<br />
faculty as they strive to achieve<br />
their research objectives,<br />
and second, to maintain VAI’s<br />
strong culture <strong>of</strong> compliance<br />
in which every aspect <strong>of</strong> the<br />
research enterprise conforms<br />
to the highest levels <strong>of</strong> ethics<br />
and integrity and follows all the<br />
relevant rules<br />
and regulations.<br />
He joined VAI from the<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Michigan, where<br />
he most recently served as<br />
Assistant Vice President for<br />
Research-Sponsored Projects.<br />
Reynolds has extensive<br />
experience in research and<br />
grants administration, having<br />
also held positions at the<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Pennsylvania,<br />
Central Michigan University,<br />
and the National Science<br />
Foundation.<br />
At the Institute, Reynolds aims<br />
to be a resource for faculty. He<br />
hopes to improve policies in a<br />
way that accelerates research<br />
while protecting the integrity<br />
<strong>of</strong> the science, creating a<br />
collaborative relationship that<br />
propels VAI forward. This is<br />
one <strong>of</strong> his key focus areas, as<br />
research, especially federally<br />
funded research, is heavily<br />
regulated.<br />
I see our collective work<br />
as a partnership, because<br />
we all share the same<br />
goals: seeing our faculty<br />
succeed, growing the<br />
reputation <strong>of</strong> the Institute,<br />
and improving health and<br />
enhancing lives.”<br />
— Craig Reynolds<br />
“Having a robust in-house team<br />
that is focused on these rules<br />
and how we are following them<br />
helps to ensure we are good<br />
stewards <strong>of</strong> the funding VAI<br />
receives,” Reynolds said. “Most<br />
importantly, I hope this focus<br />
will enable our faculty to spend<br />
more time on research.”<br />
For Reynolds, compliance is<br />
a journey, not a destination.<br />
Federal regulations evolve, and<br />
the Institute must evolve with<br />
them. As the rules that govern<br />
research change, Reynolds will<br />
work with faculty to decode the<br />
information.<br />
“At a core level, I’m a translator,”<br />
he said, working to turn<br />
complicated guidelines into<br />
straightforward plans <strong>of</strong> action.<br />
“I want to make sure our<br />
scientists have enough time<br />
to focus on their research,”<br />
Reynolds said. “I see our<br />
collective work as a partnership,<br />
because we all share the<br />
same goals: seeing our faculty<br />
succeed, growing the reputation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Institute, and improving<br />
health and enhancing lives.”<br />
Reynolds’ hire comes during an<br />
exceptional period <strong>of</strong> growth for<br />
VAI. Since 2014, the Institute has<br />
recruited more than two dozen<br />
principal investigators who have<br />
established labs at VAI and<br />
expanded its research program<br />
into new areas, including<br />
metabolism and nutrition.<br />
“We are thrilled to welcome<br />
Craig to the Institute and look<br />
forward to his contributions<br />
to our research enterprise<br />
and our exceptional research<br />
compliance team,” said VAI<br />
Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter<br />
A. Jones. “His expertise will be<br />
invaluable as we continue to<br />
grow and evolve.”<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 7
RESEARCH<br />
VAI awarded $7.9 million<br />
to continue role as Cancer<br />
Moonshot SM Biobank Biorepository<br />
Van Andel Institute’s Biorepository was awarded a $7.9 million, five-year contract from<br />
the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part <strong>of</strong> the National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health, to continue<br />
serving as the biorepository for the Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank study. The Institute has<br />
served as the Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank Biorepository since 2020, when it was awarded a<br />
two-year subcontract to develop the framework and protocols for this part <strong>of</strong> the initiative.<br />
In its role, VAI assembles and distributes kits to hospitals and medical centers around the U.S.<br />
for the collection <strong>of</strong> tumor tissue, blood and other biospecimens. These samples are then<br />
shipped to VAI for processing and either stored for later study or sent to other organizations<br />
for analysis.<br />
In all, the Biobank study is expected to collect biospecimens from more than 1,000<br />
participants. These vital samples will help illuminate new insights into cancers <strong>of</strong> the blood,<br />
lungs, skin, prostate and gastrointestinal tract.<br />
“Biospecimens are foundational for discovery. They allow us to study cancers in deep detail<br />
and are crucial for the development <strong>of</strong> new prevention, diagnostic and treatment strategies,”<br />
said Dr. Scott Jewell, director <strong>of</strong> VAI’s Pathology and Biorepository Core. “We are honored<br />
to be a part <strong>of</strong> the Cancer Moonshot Biobank study and look forward to contributing to a<br />
greater understanding <strong>of</strong> cancer.”<br />
The Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank aims to accelerate cancer research through the collection<br />
<strong>of</strong> longitudinal blood and tissue biospecimens from cancer patients representing U.S.<br />
population diversity. The biospecimens, generally small biopsies, and accompanying medical<br />
data will be made available for cancer research. Evidence-based, well-documented, and<br />
consistent procedures will be used to collect specimens <strong>of</strong> known quality.<br />
VAI’s Biorepository also provides services for many large-scale national and international<br />
projects that fuel research into diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s at VAI and beyond.<br />
The project is wholly funded with federal funds from<br />
the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes<br />
<strong>of</strong> Health, Department <strong>of</strong> Health and Human Services<br />
under Contract No. 75N91022D0008. The content <strong>of</strong> this<br />
publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Health and Human Services, nor<br />
does mention <strong>of</strong> trade names, commercial products or<br />
organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.<br />
What are biospecimens?<br />
Biospecimens are biological samples that are donated for research. They include healthy or diseased tissues,<br />
blood, saliva, spinal fluid and other materials. Biospecimens allow scientists to investigate how our bodies<br />
work when they’re healthy, how they change when affected by disease, and how we can better predict, prevent,<br />
diagnose and treat conditions such as cancer and Parkinson’s.<br />
What is a biorepository?<br />
Biorepositories are storehouses for biological samples. These specialized facilities, and the dedicated<br />
scientists who staff them, are responsible for processing, cataloging and storing samples with the utmost<br />
care and consistency.<br />
8 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 9
RESEARCH<br />
How VAI supports early<br />
career scientists<br />
The life-changing discoveries <strong>of</strong> tomorrow<br />
will be made by the scientific trainees<br />
<strong>of</strong> today. At Van Andel Institute, we are<br />
committed to supporting our outstanding<br />
roster <strong>of</strong> postdoctoral fellows as they<br />
pursue biomedical science breakthroughs<br />
and prepare for the next stages <strong>of</strong> their<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional careers.<br />
Postdoctoral fellowships are a key part <strong>of</strong><br />
an early career scientist’s journey. Much<br />
like medical residencies, the postdoctoral<br />
period is a time for junior scientists who<br />
have just earned their Ph.D. to gain<br />
additional experience at the lab bench,<br />
further build their grant-writing and<br />
manuscript preparation skills, and develop<br />
new perspectives in the business <strong>of</strong><br />
scientific research and leadership.<br />
But postdocs also face unique challenges,<br />
many <strong>of</strong> which have been exacerbated in<br />
recent years. These obstacles — which<br />
include relatively low pay, loss <strong>of</strong> stable work<br />
and lack <strong>of</strong> institutional support, among<br />
other factors — can stand in the way <strong>of</strong><br />
promising young scientists and their careers.<br />
We believe we have a responsibility to<br />
address these barriers and empower<br />
the bright young scientists who will make<br />
breakthrough discoveries now and in<br />
the future. That’s why VAI <strong>of</strong>fers a host <strong>of</strong><br />
training opportunities bolstered by pay and<br />
benefits that have long been among the<br />
best in the U.S. for postdocs — a fact that<br />
augments our exceptional science to attract<br />
the best <strong>of</strong> the best to our labs.<br />
We have always believed that postdoctoral<br />
training should be a rewarding experience<br />
— both scientifically and pr<strong>of</strong>essionally.<br />
Our generous donor community plays an<br />
important role in fostering VAI’s excellent<br />
research environment, a factor that makes<br />
the Institute a destination for early career<br />
scientists. Together, we can ensure that<br />
the brilliant trainees <strong>of</strong> today become the<br />
scientific leaders <strong>of</strong> tomorrow.<br />
Learn more about how you can support VAI’s<br />
Postdoctoral Program by reaching out to<br />
Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy Director, at<br />
616.<strong>23</strong>4.5515 or kate.frillmann@vai.org.<br />
Clinical<br />
trial <strong>of</strong>fers<br />
hope for<br />
new cancer<br />
therapies<br />
Cancer is cunning. It can hide from the<br />
body’s natural immune defenses. It can<br />
turn the biological processes meant to<br />
keep us healthy to its advantage. And it can<br />
resist treatment thanks to the many factors<br />
that drive its development and progression.<br />
But now, results from an early, phase<br />
1/2 clinical trial supported by the<br />
Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer<br />
Epigenetics Dream Team has found that<br />
a pair <strong>of</strong> cancer medications, which act as<br />
a one-two punch against malignant cells,<br />
demonstrated increased survival in patients<br />
with relapsed/refractory myelodysplastic<br />
syndrome (MDS) by an average <strong>of</strong> 10<br />
months compared to historical controls.<br />
In December,<br />
VAI increased<br />
postdoctoral starting<br />
salaries to $70,000<br />
a year, which places<br />
us among the bestpaying<br />
research<br />
organizations for<br />
postdocs in the U.S.<br />
10 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
In addition to improving overall average<br />
survival from five to 15 months, the<br />
findings suggest the effectiveness <strong>of</strong><br />
combining medications that target both the<br />
immunological and epigenetic drivers <strong>of</strong><br />
cancers.<br />
The trial was led by Dr. Casey O’Connell<br />
<strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Southern California, in<br />
collaboration with Dr. Maria Baer <strong>of</strong> the<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Maryland, and Dr. Kirsten<br />
Grønbaek <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Copenhagen<br />
and Rigshospitalet — all members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team.<br />
“We are thrilled that administering a<br />
medicine to reawaken the immune system<br />
may benefit a subgroup <strong>of</strong> patients with<br />
MDS, as this class <strong>of</strong> drugs is not currently<br />
approved for these patients,” O’Connell<br />
said. “We are now exploring blood-based<br />
markers that identify which patients are<br />
most likely to respond in order to design a<br />
more personalized treatment approach in a<br />
subsequent trial.”<br />
MDS is a type <strong>of</strong> cancer that occurs when<br />
the bone marrow can no longer make<br />
healthy blood cells. These sick cells either<br />
die early or are identified as a threat by<br />
the immune system and killed, leaving the<br />
body without enough healthy blood cells to<br />
properly function. About a third <strong>of</strong> people<br />
with MDS can progress to a more severe<br />
and tough-to-treat type <strong>of</strong> blood cancer<br />
called acute myeloid leukemia.<br />
Approximately half <strong>of</strong> people with<br />
MDS respond when treated with a<br />
type <strong>of</strong> epigenetic medication called a<br />
hypomethylating agent, which works by<br />
correcting errors in how the instructions in<br />
DNA are used. Unfortunately, responses to<br />
these agents are not long-lasting. There are<br />
limited treatment options for people whose<br />
MDS returns after their initial course <strong>of</strong><br />
treatment.<br />
To address this, the investigators paired<br />
a novel hypomethylating agent with a<br />
type <strong>of</strong> immunotherapy called a PD-L1<br />
inhibitor that helps the body identify and<br />
attack cancer cells. Survival among treated<br />
patients appears to be longer than what has<br />
been previously reported for this patient<br />
population; this study lays some groundwork<br />
for future studies that pair epigenetic and<br />
immunotherapies to treat cancer.<br />
“As this trial indicates, combining cancer<br />
therapies has the potential to improve<br />
survival and make a real difference for<br />
people with cancer by allowing us to target<br />
multiple vulnerabilities in cancer at once.<br />
These findings represent an important<br />
pro<strong>of</strong>-<strong>of</strong>-concept that should inform future<br />
research toward the next generation <strong>of</strong><br />
cancer treatment,” said VAI Chief Scientific<br />
Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones, who co-leads the<br />
VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team with<br />
Dr. Stephen B. Baylin <strong>of</strong> Johns Hopkins<br />
University and VAI.<br />
The trial is one <strong>of</strong> 14 launched by the VAI–<br />
SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team since its<br />
inception in 2014.<br />
Read more at vai.org/mds-clinical-trial-results.<br />
Research funding for this work was provided by Van Andel<br />
Institute through the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer<br />
Epigenetics Dream Team. Stand Up To Cancer is a division <strong>of</strong><br />
the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The clinicialtrials.gov<br />
identifier for this trial is: NCT02935361.<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 11
RESEARCH<br />
Study reveals two major obesity<br />
subtypes linked to random chance<br />
How does random chance — the same kind that governs a roll <strong>of</strong><br />
the dice — impact our health?<br />
Quite a lot, it turns out.<br />
A team led by VAI scientist Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik has identified<br />
two distinct types <strong>of</strong> obesity with physiological and molecular<br />
differences that may have lifelong consequences for health, disease<br />
and response to medication. Importantly, it appears that random<br />
chance plays a role in an individual’s predisposition to one type <strong>of</strong><br />
obesity versus the other.<br />
The findings, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, <strong>of</strong>fer a<br />
more nuanced understanding <strong>of</strong> obesity than current definitions<br />
and reveal new insights into the link between insulin and obesity.<br />
“Nearly two billion people worldwide are considered overweight<br />
and there are more than 600 million people with obesity, yet we<br />
have no framework for stratifying individuals according to their<br />
more precise disease etiologies,” Pospisilik said. “Using a purely<br />
data-driven approach, we see for the first time that there are at<br />
least two different metabolic subtypes <strong>of</strong> obesity, each with their<br />
own physiological and molecular features that influence health.<br />
Translating these findings into a clinically usable test could help<br />
doctors provide more precise care for patients.”<br />
Currently, obesity is diagnosed using body mass index (BMI), an<br />
index correlated to body fat that is generated by comparing weight<br />
in relation to height. It is an imperfect measure, Pospisilik says,<br />
because it doesn’t account for underlying biological differences and<br />
can misrepresent an individual’s health status.<br />
The findings also reveal the role chance plays in predisposing<br />
a person to one <strong>of</strong> the two obesity subtypes. Only 30%–50% <strong>of</strong><br />
human trait outcomes can be linked to genetics or environmental<br />
influences. That means as much as half <strong>of</strong> who we are is governed<br />
by something else. This phenomenon is called unexplained<br />
phenotypic variation (UPV), and it <strong>of</strong>fers both a challenge and<br />
untapped potential to scientists like Pospisilik and his collaborators.<br />
The study indicates that the roots <strong>of</strong> UPV likely lie in epigenetics,<br />
the processes that govern when and to what extent the<br />
instructions in DNA are used. Epigenetic mechanisms are the<br />
reason that individuals with the same genetic instruction manual,<br />
such as twins, may grow to have different traits, such as eye<br />
color and hair color. Epigenetics also <strong>of</strong>fer tantalizing targets for<br />
precision treatment.<br />
“This unexplained variation is difficult to study, but the pay<strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong><br />
a deeper understanding is immense,” Pospisilik said. “Epigenetics<br />
can act like a light switch that flips genes ‘on’ or ‘<strong>of</strong>f,’ which can<br />
promote health or, when things go wrong, disease. Accounting<br />
for UPV doesn’t exist in precision medicine right now, but it looks<br />
like it could be half the puzzle. Our findings underscore the power<br />
<strong>of</strong> recognizing these subtle differences between people to guide<br />
more precise ways to treat disease.”<br />
Read more at vai.org/obesity-subtypes.<br />
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute; Max Planck<br />
Gesellschaft; the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under<br />
Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 675610; the Novo Nordisk Foundation and<br />
the European Foundation for the Study <strong>of</strong> Diabetes; the Danish Council for Independent<br />
Research; the National Human Genome Research Institute <strong>of</strong> the National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health<br />
under award no. R21HG011964 (Pospisilik); and the NIH Common Fund, through the Office<br />
<strong>of</strong> the NIH Director (OD), and the National Human Genome Research Institute <strong>of</strong> the National<br />
Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health under award no. R01HG012444 (Pospisilik and Nadeau). The content is<br />
solely the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the authors and does not necessarily represent the <strong>of</strong>ficial views <strong>of</strong><br />
the National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health or other granting organizations. Approximately 5% ($50,000)<br />
<strong>of</strong> funding for this study is from federal sources; approximately 95% ($950,000) is from non-<br />
U.S. governmental sources.<br />
DR. J. ANDREW POSPISILIK<br />
12 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Cellular waste may supercharge<br />
immune cells<br />
The immune cells that protect us from infection and cancer seek<br />
out a wide array <strong>of</strong> fuel sources to power their function — including<br />
some long thought to be cellular waste products. That’s the<br />
surprising takeaway from recent findings published in the journal<br />
Cell Metabolism by VAI’s Dr. Russell Jones and collaborators.<br />
Their discovery lays the foundation for future personalized<br />
dietary recommendations designed to supercharge the<br />
immune system and augment therapies for cancer and<br />
other diseases.<br />
“Every process in the body is powered by metabolism, which<br />
in turn is fueled by the nutrients we consume through our<br />
diet,” said Jones, chair <strong>of</strong> VAI’s Department <strong>of</strong> Metabolism and<br />
Nutritional Programming and senior author <strong>of</strong> the study. “We<br />
found that immune cells are much more flexible in selecting<br />
the nutrient fuels they consume and, importantly, that they<br />
prefer some nutrients that were previously dismissed as<br />
waste. This understanding is crucial for optimizing T cell<br />
responses and developing new strategies for boosting our<br />
ability to fight <strong>of</strong>f disease.”<br />
T cells are the soldiers <strong>of</strong> the immune system and are tasked<br />
with combating bacteria, viruses and even cancer cells. They<br />
absorb nutrients from the foods we eat to generate the energy<br />
required to carry out their jobs.<br />
The findings stem from a novel approach that could reshape<br />
how metabolism is studied. Historically, T cells are grown in<br />
the lab in dishes <strong>of</strong> nutrient-containing media — a gel-like<br />
substance chock full <strong>of</strong> certain cellular “foods.” However, this<br />
doesn’t fully reflect the rich array <strong>of</strong> nutrients found in the<br />
human body. To solve the problem, Jones and his colleagues<br />
developed media packed with a more diverse range <strong>of</strong><br />
nutrients.<br />
Lactate is also an important byproduct <strong>of</strong> cancer cells and<br />
facilitates cancer’s ability to invade other tissues and evade<br />
attack by the immune system. Some research suggests that<br />
too much lactate may be bad for T cells. The work from Jones’<br />
group indicates that, at lower levels, lactate may actually<br />
enhance T cell function.<br />
The findings also suggest that T cell function and survival<br />
are strongly influenced by the nutrients available in their<br />
environment. Going forward, Jones and his colleagues aim<br />
to delve deeper into the intricate relationships between<br />
metabolism and the immune system in search <strong>of</strong> new insights<br />
to further illuminate how these crucial systems collaborate.<br />
Read more at vai.org/supercharge-tcells.<br />
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute (Jones)<br />
and an Allen Distinguished Investigator Award, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group<br />
advised grant <strong>of</strong> the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Jones).<br />
Jones is supported by the National Institute <strong>of</strong> Allergy and Infectious Diseases <strong>of</strong> the<br />
National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health under award no. R01AI165722. Support for authors on<br />
this project include a postdoctoral fellowship award from Fonds de la Recherche du<br />
Québec–Santé (FRQS) (Dahabieh); a VAI Metabolism and Nutrition (MeNu) Program<br />
Pathway-to-Independence Award (Longo); National Cancer Institute award no.<br />
T32CA251066-01A1) (Watson) and award no. R35CA2202901 (DeBerardinis); and the<br />
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Program (DeBerardinis).<br />
The content is solely the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the authors and does not necessarily<br />
represent the <strong>of</strong>ficial views <strong>of</strong> granting organizations.<br />
“Previously, we were giving immune cells a very basic<br />
diet — the equivalent <strong>of</strong> just eggs and toast,” Jones said.<br />
“We found that, when we <strong>of</strong>fer them a full buffet, these<br />
cells actually prefer a wider array <strong>of</strong> ‘fuels’ than previously<br />
believed. This has major implications for how we tailor dietary<br />
recommendations as ways to promote health and combat<br />
disease.”<br />
One example is lactate, a cellular waste product responsible<br />
for muscle aches after a long workout. When presented with<br />
glucose, a common sugar found in the body and in lab media,<br />
and lactate, the T cells preferentially used the lactate to power<br />
energy production — a decision that enhanced their function.<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 13
RESEARCH<br />
Van Andel Institute Graduate School student<br />
awarded PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral<br />
Fellowship to pursue new osteoarthritis therapies<br />
The PhRMA Foundation has selected<br />
Van Andel Institute Graduate School<br />
student Vladimir Molchanov to receive<br />
a prestigious predoctoral fellowship<br />
to pursue improved treatments for<br />
osteoarthritis, the most common type<br />
<strong>of</strong> arthritis.<br />
More than 32 million adults in the U.S. — and<br />
more than 527 million worldwide — have<br />
osteoarthritis. This painful, progressive<br />
disorder occurs when the cartilage within<br />
joints wears down, resulting in swelling,<br />
stiffness, pain and loss <strong>of</strong> mobility. Although<br />
treatments exist, they <strong>of</strong>fer only temporary<br />
relief from symptoms rather than fixing the<br />
disorder’s root cause.<br />
“Osteoarthritis is highly prevalent, especially<br />
among older adults, yet we still lack a way<br />
to repair the damage it causes,” Molchanov<br />
said. “I am thrilled to receive the PhRMA<br />
Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in<br />
Drug Delivery, which will support my work<br />
in developing targeted cell therapies for<br />
degenerative diseases and will set the stage<br />
for future research.”<br />
The $50,000 fellowship will support Molchanov<br />
as he seeks to solve a pair <strong>of</strong> major problems<br />
in osteoarthritis treatment: how to deliver<br />
therapies to the site <strong>of</strong> joint damage and how<br />
to stimulate new cartilage growth.<br />
To do this, he has proposed an approach<br />
called SEEK and HEAL that would use<br />
specially designed stem cells generated from<br />
adult cells to “seek” out damaged cartilage<br />
and help “heal” it by regrowing lost tissue.<br />
“This work has the potential to revolutionize<br />
our approach to joint degeneration<br />
and inspire new treatments for other<br />
degenerative disorders,” said Dr. Tao Yang,<br />
interim chair <strong>of</strong> VAI’s Department <strong>of</strong> Cell<br />
Biology and Molchanov’s thesis adviser. “The<br />
PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship<br />
awarded to Vladimir will help us tackle a<br />
persistent public health problem while also<br />
supporting and fostering the career <strong>of</strong> an<br />
exceptional young scientist.”<br />
Molchanov’s fellowship is one <strong>of</strong> four<br />
Predoctoral Fellowships in Drug Delivery<br />
awarded by the PhRMA Foundation for 20<strong>23</strong><br />
and is the first such award granted to a VAI<br />
graduate student.<br />
Van Andel Institute and The Scientist launch podcast mini-series<br />
How do our environment and diet<br />
set the stage for future health?<br />
That’s one <strong>of</strong> the big questions<br />
Van Andel Institute and The Scientist<br />
tackle in a podcast mini-series titled<br />
Exposed: Environmental Echoes in<br />
Health, part <strong>of</strong> The Scientist’s Lab<br />
Talk podcast series.<br />
All episodes are now available on all<br />
major podcast platforms.<br />
The podcast accompanies a Q&A<br />
with VAI Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. J. Andrew<br />
Pospisilik, who explores how our<br />
environment impacts our health<br />
as well as the health <strong>of</strong> future<br />
generations. Read it at<br />
vai.org/mini-podcast-series.<br />
Epigeneticist Turned<br />
Microbe Hunter<br />
Microbes surround us, and<br />
they can have surprising<br />
effects beyond infection. In<br />
this episode, VAI Assistant<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Nick Burton<br />
discusses his work discovering<br />
new environmental bacteria in<br />
backyards and how exposure<br />
to bad or good bugs can affect<br />
an organism’s <strong>of</strong>fspring.<br />
Are We What Our Parents Eat?<br />
Substances that enter the body,<br />
such as food or chemicals, can<br />
make epigenetic changes in the<br />
germline that become inherited,<br />
affecting the health <strong>of</strong> future<br />
generations. In this episode, VAI<br />
Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Heidi<br />
Lempradl discusses her work<br />
studying the effects <strong>of</strong> parental<br />
diet on their <strong>of</strong>fspring.<br />
How Toxins Leave Their<br />
Cancerous Marks<br />
Through epigenetic mechanisms,<br />
some environmental toxicants,<br />
such as heavy metals, alter gene<br />
expression patterns that then<br />
drive cancer progression. In this<br />
episode, VAI Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf<br />
discusses her work studying<br />
environmental toxicants and<br />
their effects on DNA methylation<br />
and chromatin structure.<br />
14 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg: A storied<br />
career training scientific leaders<br />
Sometimes, serendipity and careful planning<br />
combine to chart a meaningful course for<br />
the future. Both led Dr. Steve Triezenberg<br />
to Van Andel Institute Graduate School<br />
in 2006, where he is set to retire in<br />
summer 20<strong>23</strong> after 17 impactful years<br />
as inaugural dean.<br />
Back in the mid-2000s, Triezenberg<br />
was a faculty member in Michigan State<br />
University’s Department <strong>of</strong> Biochemistry and<br />
Molecular Biology. One day, a familiar face<br />
came to call: Dr. Gordon Van Harn, who had<br />
been on the faculty at Calvin University while<br />
Triezenberg was an undergrad.<br />
At the time <strong>of</strong> the visit, Van Harn was<br />
director <strong>of</strong> Van Andel Institute for Education.<br />
He visited Triezenberg as part <strong>of</strong> a multiuniversity<br />
tour to get feedback from<br />
scientists in established Ph.D. programs<br />
about what it would take to build a graduate<br />
school from the ground up.<br />
Triezenberg recalls that initial meeting with<br />
a smile, the kind you can’t help but make<br />
when you know you’re getting to the good<br />
part <strong>of</strong> the story.<br />
“We talked about MSU’s program, what<br />
worked and what didn’t, and I said it’ll be<br />
fun to watch what they come up with,”<br />
Triezenberg said. “A little while later came<br />
the opportunity to throw my hat into the<br />
ring <strong>of</strong> potential candidates to lead the<br />
Graduate School.”<br />
The rest, as the saying goes, is history.<br />
Taking the plunge<br />
After many years in the traditional university<br />
structure, Triezenberg was drawn to the<br />
fledgling VAI Graduate School because<br />
<strong>of</strong> the chance to build something new.<br />
He started as dean in 2006, and though<br />
the financial support and operational<br />
infrastructure were in place, he had his work<br />
cut out for him: “We started pulling all the<br />
pieces together,” he recalled.<br />
He worked with VAI leadership and faculty<br />
to build out a rigorous, research-focused<br />
curriculum. High on the list <strong>of</strong> priorities —<br />
and challenges — was recruiting students<br />
to a brand-new program with no name<br />
recognition.<br />
“We had open houses to invite students<br />
from regional colleges to see what we<br />
were doing and explain our program,”<br />
Triezenberg said. “And, well, nobody came.”<br />
A concerted word-<strong>of</strong>-mouth campaign<br />
commenced, and the Graduate School<br />
welcomed its first cohort <strong>of</strong> three students<br />
in August 2007. The 2008 and 2009<br />
cohorts also numbered three students<br />
each, and the program started gaining<br />
steam in the 2010s. Cohort sizes steadily<br />
increased year over year. In 2021, the<br />
Graduate School welcomed its largest and<br />
most diverse cohort yet — 14 students<br />
from eight countries.<br />
“Early on, a strong cadre <strong>of</strong> faculty<br />
members were very much committed<br />
to the Graduate School and doing it in<br />
innovative and creative ways,” he said.<br />
“They helped develop and improve our<br />
problem-based curriculum, so I give them<br />
a lot <strong>of</strong> credit for the work they put in to<br />
make this succeed from the start.”<br />
A full-time passion<br />
Triezenberg’s imprint at VAI isn’t limited<br />
to the Graduate School — it can be found<br />
all over the Institute. In 2009, Triezenberg<br />
succeeded Van Harn as director <strong>of</strong><br />
Van Andel Institute for Education’s K–12<br />
programs. He continued in this role until<br />
2015, when he decided to focus more<br />
on the ongoing growth at the Graduate<br />
School.<br />
For much <strong>of</strong> his time at VAI, Triezenberg<br />
also led a research laboratory. The<br />
Triezenberg Lab’s research into herpes<br />
simplex virus opened up new possibilities<br />
for antiviral drug development and<br />
revealed new insights into how human cells<br />
control gene expression.<br />
As the Graduate School continued to grow,<br />
Triezenberg saw that he had less time<br />
to devote to research. After nearly four<br />
decades <strong>of</strong> active research at Michigan<br />
State and VAI, he made the difficult decision<br />
to close his lab in 2018. It was a bittersweet<br />
decision, tempered by the excitement <strong>of</strong><br />
turning all his attention and energy to the<br />
graduate program.<br />
Looking ahead<br />
A national search is underway to find<br />
Triezenberg’s successor. He is eager to<br />
support the next grad school leader and<br />
feels a sense <strong>of</strong> pride knowing that the<br />
new dean will be walking into a strong<br />
program that is set up for future success<br />
and renown.<br />
“I’m feeling very fulfilled in purpose,”<br />
he said. “My successor will come into<br />
an environment here where they are<br />
surrounded by good people who know<br />
their work and are well-integrated into the<br />
Institute, and they can carry things forward<br />
with the vision and dreams they bring.”<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 15
EDUCATION<br />
Building the future <strong>of</strong> education<br />
A summer <strong>of</strong> renewal for students and educators<br />
With the dawn <strong>of</strong> a new school year, Van Andel Institute for<br />
Education saw strong interest in events and programs for teachers<br />
and administrators. The momentum began building over the<br />
summer when we hosted Science on the Grand: A STEAM Conference<br />
for Inquiry-based Educators.<br />
More than 120 teachers and administrators visited the Institute for<br />
the two-day conference, where they explored the latest researchbased,<br />
classroom-tested content to support STEAM instruction.<br />
Educators were able to network and hear from experts about<br />
cutting-edge instructional methods. The conference featured<br />
keynote speaker Erin Gruwell, an educator and catalyst for<br />
social change and New York Times bestselling author <strong>of</strong> “The<br />
Freedom Writers Diary.” Science on the Grand will return to VAI<br />
on July 10–11, 20<strong>23</strong>.<br />
Demand for VAI <strong>Summer</strong> Camps was at an all-time high: we<br />
welcomed 305 students for camps, nearly doubling the total from<br />
2021. Campers enjoyed hands-on investigations in areas including<br />
science, engineering and robotics. Due to popular demand for<br />
summer schools in 2022, the Institute will more than double our<br />
camps for 20<strong>23</strong> and <strong>of</strong>fer a new, one-day camp format.<br />
The Institute’s K–8 Project-based <strong>Summer</strong> School pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
development program provides summer school teachers with<br />
customized instruction and projects that meet their grade level,<br />
scheduling and content needs.<br />
Meaningful pr<strong>of</strong>essional development and networking<br />
The educational landscape is ever shifting, and VAI is here to help<br />
educators meet new challenges and elevate their instructional<br />
practices. Flex PD is a comprehensive and affordable pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
development program designed to meet the needs <strong>of</strong> all teachers.<br />
This year, VAI <strong>of</strong>fered Flex PD solutions to more than 25 schools<br />
and provided pr<strong>of</strong>essional development services to more than<br />
2,300 educators.<br />
VAI’s New Teacher Network allows teachers to receive the targeted<br />
support they need as they get started in this rewarding and<br />
challenging pr<strong>of</strong>ession. By learning great content, sharing their<br />
experiences and receiving validation from their network, teachers<br />
grow as people and pr<strong>of</strong>essionals as they embark on their<br />
learning journeys.<br />
Innovative instructional support<br />
VAI <strong>of</strong>fers Blue Apple projects based on an internationally<br />
recognized gold standard, delivering lesson plans, online resources,<br />
cross-curricular mini-lessons and a host <strong>of</strong> other tools that make it<br />
easier for teachers to get started right away. During the 2021–22<br />
school year, VAI shipped 324 Blue Apple projects to teachers — an<br />
increase <strong>of</strong> 16% over the previous year.<br />
Several new Timely Topic lessons were launched, including “Valuing<br />
our Veterans” and “Hispanic Heritage Month.” The full suite <strong>of</strong><br />
Timely Topics saw more than 5,000 downloads in more than<br />
40 countries, with many educators even reaching out to express<br />
their gratitude for the free lessons.<br />
Inquiry in Action <strong>of</strong>fers a variety <strong>of</strong> inquiry-based lessons that<br />
are sure to engage students and get them thinking deeply about<br />
science. These 15- to 30-minute experiences allow teachers to<br />
introduce a variety <strong>of</strong> relevant concepts without adding prep and<br />
planning to their busy schedule.<br />
Our NexGen Inquiry Quests come with story-driven videos that<br />
guide students through a process <strong>of</strong> scientific inquiry and hands-on<br />
experimentation. Students exercise critical and creative thinking<br />
through scientific journaling, collaborate with peers and apply what<br />
they learn to make the world a better place.<br />
Hands-on STEM lessons, wherever you are<br />
Our expert educators hit the road with Curiosity on Wheels,<br />
a program that takes inquiry-based science to new heights as<br />
participants think and act like scientists by conducting hands-on<br />
STEM investigations. Whether it be addressing science standards,<br />
enhancing thematic units or just having fun, VAI customizes each<br />
Curiosity on Wheels trip to meet the individual needs <strong>of</strong> educators.<br />
Coming out <strong>of</strong> the pandemic, teachers have been particularly<br />
interested in exploring VAI’s Field Trips. These are available at the<br />
Institute and on-location at schools; students conduct unique,<br />
grade-specific investigations that emphasize hands-on discovery.<br />
The Institute hosted more than 2,500 students for Field Trips, an<br />
increase <strong>of</strong> 50% over the previous year.<br />
For more information about VAI’s latest resources, please visit<br />
vai.org/k-12-education.<br />
16 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 17
PURPLE COMMUNITY<br />
10 years <strong>of</strong> golf, family and research<br />
God, family and golf — three <strong>of</strong> the guiding principles David<br />
Wiersema followed during his life. He spent five decades bringing<br />
a positive and fun attitude to various projects, spending as much<br />
time with his family as possible. After a brain cancer diagnosis,<br />
David passed away in 2010, but his family has kept his spirit alive<br />
for more than a decade.<br />
David’s wife, Julie, and daughter, Lydia, help organize the<br />
David Wiersema Memorial Golf Outing, a VAI Purple Community<br />
event that recently celebrated its 11th anniversary. “After Dad<br />
passed away, we knew we had to do something in memory <strong>of</strong> this<br />
amazing man,” they said.<br />
Golf was the perfect opportunity: It was an activity that reflected<br />
David’s life, it’s best with family and friends and it could be a<br />
powerful fundraising tool.<br />
at a senior level. Thanks to the generosity <strong>of</strong> family, friends and<br />
attendees, that project became self-sufficient and continues to<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer scholarships. That’s when the Wiersema family decided to find<br />
another way to impact the community.<br />
“We realized we also wanted to support cancer research, but we<br />
wanted to do it in a local way that made a difference,” Julie said.<br />
“VAI was the perfect choice, existing in our backyard and giving us<br />
the tools we need to support the cause.”<br />
Besides the usual challenges <strong>of</strong> organizing a golf event, their family<br />
is consistently surprised by the memorial’s popularity. It started as<br />
an open event, they said, but increased interest from family, friends<br />
and local businesses meant a lengthy registration list. Thanks to<br />
support from family and volunteers, the event has adapted to meet<br />
the demand.<br />
As David was part <strong>of</strong> the family business owning golf courses,<br />
including Winding Creek Golf Club, the event originally gathered<br />
donations for the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation,<br />
building scholarships for high school graduates who played golf<br />
Beyond the fun <strong>of</strong> hosting a successful event, Lydia said the family<br />
remains focused on the mission <strong>of</strong> VAI and supporting research.<br />
18 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
“VAI makes the city a medical hub, bringing the best scientists in the<br />
world, and Purple Community helps make that happen,”<br />
Lydia said.<br />
The family aims to keep the David Wiersema Memorial Golf Outing<br />
event strong for another decade, honoring David’s legacy as a man,<br />
friend, husband and father. At the end <strong>of</strong> the day, they said, it helps<br />
their family make a difference.<br />
“The support for research helps honor David’s memory while also<br />
giving our friends and family the chance to be part <strong>of</strong> that impact,”<br />
Julie said. “It’s good to know that there is hope, and that research is<br />
helping others to not have to go through what we experienced.”<br />
Mona Shores<br />
Soccer supports<br />
Purple Community<br />
Mona Shores High School showed its support for Van Andel<br />
Institute Purple Community through a second Purple Soccer<br />
Game. The boys soccer team sold purple merchandise at the game<br />
while brandishing custom purple jerseys featuring the names <strong>of</strong><br />
loved ones. Since their inception, the Mona Shores Purple Soccer<br />
Games have raised more than $6,300 for cancer and Parkinson’s<br />
research and educational initiatives at VAI.<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 19
PHILANTHROPY<br />
Building a legacy through love<br />
and research<br />
“If I can save one life, then all this suffering is worth it,” Wendy<br />
Jo Blakely said when she decided to donate her body to science.<br />
Her husband, Rusty, was not surprised by the decision. They had<br />
been married for 34 years, and every day Wendy demonstrated<br />
courage and strength.<br />
She did so for three decades as a nurse, supporting patients<br />
through challenging times. Her determined spirit was obvious<br />
when she trained for marathons, pushing her body to the limit.<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> all, she demonstrated her strength following a devastating<br />
diagnosis in 2018: five lesions in her pancreas, and some in<br />
her liver.<br />
It was stage four pancreatic cancer.<br />
Although Wendy started chemotherapy right away, it never felt<br />
right to her.<br />
“She was ready to move past cancer, but the chemo was just too<br />
much,” Rusty said.<br />
The couple sought second opinions and alternative treatments, but<br />
Wendy wanted to live her life her way: If she only had a few months<br />
left, those days would be filled with sailboat rides with their<br />
children, Owen and Olivia, and bike rides alongside her life partner.<br />
Wendy and Rusty spent three<br />
months enjoying every minute<br />
they had together. They<br />
danced in the kitchen after<br />
work, rode their bikes and<br />
visited family. Wendy wanted<br />
to enjoy her time, and she<br />
truly did.<br />
“Unknowingly, Wendy and I had<br />
our last bike ride together on<br />
Cinco de Mayo 2018, just<br />
18 short days before we lost<br />
her,” Rusty said. “Even then,<br />
Wendy Jo still had such a joy<br />
for life, and her gentle laughter<br />
filled the air. Her warm smile<br />
and loving heart are still clear<br />
and will always be a part <strong>of</strong> all<br />
<strong>of</strong> us forever.”<br />
“Wendy never complained. She<br />
made the best <strong>of</strong> every day<br />
and every minute she had left,”<br />
Rusty said. “She was always<br />
smiling, always laughing, and<br />
those are the images we have<br />
<strong>of</strong> her in our minds.”<br />
Wendy passed away in May<br />
2018, shortly before a planned<br />
trip to France. In the midst <strong>of</strong><br />
loss, Rusty knew he wanted to<br />
grow Wendy’s legacy. She had<br />
elected to give her body to<br />
science, but he wanted to do<br />
more. The result was the Wendy<br />
Jo Blakely “Je t’aime” Pancreatic<br />
Cancer Fund, aptly named with<br />
the words “I love you” in French.<br />
The fund resides at Van Andel<br />
Institute.<br />
“Our love got cut short, but<br />
some people live their whole<br />
lives without experiencing what<br />
we did,” Rusty said. “This is a<br />
way to stay positive, to keep<br />
her memory strong, and to<br />
hopefully help someone in<br />
the future.”<br />
The Wendy Jo Blakely “Je t’aime”<br />
Pancreatic Cancer Fund is<br />
a permanent fund in the<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Cell Biology<br />
at the Institute. It will support<br />
groundbreaking pancreatic<br />
cancer research for years to<br />
come. If you are interested in<br />
supporting the Wendy Jo Blakely<br />
“Je t’aime” Pancreatic Cancer<br />
Fund or establishing a similar<br />
gift in memory <strong>of</strong> a loved one,<br />
please contact Kate Frillmann<br />
at 616.<strong>23</strong>4.5515 or<br />
kate.frillmann@vai.org.<br />
THE BLAKELY FAMILY<br />
20 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
The Wendy<br />
Jo Blakely<br />
“Je t’aime”<br />
Pancreatic<br />
Cancer Fund is<br />
a permanent<br />
fund in the<br />
Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Cell Biology at<br />
the Institute.<br />
It will support<br />
groundbreaking<br />
pancreatic<br />
cancer research<br />
for years to<br />
come.<br />
Support a brighter future with a planned gift<br />
A growing number <strong>of</strong> individuals and households have<br />
remembered VAI in their estate plans. These planned giving<br />
intentions will greatly benefit the Institute’s research into<br />
diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s and related<br />
dementias, as well as our work to educate the next generation<br />
<strong>of</strong> scientific leaders and foster curiosity, creativity and<br />
critical thinking in K–12 classrooms.<br />
VAI honors those who have included the Institute in their<br />
estate plans through the Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Hope</strong>. When you notify us <strong>of</strong> your intentions, you are invited<br />
to become a member.<br />
We welcome a conversation about estate giving that makes<br />
the most sense for you while also supporting the mission<br />
<strong>of</strong> VAI.<br />
For additional information about estate giving, visit<br />
vai.giftlegacy.com or contact Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy<br />
Director, at 616.<strong>23</strong>4.5515 or kate.frillmann@vai.org.<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 21
EVENTS<br />
VAI Golf Outing<br />
Golfers met in West Olive for the 15th annual VAI Golf Outing.<br />
Hosted at the stunning Wuskowhan Players Club, the event<br />
brought together community members, businesses and local<br />
organizations for an afternoon filled with golf, fun and research<br />
updates. The event featured a silent auction, a drone drop raffle,<br />
lunch and dinner — along with remarks from <strong>Hope</strong> College<br />
Football Coach Peter Stuursma.<br />
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, The Timothy Long and William<br />
Mackay group <strong>of</strong> Merrill Lynch.<br />
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) HOPE COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH PETER STUURSMA;<br />
DINA MCKNIGHT-DARGIS, BETH VANPORTFLIET, CAROL VAN ANDEL & MARCY ROTH; PLAYERS WARM UP AT THE DRIVING RANGE; KURT<br />
HASSBERGER, DAVID VAN ANDEL & JACK DOLES<br />
22 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Couture for a Cure<br />
Michigan’s premiere fashion event gathered scientists, supporters and<br />
community members for an evening <strong>of</strong> fashion, fun and philanthropy.<br />
The 17th annual spectacular was one to remember, featuring a one-<strong>of</strong>a-kind<br />
fashion show by Leigh’s along with a special presentation from<br />
world-renowned Italian brand Max Mara. Rarely seen outside their famous<br />
Milan shows, Max Mara treated guests to a unique look into their Fall/<br />
Winter 2022 Collection. In addition to stunning glamour from Max Mara<br />
and Leigh’s, the runway showcased new looks from Artistry, many <strong>of</strong> which<br />
were available for guests at the beauty bar, where they could receive<br />
makeup touchups throughout the evening. A strolling cocktail hour and<br />
silent auction allowed attendees to mingle, while those looking to upgrade<br />
their wardrobes visited a unique Max Mara pop-up shopping experience.<br />
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Amway, and our Presenting Sponsors,<br />
Leigh’s and Max Mara.<br />
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; LEIGH’S MODELS SHOW OFF THE LATEST LOOKS; MAX MARA SHOPPING<br />
EXPERIENCE; REBECCA WIERDA, CAROL VAN ANDEL & KELLI TEMPLETON; DJ AB ENTERTAINS DANCING GUESTS<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | <strong>23</strong>
EVENTS<br />
<strong>Hope</strong> on the Hill and The<br />
Chocolate Factory<br />
The 22nd <strong>Hope</strong> on the Hill was a sweet celebration <strong>of</strong> the heroes<br />
looking for the golden ticket against cancer, Parkinson’s and<br />
other diseases. The whimsical evening featured delectable<br />
cuisine and curious concoctions, including Gobstopper Gimlets<br />
and Chocolate River Cocktails. Guests, many dressed in their own<br />
fantastical outfits, were treated to world-class entertainment by<br />
improv artist and magician Michael Carbonaro, star and executive<br />
producer <strong>of</strong> the truTV series “The Carbonaro Effect.”<br />
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Fifth Third Private Bank.<br />
24 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
(STARTING AT TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) WHIMSICAL DECORATIONS;<br />
AUCTIONEER KICKS OFF PADDLE RAISE; HOPE ON THE HILL ENTRANCE;<br />
JIM ZWIERS, CAROL VAN ANDEL, JANE ZWIERS & DAVID VAN ANDEL;<br />
MICHAEL CARBONARO; DAVID VAN ANDEL; MARANDA EMCEES THE EVENT;<br />
JOHN NOWINSKI & DR. SARA NOWINSKI RECEIVE THEIR GOLDEN TICKET<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 25
EVENTS<br />
A Conversation About Health and<br />
the Environment — Hosted by<br />
Carol Van Andel<br />
The environment in which we live, work and play impacts our<br />
health — and the health <strong>of</strong> future generations — in countless<br />
ways. A Conversation About Health and the Environment —<br />
Hosted by Carol Van Andel highlighted groundbreaking research<br />
into these intricate connections and how they may be leveraged<br />
for a healthier tomorrow. Attendees heard from VAI scientists<br />
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, who studies the link between<br />
cancer and toxicants, and Dr. Heidi Lempradl, who investigates<br />
how the effects <strong>of</strong> certain chemical exposures could ripple<br />
through generations.<br />
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Howard Miller Company.<br />
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; DR. YVONNE FONDUFE-MITTENDORF; ATTENDEE ASKS A QUESTION;<br />
MARANDA LEADS THE Q&A SESSION; DR. HEIDI LEMPRADL<br />
26 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Winterfest Celebration<br />
Grand Rapids’ winter extravaganza returned for the 18th<br />
year, combining food, cocktails and generosity to support<br />
Parkinson’s disease research. Held at Cascade Hills Country<br />
Club, the evening featured spectacular auction packages<br />
and outstanding conversation. Guests heard about the<br />
latest advancements in Parkinson’s disease research from<br />
Dr. Darren Moore, Chair and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor in the Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Neurodegenerative Science, who shared news about clinical<br />
trials and future Parkinson’s research.<br />
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Buist Electric.<br />
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DAVID VAN ANDEL; GUEST PARTICIPATES IN PADDLE RAISE;<br />
DR. DARREN MOORE DELIVERS REMARKS; DAVID & CAROL VAN ANDEL; MARANDA CHATS WITH KAREN CUSTER<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 27
PHILANTHROPY<br />
Thank you to our generous<br />
event sponsors<br />
To learn more about sponsoring an event, contact Sarah Rollman at sarah.rollman@vai.org.<br />
Winterfest<br />
Rob & Dawn Arnoys<br />
Barnes & Thornburg LLP<br />
Buist Electric<br />
Calamos Investments LLC<br />
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan<br />
Custer Inc.<br />
Deloitte<br />
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh<br />
Ernst & Young<br />
Grand Rapids Christian Schools<br />
Jana Hall<br />
Harvey Automotive<br />
HB Wealth Management<br />
Hines Corporation<br />
Macatawa Bank<br />
McShane & Bowie, PLC<br />
MSU College <strong>of</strong> Human Medicine<br />
Owen Ames Kimball Co.<br />
P.L. Capital<br />
Lee & Alexandra Perez<br />
Pioneer Construction<br />
Rycenga Building Group<br />
Sharpe<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Michigan Health-<br />
West<br />
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP<br />
Robert & Karen Wiltz<br />
Around the World<br />
Accretive Company, Inc.<br />
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan<br />
Blake Crabb<br />
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh<br />
Element Four<br />
John Hancock Financial<br />
Matt & Sarah Jones<br />
KM Online Marketing<br />
Lake Michigan Credit Union<br />
Leigh’s<br />
Mercantile Bank<br />
Mike & Rachel Mraz<br />
NVINT<br />
Lee & Alexandra Perez<br />
Regal Financial Group<br />
West Michigan Woman<br />
Wicked Pro<br />
Design & Discovery<br />
John & Mary Amell<br />
Autocam Medical<br />
Bayside Capital<br />
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi<br />
Bluewater Technologies<br />
Bradley Company/Brad & Katie<br />
Toothaker/Chip Bowling<br />
The Brooks Family<br />
Buist Electric<br />
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan<br />
CWD Real Estate<br />
David & Carol Van Andel Family<br />
Foundation<br />
Dominique & Julie DeNooyer/<br />
DeNooyer Chevrolet/Bob &<br />
Colette DeNooyer<br />
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh<br />
John Dykema & Michele<br />
Maly-Dykema<br />
The Edgar & Elsa Prince<br />
Foundation<br />
Eenhoorn<br />
Ernst & Young LLP<br />
First National Bank <strong>of</strong> Michigan<br />
The George & Evelyn on 8th<br />
Jeff & Ann Harten<br />
The Hilldore Group — Baird<br />
Holland Hospital<br />
Inontime<br />
Patrick & Jasmine Irish<br />
Jeffery Roberts Design<br />
M&J Foundation & F45 Holland &<br />
Grand Haven<br />
Paul & Anne Nemsch<strong>of</strong>f<br />
Paolo Nicolai<br />
Nicolai North America<br />
Padnos<br />
Plastic Surgery Associates<br />
Priority Health<br />
Schupan<br />
SIBSCO<br />
Trans-Matic Mfg. Co. Inc.<br />
Visbeen Architects Inc.<br />
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP<br />
West Michigan Woman<br />
Vicky Weller<br />
Woodways International<br />
Jim & Jane Zwiers<br />
VAI Golf Outing<br />
Bluewater Technologies<br />
Consumers Credit Union<br />
Custer Inc.<br />
Dan & Vicki Distin<br />
Erhardt Construction<br />
First National Bank<br />
Gallagher Insurance<br />
Grand Rapids Christian Schools<br />
Ben & Molly Hunting<br />
Life EMS Ambulance<br />
Loomis, Sayles & Company<br />
Macatawa Bank<br />
Making the Turn Against<br />
Parkinson’s<br />
McAlvey Merchant & Associates<br />
Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long &<br />
William Mackay<br />
Midwest Capital<br />
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health<br />
Services<br />
Priority Health<br />
Rockford Construction<br />
John & Therese Rowerdink<br />
Secrest Wardle<br />
Sharpe<br />
Tom & Mary Stuit<br />
Summit Point Ro<strong>of</strong>ing<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Michigan Health-<br />
West<br />
Dave & Beth VanPortfliet<br />
Wells Fargo<br />
West Michigan Woman<br />
Couture for a Cure<br />
Acrisure<br />
Amway<br />
Andy J. Egan Co., Inc.<br />
The Bengtson Center for<br />
Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery<br />
Bluewater Technologies<br />
Chuck & Christine Boelkins<br />
Cheeky Strut<br />
Consumers Credit Union<br />
Mimi Cummings<br />
CWD Real Estate<br />
David & Carol Van Andel Family<br />
Foundation<br />
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh<br />
Discovery Financial/David &<br />
Angela Muilenberg<br />
Eenhoorn<br />
Eileen DeVries Family Foundation<br />
Eurest<br />
First National Bank <strong>of</strong> Michigan<br />
Gallagher Insurance<br />
Patti Griswold<br />
Jana Hall<br />
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate<br />
Dave & Donna Hockstra<br />
J.C. Huizenga<br />
Humphries Development<br />
Jandernoa Foundation<br />
Jeffery Roberts Design<br />
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones<br />
Margaret Klopcic<br />
Kool Auto Group<br />
Lake Michigan Credit Union<br />
Life EMS Ambulance<br />
Max Mara<br />
McAlvey Merchant & Associates<br />
Pediatric Dental Specialists <strong>of</strong><br />
West Michigan<br />
Shawn & Sarah Platt<br />
Priority Health<br />
Brenda Rinks<br />
RoMan Manufacturing<br />
Scott Group Studio<br />
Southport Trucking<br />
The Steve & Amy Van Andel<br />
Foundation<br />
Sharon Van Dellen<br />
Michael & Gayle VanGessel<br />
West Michigan Woman<br />
Meg Willit<br />
<strong>Hope</strong> on the Hill<br />
Al & Robin Koop Foundation<br />
Amway<br />
Aon<br />
Autocam Medical<br />
John & Ginny Baysore<br />
Bill & Amy Bennett<br />
Jeff & Meg Bennett<br />
Betz Industries<br />
Dave & Jill Bielema<br />
Bluewater Technologies<br />
Chuck & Christine Boelkins<br />
28 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Buist Electric<br />
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan<br />
Calvin University School <strong>of</strong> Health<br />
Cancer & Hematology Centers <strong>of</strong><br />
Western Michigan, P.C.<br />
Ryan & Jessica Cook<br />
Tom & Tracy Curran<br />
Custer Inc.<br />
Davenport University<br />
David & Carol Van Andel Family<br />
Foundation<br />
Eenhoorn<br />
Ellis Parking Co.<br />
Fifth Third Private Bank<br />
Gallagher Insurance<br />
Daniel & Magee Gordon<br />
Grand Rapids Christian Schools<br />
Grand Valley State University<br />
Martin & Peggy Greydanus<br />
Jana Hall<br />
Hansen/Balk Steel Treating Co.<br />
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger<br />
<strong>Hope</strong> College<br />
Howard Miller Company<br />
ICN Foundation<br />
Jandernoa Foundation<br />
Matt & Sarah Jones<br />
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones<br />
Craig & Debra Kinney<br />
Josh & Connie Kooistra<br />
Blake & Mary Krueger<br />
John & Katie Kuiper<br />
Lake Michigan Credit Union<br />
Ray & Jeannine Lanning<br />
Gary & Vicky Ludema<br />
Macatawa Bank<br />
Mayflower Designs, Electrical<br />
Contractor & Residential Builder<br />
Meijer<br />
The Meijer Foundation<br />
Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long &<br />
William Mackay<br />
Michigan State University College<br />
<strong>of</strong> Human Medicine<br />
New Holland Brewing Co.<br />
Northern Jet Management<br />
NPF Investment Advisors<br />
Owen Ames Kimball Co.<br />
Pageworks<br />
Peter C. & Emajean Cook<br />
Foundation<br />
Pioneer Construction<br />
Pitsch Companies<br />
Plastic Surgery Associates/Grand<br />
Pearl Spa<br />
Priority Health<br />
Progressive AE<br />
Quality Air Service Inc.<br />
Rev Foundation<br />
Rockford Construction<br />
Eve Rogus & Paul Becker in<br />
memory <strong>of</strong> Clementine (Teenie)<br />
Rogus<br />
Rowerdink Inc.<br />
Tony & Dawn Semple<br />
Sharpe<br />
Spectrum Health<br />
Rob & Susan Stafford<br />
Steelcase Inc.<br />
Stephen Klotz Family Foundation<br />
The Steve & Amy Van Andel<br />
Foundation<br />
Duke Suwyn<br />
Taconic Charitable Foundation<br />
Thomas S. Fox Family<br />
Dr. Steve & Laura Triezenberg<br />
Truscott Rossman Group<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Michigan Health-<br />
West<br />
Mike & Michelle VanDyke<br />
Van Eerden Foodservice<br />
Dr. Bob & Grace VanTimmeren<br />
Christian & Kara VerMeulen<br />
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP<br />
Wells Fargo<br />
West Michigan Woman<br />
Williams Kitchen & Bath<br />
Greg & Meg Willit<br />
Wolverine Worldwide<br />
Jim & Jane Zwiers<br />
A Conversation About Health<br />
and the Environment — Hosted<br />
by Carol Van Andel<br />
Cornerstone<br />
Gallagher Insurance<br />
Howard Miller Company<br />
iHeart Media<br />
Leigh’s<br />
West Michigan Woman<br />
This list includes sponsors <strong>of</strong><br />
signature events through<br />
December 2022.<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 29
PHILANTHROPY<br />
MEMORIALS<br />
We appreciate your trust in us to fight disease in memory or in honor <strong>of</strong> your family and friends — with hope for a healthier tomorrow.<br />
To make a gift in memory or in honor <strong>of</strong> a loved one, please call 616.<strong>23</strong>4.5392.<br />
Peter M. Allen<br />
Tom & Marianne Allen<br />
Joseph Babauta Jr.<br />
Rita Babauta-Love<br />
Elizabeth Barber<br />
Patricia Bonnell<br />
Ralph Barton<br />
Randy Barton<br />
Darrin Batdorff<br />
Grandville Middle School<br />
Philip Battershall<br />
Shirley Battershall<br />
Ernest C. Bevins<br />
David & Julie Bevins<br />
Dale Bordewyk<br />
Shirley Bordewyk<br />
Connie Brummel<br />
Roger Brummel<br />
Mona Jean Canniff Bode<br />
Mary Jean Swaney<br />
Richie Cebelak<br />
Geralyn Winks<br />
Chris Covert<br />
Gina Covert<br />
Lynn Cudney<br />
Chuck & Patricia Bloom<br />
Ronald DeGreen<br />
Carole DuHadway<br />
Larry DeSmith<br />
Brian & Jennifer DeSmith<br />
Robert Dudley<br />
Dave & Sharon Slobodnik<br />
Robert DuHadway<br />
Bill & Linda Peterson<br />
Melissa Eden<br />
Keith & Carolyn Murphy<br />
Floyd Fleetham<br />
Lawrence Waite & Lucy<br />
Hough-Waite<br />
Gordon Girod<br />
Mark H<strong>of</strong>man & Stephanie<br />
De Leeuw<br />
Barbara Grewe<br />
Scott & Beth Dubravac<br />
David Fehringer<br />
Kayley Hendershot<br />
Daniel Joseph<br />
Grace Schatz<br />
Linda Weingartz<br />
Cheryl Yee<br />
Tom Halstead<br />
Gene & Barb Gutting<br />
Susan Hawkins<br />
Dave & Sallie Brinks<br />
Eleanor Hughes<br />
Ron & Luann DeVries<br />
Nancy Inman<br />
Robin Wendland<br />
David Kaliniak<br />
David & Lana Green<br />
David Hardy<br />
Catherine Kaliniak<br />
Rob & Patti Kaliniak<br />
Bill & Renee Yeo<br />
Sharon Karsten<br />
David Karsten<br />
Wilson Karsten<br />
David Karsten<br />
Mark L. Kastner<br />
Anonymous<br />
Nathanael Kastner<br />
Erin Kilburn<br />
Ramon Nayar & Katya<br />
Sidelnik<br />
Sanford C. Leestma<br />
Marjory Leestma<br />
Wilber Lettinga<br />
David & Carol Van Andel<br />
Family Foundation<br />
John “Jack” Maher<br />
Dave & Sallie Brinks<br />
Patrick Maher<br />
Maureen Maher<br />
J. Daniel Marslender<br />
Walter & Kimberlee Catton<br />
Nelson McBride<br />
Mary Susan McBride<br />
Mel Nylaan<br />
Marjory Leestma<br />
Claire Ozinga<br />
Joy DeBoer<br />
Denise Picardat<br />
Brian Picardat<br />
Mark V. Puccio<br />
Julie Puccio<br />
Richard Pullen<br />
Ruth Kemp<br />
Julie Regnier McCoy<br />
Michelle Regnier<br />
William Harry Reynolds<br />
Dave & Sallie Brinks<br />
Clementine “Teenie” Rogus<br />
Paul Becker & Eve Rogus<br />
John & Lucille Ryan<br />
Donald & Patricia Patterson<br />
Carlin Sall<br />
Amy Martinie<br />
James Stacy<br />
Caroline Stacy<br />
Marilon Teter<br />
Maryanna Johnson<br />
Valorie Triemstra<br />
David & Carol Van Andel<br />
Family Foundation<br />
Jay & Betty Van Andel<br />
William & Yvonne Van Ee<br />
Dee Van Heuvelen<br />
Gene Van Heuvelen<br />
Marvin & Lois Van Heuvelen<br />
Bill Van Regenmorter<br />
Bill & Rosemary Stevenson<br />
Dr. George Vande Woude<br />
Dave & Susan Birdsall<br />
Joyce A. Vander Sloot<br />
Jack Vander Sloot<br />
Patricia Vaughan<br />
Phil Babel<br />
Barry Barr<br />
John & Myrna Borling<br />
John & Mary Breuninger<br />
James Bruno<br />
Lynn Clark<br />
Ruben Familia & Andrea Nielsen<br />
Stan & Terri Goodwin-Newberry<br />
Gil & Janice Guarino<br />
Mary Hendrickson<br />
Warren & Sondra Hickmott<br />
30 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Patrick & Diane Howard<br />
Martin & Sandi Huffman<br />
Lyubov Johnson<br />
Pat & Betty Kaufmann<br />
Nick & Linda Kobylk<br />
Gilbert & Bev Larsen<br />
Alan & Jane Lendway<br />
Tom & Virginia Longuillo<br />
Guy Lunsford<br />
Patrick Matsche & Melanie<br />
Nesterenko<br />
Sean McReynolds<br />
John Milbrand<br />
Phil & Julie Milbrand<br />
Jill Nagel<br />
Leland & Susan Newens<br />
Lila O’Keefe<br />
Steven & Teri Olson<br />
Kate Ramos<br />
Cindy Rapp-Zelinski<br />
Alana Robinson<br />
Rick & Kristine Slifer<br />
Richard & Laura Spatz<br />
Larry & Jill Stucchi<br />
Judi Swift<br />
Jim & Shari Tompkins<br />
Gilbert & Jill Vaughan<br />
Barbara Vick<br />
Mr. Ben Watson<br />
Weatherly & Associates<br />
Nina Christine Veneklase<br />
Catherine Amodeo<br />
Eric Westra<br />
Chelsea Westra<br />
David Wiersema<br />
Julie Wiersema<br />
Randal L. Winchester<br />
Chuck & Lois Winchester<br />
James Andrew Wood<br />
Roger & Phyllis Strauss<br />
George Woons<br />
Carole Zoller<br />
Eugene J. Yost<br />
Carole Yost<br />
Daniel Young<br />
Joe & Kelley Young<br />
TRIBUTES<br />
Grant Backer<br />
Davis Backer<br />
Gisela Kah<br />
Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs<br />
George Sharpe Sr.<br />
William & Paula Murphy<br />
Amy Bauer<br />
James & Shirley Fitzgerald<br />
Evan Beukema<br />
Emma Beukema<br />
Dylan Bruinsma<br />
Gordy & Cathy Bruinsma<br />
Patricia Cebelak<br />
James & Mary Helen DeLiefde<br />
Geralyn Winks<br />
David Kammeraad<br />
Chad & Cherrah Casserly<br />
David & Kimberly Lund<br />
Dale & Jacob Lesperance<br />
Ethan Lesperance<br />
Charlotte Montambo<br />
Denise Schott<br />
Chelsea Overbeek<br />
Shirley Overbeek<br />
Dr. Todd Stevens<br />
Kathleen Teunis<br />
Dona Whitehouse<br />
Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs<br />
Geralyn Winks<br />
Patricia Cebelak<br />
Allison DeHorn<br />
Allan & Jo Ann Hooper<br />
Photos By Kaity<br />
Gordy & Cathy Bruinsma<br />
Mary Helen DeLiefde<br />
Patricia Cebelak<br />
Geralyn Winks<br />
Wendy Rebhan<br />
Nicholas Rebhan<br />
These lists represent gifts made between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2022. The accuracy <strong>of</strong> these lists is very important to us. Please contact 616.<strong>23</strong>4.5392 if an error has been made.<br />
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 31
Support VAI’s<br />
research and<br />
education<br />
initiatives with<br />
a gift from your<br />
donor-advised fund<br />
If you have a donor-advised fund, now is the time to<br />
make a positive impact on the future <strong>of</strong> healthcare,<br />
biomedical research and graduate and K–12 education.<br />
A grant from your DAF directly supports our mission<br />
and helps create a brighter future.<br />
Giving to VAI from your donor-advised fund is easy:<br />
• Call your DAF manager and recommend a<br />
gift to Van Andel Institute.<br />
• Your DAF will send a check or wire money<br />
directly to VAI.<br />
<strong>Highlights</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hope</strong> is supported through<br />
Van Andel Institute operational funds,<br />
ensuring 100% <strong>of</strong> donations go<br />
toward the Institute’s research and<br />
educational efforts.<br />
To learn more about supporting VAI through your<br />
donor-advised fund, please contact:<br />
Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy Director<br />
616.<strong>23</strong>5.5515<br />
kate.frillmann@vai.org