Highlights of Hope Spring/Summer 23

HIGHLIGHTS OF
HOPE
SPRING/SUMMER ’23 ISSUE
2 VAI scientists named Highly Cited Researchers 3 Dr. Ruan earns K99 grant
4 VAI honors Parkinson’s disease scientists 5 New ways to measure cellular age
6 Collaborating to fuel discovery 7 Craig Reynolds joins VAI
8 VAI continues role as Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank Biorepository
10 Supporting early career scientists // Clinical trial offers hope for cancer
therapies 12 Study reveals two obesity subtypes 13 Cellular waste may
supercharge immune cells 14 Graduate School student awarded
PhRMA Fellowship // VAI & The Scientist launch podcast mini-series
15 VAI Spotlight: Dr. Triezenberg 16 Building the future of education
18 Purple Community highlights 20 Donor Spotlight: Rusty & Wendy Jo Blakely
22 Events 28 Event sponsors 30 Memorials & Tributes

RESEARCH
Two VAI scientists named to elite
Highly Cited Researchers list
Van Andel Institute scientists Dr. Russell Jones and Dr. Peter W. Laird were named to the 2022 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list,
a distinction marking them as leaders in their respective fields.
This greatly anticipated annual list identifies researchers who have demonstrated significant influence in their chosen area or areas of
study through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Their names are drawn from the publications that
rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science citation index.
Citations, or references, to a scientist’s published work by other researchers are universally considered a measure of influence and impact
in the scientific community. Jones and Laird were also included on the 2021 list.
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming,
Van Andel Institute
Dr. 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. He is an elected member of
the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal
Society of Canada and an Allen Distinguished Investigator in
Immunometabolism.
Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Epigenetics,
Van Andel Institute
Dr. Laird is an expert in epigenetics, a field that explores when
and how the instructions in our genetic code are carried out.
Epigenetic mistakes play major roles in cancer and, as such,
serve as important targets for new treatments. Laird has
developed several cutting-edge technologies, which he leverages
to identify crucial epigenetic alterations that convert otherwise
healthy cells into cancer cells. He is a principal investigator for
the National Cancer Institute’s Genome Data Analysis Network
and served in a leadership role for The Cancer Genome Atlas, a
now-completed multi-institutional effort to molecularly map 33
different types of cancer.
2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Dr. Zheng Ruan earns prestigious
K99 grant, the first in VAI’s history
Earning one’s first federal grant is a major milestone in a
scientist’s career. Not only do these grants provide vital funding,
but they also demonstrate the promise and innovation of
research projects.
Among the most prestigious of these early grants is a K99/R00
from the National Institutes of Health, which provides support
throughout the transition to a scientist’s first independent
research position.
In 2022, Dr. Zheng Ruan, a postdoctoral fellow in the labs of VAI’s
Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü, earned the first K99/R00 award in the
Institute’s 26-year history. Ruan is a structural biologist, a scientist
who uses cutting-edge technology to visualize the tiny molecules
responsible for our health and, when things go wrong, for disease.
Specifically, Ruan investigates how our cells sense and respond to
changes in acid levels in the body. Too much acid can have severe
consequences and contribute to a host of health conditions, such
as stroke.
Ruan hopes to reveal new insights into this important process and
set the stage for new strategies to prevent and treat disorders
caused by acid accumulation.
Read more at vai.org/zheng-ruan-k99.
Ruan is supported in part by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke under
award no. K99NS128258. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not
necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
“The ability to understand how various
molecules in our body work makes me
feel that I’m an explorer and always
headed to the unknown. Being able to
discover something that no one else
knows in the world and expand the
uncharted knowledge of human beings
is a wonderful thing to do. I feel very
fortunate to be able to do what I truly
enjoy and find meaningful.”
— Dr. Zheng Ruan
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 3

RESEARCH
VAI honors game-changing
Parkinson’s disease scientists
Each year, VAI brings together hundreds
of scientists and people with Parkinson’s
as part of our Grand Challenges in
Parkinson’s Disease scientific symposium
and parallel Rallying to the Challenge
meeting, hosted in partnership with Cure
Parkinson’s.
These events offer a unique opportunity to
explore the latest in Parkinson’s research
while connecting the research and advocate
communities under the banner of our
shared goal — finding a cure. They also
provide a venue to recognize individuals
who have made extensive contributions to
the field.
Our 2022 honorees include University
of Toronto’s Dr. Anthony Lang, who was
awarded the Jay Van Andel Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s
Disease Research. Established in 2012 in
memory of VAI Founder Jay Van Andel, this
award is given to scientists who have made
exceptional, wide-ranging contributions to
Parkinson’s research. Lang is among the
most highly cited researchers in the field of
movement disorders. His groundbreaking,
multi-faceted research seeks to understand
how movement disorders such as
Parkinson’s begin, how they spread in
the brain, and how these insights may be
translated into treatments that slow or stop
disease progression.
Cure Parkinson’s and VAI also recognized
Drs. Ray Dorsey of the University of
Rochester and Michael Okun of the
University of Florida with the 2022 Tom
Isaacs Award, which honors the memory
of the late Cure Parkinson’s co-founder.
In addition to their research, Dorsey and
Okun contributed to an inspiring book that
outlines a plan to “prevent, advocate, care
and treat” Parkinson’s.
A third Honorary Award for Outstanding
Contributions was presented to Dr. Patrik
Brundin, a global leader in Parkinson’s
research and former deputy chief scientific
officer of VAI. Now in industry and an
adjunct faculty member at VAI, Dr. Brundin
continues to work toward new therapies
that impede Parkinson’s progression and
improve quality of life.
Save the date! The next Grand Challenges in
Parkinson’s Disease symposium and
Rallying to the Challenge meeting will be
held Sept. 27–28, 2023.
DRS. RAY DORSEY & MICHAEL OKUN ARE
VIRTUALLY AWARDED THE TOM ISAACS AWARD
4 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

New cellular ‘clock’ offers fresh
way to measure age
Can parts of our bodies age faster
than others?
The answer is yes, and VAI scientists
have developed a new way to measure
exactly how.
Their findings, published in Nature
Communications, detail a new method for
pinpointing cellular age that evaluates the
number of times a cell has divided rather
than relying on chronological time. The
more cells replicate, the more likely they will
accumulate errors over time that contribute
to diseases such as cancer.
The research was led by Dr. Jamie Endicott,
a Van Andel Institute Graduate School
student who recently earned her Ph.D. in
the lab of VAI Professor Dr. Peter W. Laird.
Laird and Associate Professor Dr. Hui Shen
were the corresponding authors of the study.
“Cellular aging is a major risk factor for
many chronic diseases, but it can be tough
to measure. Our cellular ‘clock’ gives us
powerful new insights into biological aging,
how it differs between cells within a single
person, and how it may impact a person’s
likelihood of developing disease,” Endicott
said. “We have more work to do, but our
goal is to translate our method into a
test with broad uses, such as evaluating
the effect of chemotherapy on cells and
measuring whether immune cells become
‘exhausted’ and thus less effective when
fighting infection or cancer.”
Scientists have long sought an accurate
and simple way to measure biological age
to better understand its role in health and
disease. Although other methods exist,
Endicott’s is the first of its kind. It works by
measuring the progressive loss of special
chemical tags on DNA called methyl groups,
which regulate when genes are “on” or
“off.” The loss of these marks, which occur
throughout a person’s life and correlate
with cell divisions rather than chronological
age, foreshadow alterations found in cancer
cells. The new method builds on earlier
research by Laird, Shen and collaborators.
Here’s what this process looks like: Think
of a healthy 50-year-old person. Endicott’s
new cellular clock may reveal that person’s
cells are more akin to those in a 45-yearold
than a 50-year-old, meaning they are
aging more slowly than their chronological
age. The reverse is also true: someone who
smokes, for example, may have lung cells
that age faster than their chronological
age, which puts them at a higher risk for
developing diseases such as lung cancer.
“Jamie’s work is an important step
toward a larger goal: utilizing these
‘clocks’ to help patients,” Laird said. “We
will continue to refine and calibrate our
method in the hope that we will one day
be able to apply it to real-life situations,
such as risk assessment and clinical
decision-making.”
Research reported in this publication was supported by
Van Andel Institute and the National Institute on Aging
of the National Institutes of Health under award no.
R01AG066764 (Laird and Shen). The content is solely the
responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of the National Institutes of
Health. Approximately 50% of the funding for this study
came from federal sources; approximately 50% came
from non-federal sources.
DR. JAMIE ENDICOTT
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 5

RESEARCH
Collaboration harnesses data to
fuel discovery
Discoveries are built on data.
But what happens when the amount of data becomes so immense
that even our most powerful computers struggle to handle it?
That’s the challenge a pair of Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley
State University scientists aim to solve — and they’ve earned a
$200,000 Data Insights grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
to do it.
The project, led by VAI Associate Professor Dr. Tim Triche, Jr., and
GVSU Assistant Professor Dr. Zachary DeBruine, addresses a
central problem in modern, data-intensive biomedical research:
how to efficiently store and analyze the massive data output from
today’s technologies in a way that allows both researchers and
citizen-scientists to unlock the insights within.
For example, scientists can now catalog the differences between
individual cells in extreme detail, illuminating variations that may
contribute to cancer, Parkinson’s and many other diseases. But
these answers are buried in vast swathes of data that must be
analyzed and stored — a task that can be tough even for highpowered
computers.
“A central problem in science today is that our ability to generate
data has outpaced our ability to analyze large, complex biological
datasets,” said Triche. “Our goal is to improve access to powerful
tools and allow exploration of the foundations of biology — how
cells determine their fate, state and function; how cells interact
with each other and their environment to produce health and
disease; and how genetic variation between and within people
influences the outcomes. By democratizing these tools, we seek
to open up the field so that not just researchers or clinicians, but
anyone with the desire to do so, can participate.”
The project was born from the research of DeBruine, a former
postdoctoral fellow in Triche’s lab who earned his doctorate from
Van Andel Institute Graduate School. DeBruine is now an assistant
professor at Grand Valley State University’s Applied Computing
Institute, which is housed in the Padnos College of Engineering and
Computing. He also holds an adjunct position at VAI.
As part of his Ph.D. dissertation, DeBruine developed an elegant
solution that repackages data files that are too big to run on a
single computer into a compressed form. The resulting file requires
1/10th the computational space as the original without losing
data or performance, making it much easier and faster to comb
through data. The grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will
allow Triche and DeBruine to refine and scale up this solution.
“We aim to make data analysis more accessible using simple
solutions that don’t require resource-intensive computational
pipelines or deep expertise in computer science,” DeBruine said.
“Our efforts ensure that all researchers can analyze single-cell
data. What that ultimately means is more people can work with
information in ways that could shed new light on the diseases that
impact so many.”
6 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Craig Reynolds joins VAI as
Vice President for Research
Protections
Van Andel Institute welcomed
Craig Reynolds as Vice President
for Research Protections in
October 2022. The purpose of
this new position is twofold: first,
to facilitate the efforts of VAI
faculty as they strive to achieve
their research objectives,
and second, to maintain VAI’s
strong culture of compliance
in which every aspect of the
research enterprise conforms
to the highest levels of ethics
and integrity and follows all the
relevant rules
and regulations.
He joined VAI from the
University of Michigan, where
he most recently served as
Assistant Vice President for
Research-Sponsored Projects.
Reynolds has extensive
experience in research and
grants administration, having
also held positions at the
University of Pennsylvania,
Central Michigan University,
and the National Science
Foundation.
At the Institute, Reynolds aims
to be a resource for faculty. He
hopes to improve policies in a
way that accelerates research
while protecting the integrity
of the science, creating a
collaborative relationship that
propels VAI forward. This is
one of his key focus areas, as
research, especially federally
funded research, is heavily
regulated.
I see our collective work
as a partnership, because
we all share the same
goals: seeing our faculty
succeed, growing the
reputation of the Institute,
and improving health and
enhancing lives.”
— Craig Reynolds
“Having a robust in-house team
that is focused on these rules
and how we are following them
helps to ensure we are good
stewards of the funding VAI
receives,” Reynolds said. “Most
importantly, I hope this focus
will enable our faculty to spend
more time on research.”
For Reynolds, compliance is
a journey, not a destination.
Federal regulations evolve, and
the Institute must evolve with
them. As the rules that govern
research change, Reynolds will
work with faculty to decode the
information.
“At a core level, I’m a translator,”
he said, working to turn
complicated guidelines into
straightforward plans of action.
“I want to make sure our
scientists have enough time
to focus on their research,”
Reynolds said. “I see our
collective work as a partnership,
because we all share the
same goals: seeing our faculty
succeed, growing the reputation
of the Institute, and improving
health and enhancing lives.”
Reynolds’ hire comes during an
exceptional period of growth for
VAI. Since 2014, the Institute has
recruited more than two dozen
principal investigators who have
established labs at VAI and
expanded its research program
into new areas, including
metabolism and nutrition.
“We are thrilled to welcome
Craig to the Institute and look
forward to his contributions
to our research enterprise
and our exceptional research
compliance team,” said VAI
Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter
A. Jones. “His expertise will be
invaluable as we continue to
grow and evolve.”
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 7

RESEARCH
VAI awarded $7.9 million
to continue role as Cancer
Moonshot SM Biobank Biorepository
Van Andel Institute’s Biorepository was awarded a $7.9 million, five-year contract from
the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, to continue
serving as the biorepository for the Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank study. The Institute has
served as the Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank Biorepository since 2020, when it was awarded a
two-year subcontract to develop the framework and protocols for this part of the initiative.
In its role, VAI assembles and distributes kits to hospitals and medical centers around the U.S.
for the collection of tumor tissue, blood and other biospecimens. These samples are then
shipped to VAI for processing and either stored for later study or sent to other organizations
for analysis.
In all, the Biobank study is expected to collect biospecimens from more than 1,000
participants. These vital samples will help illuminate new insights into cancers of the blood,
lungs, skin, prostate and gastrointestinal tract.
“Biospecimens are foundational for discovery. They allow us to study cancers in deep detail
and are crucial for the development of new prevention, diagnostic and treatment strategies,”
said Dr. Scott Jewell, director of VAI’s Pathology and Biorepository Core. “We are honored
to be a part of the Cancer Moonshot Biobank study and look forward to contributing to a
greater understanding of cancer.”
The Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank aims to accelerate cancer research through the collection
of longitudinal blood and tissue biospecimens from cancer patients representing U.S.
population diversity. The biospecimens, generally small biopsies, and accompanying medical
data will be made available for cancer research. Evidence-based, well-documented, and
consistent procedures will be used to collect specimens of known quality.
VAI’s Biorepository also provides services for many large-scale national and international
projects that fuel research into diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s at VAI and beyond.
The project is wholly funded with federal funds from
the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes
of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
under Contract No. 75N91022D0008. The content of this
publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies
of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor
does mention of trade names, commercial products or
organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.
What are biospecimens?
Biospecimens are biological samples that are donated for research. They include healthy or diseased tissues,
blood, saliva, spinal fluid and other materials. Biospecimens allow scientists to investigate how our bodies
work when they’re healthy, how they change when affected by disease, and how we can better predict, prevent,
diagnose and treat conditions such as cancer and Parkinson’s.
What is a biorepository?
Biorepositories are storehouses for biological samples. These specialized facilities, and the dedicated
scientists who staff them, are responsible for processing, cataloging and storing samples with the utmost
care and consistency.
8 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 9

RESEARCH
How VAI supports early
career scientists
The life-changing discoveries of tomorrow
will be made by the scientific trainees
of today. At Van Andel Institute, we are
committed to supporting our outstanding
roster of postdoctoral fellows as they
pursue biomedical science breakthroughs
and prepare for the next stages of their
professional careers.
Postdoctoral fellowships are a key part of
an early career scientist’s journey. Much
like medical residencies, the postdoctoral
period is a time for junior scientists who
have just earned their Ph.D. to gain
additional experience at the lab bench,
further build their grant-writing and
manuscript preparation skills, and develop
new perspectives in the business of
scientific research and leadership.
But postdocs also face unique challenges,
many of which have been exacerbated in
recent years. These obstacles — which
include relatively low pay, loss of stable work
and lack of institutional support, among
other factors — can stand in the way of
promising young scientists and their careers.
We believe we have a responsibility to
address these barriers and empower
the bright young scientists who will make
breakthrough discoveries now and in
the future. That’s why VAI offers a host of
training opportunities bolstered by pay and
benefits that have long been among the
best in the U.S. for postdocs — a fact that
augments our exceptional science to attract
the best of the best to our labs.
We have always believed that postdoctoral
training should be a rewarding experience
— both scientifically and professionally.
Our generous donor community plays an
important role in fostering VAI’s excellent
research environment, a factor that makes
the Institute a destination for early career
scientists. Together, we can ensure that
the brilliant trainees of today become the
scientific leaders of tomorrow.
Learn more about how you can support VAI’s
Postdoctoral Program by reaching out to
Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy Director, at
616.234.5515 or kate.frillmann@vai.org.
Clinical
trial offers
hope for
new cancer
therapies
Cancer is cunning. It can hide from the
body’s natural immune defenses. It can
turn the biological processes meant to
keep us healthy to its advantage. And it can
resist treatment thanks to the many factors
that drive its development and progression.
But now, results from an early, phase
1/2 clinical trial supported by the
Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer
Epigenetics Dream Team has found that
a pair of cancer medications, which act as
a one-two punch against malignant cells,
demonstrated increased survival in patients
with relapsed/refractory myelodysplastic
syndrome (MDS) by an average of 10
months compared to historical controls.
In December,
VAI increased
postdoctoral starting
salaries to $70,000
a year, which places
us among the bestpaying
research
organizations for
postdocs in the U.S.
10 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

In addition to improving overall average
survival from five to 15 months, the
findings suggest the effectiveness of
combining medications that target both the
immunological and epigenetic drivers of
cancers.
The trial was led by Dr. Casey O’Connell
of the University of Southern California, in
collaboration with Dr. Maria Baer of the
University of Maryland, and Dr. Kirsten
Grønbaek of the University of Copenhagen
and Rigshospitalet — all members of the
VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team.
“We are thrilled that administering a
medicine to reawaken the immune system
may benefit a subgroup of patients with
MDS, as this class of drugs is not currently
approved for these patients,” O’Connell
said. “We are now exploring blood-based
markers that identify which patients are
most likely to respond in order to design a
more personalized treatment approach in a
subsequent trial.”
MDS is a type of cancer that occurs when
the bone marrow can no longer make
healthy blood cells. These sick cells either
die early or are identified as a threat by
the immune system and killed, leaving the
body without enough healthy blood cells to
properly function. About a third of people
with MDS can progress to a more severe
and tough-to-treat type of blood cancer
called acute myeloid leukemia.
Approximately half of people with
MDS respond when treated with a
type of epigenetic medication called a
hypomethylating agent, which works by
correcting errors in how the instructions in
DNA are used. Unfortunately, responses to
these agents are not long-lasting. There are
limited treatment options for people whose
MDS returns after their initial course of
treatment.
To address this, the investigators paired
a novel hypomethylating agent with a
type of immunotherapy called a PD-L1
inhibitor that helps the body identify and
attack cancer cells. Survival among treated
patients appears to be longer than what has
been previously reported for this patient
population; this study lays some groundwork
for future studies that pair epigenetic and
immunotherapies to treat cancer.
“As this trial indicates, combining cancer
therapies has the potential to improve
survival and make a real difference for
people with cancer by allowing us to target
multiple vulnerabilities in cancer at once.
These findings represent an important
proof-of-concept that should inform future
research toward the next generation of
cancer treatment,” said VAI Chief Scientific
Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones, who co-leads the
VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team with
Dr. Stephen B. Baylin of Johns Hopkins
University and VAI.
The trial is one of 14 launched by the VAI–
SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team since its
inception in 2014.
Read more at vai.org/mds-clinical-trial-results.
Research funding for this work was provided by Van Andel
Institute through the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer
Epigenetics Dream Team. Stand Up To Cancer is a division of
the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The clinicialtrials.gov
identifier for this trial is: NCT02935361.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 11

RESEARCH
Study reveals two major obesity
subtypes linked to random chance
How does random chance — the same kind that governs a roll of
the dice — impact our health?
Quite a lot, it turns out.
A team led by VAI scientist Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik has identified
two distinct types of obesity with physiological and molecular
differences that may have lifelong consequences for health, disease
and response to medication. Importantly, it appears that random
chance plays a role in an individual’s predisposition to one type of
obesity versus the other.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, offer a
more nuanced understanding of obesity than current definitions
and reveal new insights into the link between insulin and obesity.
“Nearly two billion people worldwide are considered overweight
and there are more than 600 million people with obesity, yet we
have no framework for stratifying individuals according to their
more precise disease etiologies,” Pospisilik said. “Using a purely
data-driven approach, we see for the first time that there are at
least two different metabolic subtypes of obesity, each with their
own physiological and molecular features that influence health.
Translating these findings into a clinically usable test could help
doctors provide more precise care for patients.”
Currently, obesity is diagnosed using body mass index (BMI), an
index correlated to body fat that is generated by comparing weight
in relation to height. It is an imperfect measure, Pospisilik says,
because it doesn’t account for underlying biological differences and
can misrepresent an individual’s health status.
The findings also reveal the role chance plays in predisposing
a person to one of the two obesity subtypes. Only 30%–50% of
human trait outcomes can be linked to genetics or environmental
influences. That means as much as half of who we are is governed
by something else. This phenomenon is called unexplained
phenotypic variation (UPV), and it offers both a challenge and
untapped potential to scientists like Pospisilik and his collaborators.
The study indicates that the roots of UPV likely lie in epigenetics,
the processes that govern when and to what extent the
instructions in DNA are used. Epigenetic mechanisms are the
reason that individuals with the same genetic instruction manual,
such as twins, may grow to have different traits, such as eye
color and hair color. Epigenetics also offer tantalizing targets for
precision treatment.
“This unexplained variation is difficult to study, but the payoff of
a deeper understanding is immense,” Pospisilik said. “Epigenetics
can act like a light switch that flips genes ‘on’ or ‘off,’ which can
promote health or, when things go wrong, disease. Accounting
for UPV doesn’t exist in precision medicine right now, but it looks
like it could be half the puzzle. Our findings underscore the power
of recognizing these subtle differences between people to guide
more precise ways to treat disease.”
Read more at vai.org/obesity-subtypes.
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute; Max Planck
Gesellschaft; the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under
Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 675610; the Novo Nordisk Foundation and
the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes; the Danish Council for Independent
Research; the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health
under award no. R21HG011964 (Pospisilik); and the NIH Common Fund, through the Office
of the NIH Director (OD), and the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National
Institutes of Health under award no. R01HG012444 (Pospisilik and Nadeau). 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. Approximately 5% ($50,000)
of funding for this study is from federal sources; approximately 95% ($950,000) is from non-
U.S. governmental sources.
DR. J. ANDREW POSPISILIK
12 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Cellular waste may supercharge
immune cells
The immune cells that protect us from infection and cancer seek
out a wide array of fuel sources to power their function — including
some long thought to be cellular waste products. That’s the
surprising takeaway from recent findings published in the journal
Cell Metabolism by VAI’s Dr. Russell Jones and collaborators.
Their discovery lays the foundation for future personalized
dietary recommendations designed to supercharge the
immune system and augment therapies for cancer and
other diseases.
“Every process in the body is powered by metabolism, which
in turn is fueled by the nutrients we consume through our
diet,” said Jones, chair of VAI’s Department of Metabolism and
Nutritional Programming and senior author of the study. “We
found that immune cells are much more flexible in selecting
the nutrient fuels they consume and, importantly, that they
prefer some nutrients that were previously dismissed as
waste. This understanding is crucial for optimizing T cell
responses and developing new strategies for boosting our
ability to fight off disease.”
T cells are the soldiers of the immune system and are tasked
with combating bacteria, viruses and even cancer cells. They
absorb nutrients from the foods we eat to generate the energy
required to carry out their jobs.
The findings stem from a novel approach that could reshape
how metabolism is studied. Historically, T cells are grown in
the lab in dishes of nutrient-containing media — a gel-like
substance chock full of certain cellular “foods.” However, this
doesn’t fully reflect the rich array of nutrients found in the
human body. To solve the problem, Jones and his colleagues
developed media packed with a more diverse range of
nutrients.
Lactate is also an important byproduct of cancer cells and
facilitates cancer’s ability to invade other tissues and evade
attack by the immune system. Some research suggests that
too much lactate may be bad for T cells. The work from Jones’
group indicates that, at lower levels, lactate may actually
enhance T cell function.
The findings also suggest that T cell function and survival
are strongly influenced by the nutrients available in their
environment. Going forward, Jones and his colleagues aim
to delve deeper into the intricate relationships between
metabolism and the immune system in search of new insights
to further illuminate how these crucial systems collaborate.
Read more at vai.org/supercharge-tcells.
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute (Jones)
and an Allen Distinguished Investigator Award, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group
advised grant of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Jones).
Jones is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the
National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AI165722. Support for authors on
this project include a postdoctoral fellowship award from Fonds de la Recherche du
Québec–Santé (FRQS) (Dahabieh); a VAI Metabolism and Nutrition (MeNu) Program
Pathway-to-Independence Award (Longo); National Cancer Institute award no.
T32CA251066-01A1) (Watson) and award no. R35CA2202901 (DeBerardinis); and the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Program (DeBerardinis).
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of granting organizations.
“Previously, we were giving immune cells a very basic
diet — the equivalent of just eggs and toast,” Jones said.
“We found that, when we offer them a full buffet, these
cells actually prefer a wider array of ‘fuels’ than previously
believed. This has major implications for how we tailor dietary
recommendations as ways to promote health and combat
disease.”
One example is lactate, a cellular waste product responsible
for muscle aches after a long workout. When presented with
glucose, a common sugar found in the body and in lab media,
and lactate, the T cells preferentially used the lactate to power
energy production — a decision that enhanced their function.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 13

RESEARCH
Van Andel Institute Graduate School student
awarded PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral
Fellowship to pursue new osteoarthritis therapies
The PhRMA Foundation has selected
Van Andel Institute Graduate School
student Vladimir Molchanov to receive
a prestigious predoctoral fellowship
to pursue improved treatments for
osteoarthritis, the most common type
of arthritis.
More than 32 million adults in the U.S. — and
more than 527 million worldwide — have
osteoarthritis. This painful, progressive
disorder occurs when the cartilage within
joints wears down, resulting in swelling,
stiffness, pain and loss of mobility. Although
treatments exist, they offer only temporary
relief from symptoms rather than fixing the
disorder’s root cause.
“Osteoarthritis is highly prevalent, especially
among older adults, yet we still lack a way
to repair the damage it causes,” Molchanov
said. “I am thrilled to receive the PhRMA
Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in
Drug Delivery, which will support my work
in developing targeted cell therapies for
degenerative diseases and will set the stage
for future research.”
The $50,000 fellowship will support Molchanov
as he seeks to solve a pair of major problems
in osteoarthritis treatment: how to deliver
therapies to the site of joint damage and how
to stimulate new cartilage growth.
To do this, he has proposed an approach
called SEEK and HEAL that would use
specially designed stem cells generated from
adult cells to “seek” out damaged cartilage
and help “heal” it by regrowing lost tissue.
“This work has the potential to revolutionize
our approach to joint degeneration
and inspire new treatments for other
degenerative disorders,” said Dr. Tao Yang,
interim chair of VAI’s Department of Cell
Biology and Molchanov’s thesis adviser. “The
PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
awarded to Vladimir will help us tackle a
persistent public health problem while also
supporting and fostering the career of an
exceptional young scientist.”
Molchanov’s fellowship is one of four
Predoctoral Fellowships in Drug Delivery
awarded by the PhRMA Foundation for 2023
and is the first such award granted to a VAI
graduate student.
Van Andel Institute and The Scientist launch podcast mini-series
How do our environment and diet
set the stage for future health?
That’s one of the big questions
Van Andel Institute and The Scientist
tackle in a podcast mini-series titled
Exposed: Environmental Echoes in
Health, part of The Scientist’s Lab
Talk podcast series.
All episodes are now available on all
major podcast platforms.
The podcast accompanies a Q&A
with VAI Professor Dr. J. Andrew
Pospisilik, who explores how our
environment impacts our health
as well as the health of future
generations. Read it at
vai.org/mini-podcast-series.
Epigeneticist Turned
Microbe Hunter
Microbes surround us, and
they can have surprising
effects beyond infection. In
this episode, VAI Assistant
Professor Dr. Nick Burton
discusses his work discovering
new environmental bacteria in
backyards and how exposure
to bad or good bugs can affect
an organism’s offspring.
Are We What Our Parents Eat?
Substances that enter the body,
such as food or chemicals, can
make epigenetic changes in the
germline that become inherited,
affecting the health of future
generations. In this episode, VAI
Assistant Professor Dr. Heidi
Lempradl discusses her work
studying the effects of parental
diet on their offspring.
How Toxins Leave Their
Cancerous Marks
Through epigenetic mechanisms,
some environmental toxicants,
such as heavy metals, alter gene
expression patterns that then
drive cancer progression. In this
episode, VAI Professor
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf
discusses her work studying
environmental toxicants and
their effects on DNA methylation
and chromatin structure.
14 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg: A storied
career training scientific leaders
Sometimes, serendipity and careful planning
combine to chart a meaningful course for
the future. Both led Dr. Steve Triezenberg
to Van Andel Institute Graduate School
in 2006, where he is set to retire in
summer 2023 after 17 impactful years
as inaugural dean.
Back in the mid-2000s, Triezenberg
was a faculty member in Michigan State
University’s Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology. One day, a familiar face
came to call: Dr. Gordon Van Harn, who had
been on the faculty at Calvin University while
Triezenberg was an undergrad.
At the time of the visit, Van Harn was
director of Van Andel Institute for Education.
He visited Triezenberg as part of a multiuniversity
tour to get feedback from
scientists in established Ph.D. programs
about what it would take to build a graduate
school from the ground up.
Triezenberg recalls that initial meeting with
a smile, the kind you can’t help but make
when you know you’re getting to the good
part of the story.
“We talked about MSU’s program, what
worked and what didn’t, and I said it’ll be
fun to watch what they come up with,”
Triezenberg said. “A little while later came
the opportunity to throw my hat into the
ring of potential candidates to lead the
Graduate School.”
The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Taking the plunge
After many years in the traditional university
structure, Triezenberg was drawn to the
fledgling VAI Graduate School because
of the chance to build something new.
He started as dean in 2006, and though
the financial support and operational
infrastructure were in place, he had his work
cut out for him: “We started pulling all the
pieces together,” he recalled.
He worked with VAI leadership and faculty
to build out a rigorous, research-focused
curriculum. High on the list of priorities —
and challenges — was recruiting students
to a brand-new program with no name
recognition.
“We had open houses to invite students
from regional colleges to see what we
were doing and explain our program,”
Triezenberg said. “And, well, nobody came.”
A concerted word-of-mouth campaign
commenced, and the Graduate School
welcomed its first cohort of three students
in August 2007. The 2008 and 2009
cohorts also numbered three students
each, and the program started gaining
steam in the 2010s. Cohort sizes steadily
increased year over year. In 2021, the
Graduate School welcomed its largest and
most diverse cohort yet — 14 students
from eight countries.
“Early on, a strong cadre of faculty
members were very much committed
to the Graduate School and doing it in
innovative and creative ways,” he said.
“They helped develop and improve our
problem-based curriculum, so I give them
a lot of credit for the work they put in to
make this succeed from the start.”
A full-time passion
Triezenberg’s imprint at VAI isn’t limited
to the Graduate School — it can be found
all over the Institute. In 2009, Triezenberg
succeeded Van Harn as director of
Van Andel Institute for Education’s K–12
programs. He continued in this role until
2015, when he decided to focus more
on the ongoing growth at the Graduate
School.
For much of his time at VAI, Triezenberg
also led a research laboratory. The
Triezenberg Lab’s research into herpes
simplex virus opened up new possibilities
for antiviral drug development and
revealed new insights into how human cells
control gene expression.
As the Graduate School continued to grow,
Triezenberg saw that he had less time
to devote to research. After nearly four
decades of active research at Michigan
State and VAI, he made the difficult decision
to close his lab in 2018. It was a bittersweet
decision, tempered by the excitement of
turning all his attention and energy to the
graduate program.
Looking ahead
A national search is underway to find
Triezenberg’s successor. He is eager to
support the next grad school leader and
feels a sense of pride knowing that the
new dean will be walking into a strong
program that is set up for future success
and renown.
“I’m feeling very fulfilled in purpose,”
he said. “My successor will come into
an environment here where they are
surrounded by good people who know
their work and are well-integrated into the
Institute, and they can carry things forward
with the vision and dreams they bring.”
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 15

EDUCATION
Building the future of education
A summer of renewal for students and educators
With the dawn of a new school year, Van Andel Institute for
Education saw strong interest in events and programs for teachers
and administrators. The momentum began building over the
summer when we hosted Science on the Grand: A STEAM Conference
for Inquiry-based Educators.
More than 120 teachers and administrators visited the Institute for
the two-day conference, where they explored the latest researchbased,
classroom-tested content to support STEAM instruction.
Educators were able to network and hear from experts about
cutting-edge instructional methods. The conference featured
keynote speaker Erin Gruwell, an educator and catalyst for
social change and New York Times bestselling author of “The
Freedom Writers Diary.” Science on the Grand will return to VAI
on July 10–11, 2023.
Demand for VAI Summer Camps was at an all-time high: we
welcomed 305 students for camps, nearly doubling the total from
2021. Campers enjoyed hands-on investigations in areas including
science, engineering and robotics. Due to popular demand for
summer schools in 2022, the Institute will more than double our
camps for 2023 and offer a new, one-day camp format.
The Institute’s K–8 Project-based Summer School professional
development program provides summer school teachers with
customized instruction and projects that meet their grade level,
scheduling and content needs.
Meaningful professional development and networking
The educational landscape is ever shifting, and VAI is here to help
educators meet new challenges and elevate their instructional
practices. Flex PD is a comprehensive and affordable professional
development program designed to meet the needs of all teachers.
This year, VAI offered Flex PD solutions to more than 25 schools
and provided professional development services to more than
2,300 educators.
VAI’s New Teacher Network allows teachers to receive the targeted
support they need as they get started in this rewarding and
challenging profession. By learning great content, sharing their
experiences and receiving validation from their network, teachers
grow as people and professionals as they embark on their
learning journeys.
Innovative instructional support
VAI offers Blue Apple projects based on an internationally
recognized gold standard, delivering lesson plans, online resources,
cross-curricular mini-lessons and a host of other tools that make it
easier for teachers to get started right away. During the 2021–22
school year, VAI shipped 324 Blue Apple projects to teachers — an
increase of 16% over the previous year.
Several new Timely Topic lessons were launched, including “Valuing
our Veterans” and “Hispanic Heritage Month.” The full suite of
Timely Topics saw more than 5,000 downloads in more than
40 countries, with many educators even reaching out to express
their gratitude for the free lessons.
Inquiry in Action offers a variety of inquiry-based lessons that
are sure to engage students and get them thinking deeply about
science. These 15- to 30-minute experiences allow teachers to
introduce a variety of relevant concepts without adding prep and
planning to their busy schedule.
Our NexGen Inquiry Quests come with story-driven videos that
guide students through a process of scientific inquiry and hands-on
experimentation. Students exercise critical and creative thinking
through scientific journaling, collaborate with peers and apply what
they learn to make the world a better place.
Hands-on STEM lessons, wherever you are
Our expert educators hit the road with Curiosity on Wheels,
a program that takes inquiry-based science to new heights as
participants think and act like scientists by conducting hands-on
STEM investigations. Whether it be addressing science standards,
enhancing thematic units or just having fun, VAI customizes each
Curiosity on Wheels trip to meet the individual needs of educators.
Coming out of the pandemic, teachers have been particularly
interested in exploring VAI’s Field Trips. These are available at the
Institute and on-location at schools; students conduct unique,
grade-specific investigations that emphasize hands-on discovery.
The Institute hosted more than 2,500 students for Field Trips, an
increase of 50% over the previous year.
For more information about VAI’s latest resources, please visit
vai.org/k-12-education.
16 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 17

PURPLE COMMUNITY
10 years of golf, family and research
God, family and golf — three of the guiding principles David
Wiersema followed during his life. He spent five decades bringing
a positive and fun attitude to various projects, spending as much
time with his family as possible. After a brain cancer diagnosis,
David passed away in 2010, but his family has kept his spirit alive
for more than a decade.
David’s wife, Julie, and daughter, Lydia, help organize the
David Wiersema Memorial Golf Outing, a VAI Purple Community
event that recently celebrated its 11th anniversary. “After Dad
passed away, we knew we had to do something in memory of this
amazing man,” they said.
Golf was the perfect opportunity: It was an activity that reflected
David’s life, it’s best with family and friends and it could be a
powerful fundraising tool.
at a senior level. Thanks to the generosity of family, friends and
attendees, that project became self-sufficient and continues to
offer scholarships. That’s when the Wiersema family decided to find
another way to impact the community.
“We realized we also wanted to support cancer research, but we
wanted to do it in a local way that made a difference,” Julie said.
“VAI was the perfect choice, existing in our backyard and giving us
the tools we need to support the cause.”
Besides the usual challenges of organizing a golf event, their family
is consistently surprised by the memorial’s popularity. It started as
an open event, they said, but increased interest from family, friends
and local businesses meant a lengthy registration list. Thanks to
support from family and volunteers, the event has adapted to meet
the demand.
As David was part of the family business owning golf courses,
including Winding Creek Golf Club, the event originally gathered
donations for the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation,
building scholarships for high school graduates who played golf
Beyond the fun of hosting a successful event, Lydia said the family
remains focused on the mission of VAI and supporting research.
18 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

“VAI makes the city a medical hub, bringing the best scientists in the
world, and Purple Community helps make that happen,”
Lydia said.
The family aims to keep the David Wiersema Memorial Golf Outing
event strong for another decade, honoring David’s legacy as a man,
friend, husband and father. At the end of the day, they said, it helps
their family make a difference.
“The support for research helps honor David’s memory while also
giving our friends and family the chance to be part of that impact,”
Julie said. “It’s good to know that there is hope, and that research is
helping others to not have to go through what we experienced.”
Mona Shores
Soccer supports
Purple Community
Mona Shores High School showed its support for Van Andel
Institute Purple Community through a second Purple Soccer
Game. The boys soccer team sold purple merchandise at the game
while brandishing custom purple jerseys featuring the names of
loved ones. Since their inception, the Mona Shores Purple Soccer
Games have raised more than $6,300 for cancer and Parkinson’s
research and educational initiatives at VAI.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 19

PHILANTHROPY
Building a legacy through love
and research
“If I can save one life, then all this suffering is worth it,” Wendy
Jo Blakely said when she decided to donate her body to science.
Her husband, Rusty, was not surprised by the decision. They had
been married for 34 years, and every day Wendy demonstrated
courage and strength.
She did so for three decades as a nurse, supporting patients
through challenging times. Her determined spirit was obvious
when she trained for marathons, pushing her body to the limit.
Most of all, she demonstrated her strength following a devastating
diagnosis in 2018: five lesions in her pancreas, and some in
her liver.
It was stage four pancreatic cancer.
Although Wendy started chemotherapy right away, it never felt
right to her.
“She was ready to move past cancer, but the chemo was just too
much,” Rusty said.
The couple sought second opinions and alternative treatments, but
Wendy wanted to live her life her way: If she only had a few months
left, those days would be filled with sailboat rides with their
children, Owen and Olivia, and bike rides alongside her life partner.
Wendy and Rusty spent three
months enjoying every minute
they had together. They
danced in the kitchen after
work, rode their bikes and
visited family. Wendy wanted
to enjoy her time, and she
truly did.
“Unknowingly, Wendy and I had
our last bike ride together on
Cinco de Mayo 2018, just
18 short days before we lost
her,” Rusty said. “Even then,
Wendy Jo still had such a joy
for life, and her gentle laughter
filled the air. Her warm smile
and loving heart are still clear
and will always be a part of all
of us forever.”
“Wendy never complained. She
made the best of every day
and every minute she had left,”
Rusty said. “She was always
smiling, always laughing, and
those are the images we have
of her in our minds.”
Wendy passed away in May
2018, shortly before a planned
trip to France. In the midst of
loss, Rusty knew he wanted to
grow Wendy’s legacy. She had
elected to give her body to
science, but he wanted to do
more. The result was the Wendy
Jo Blakely “Je t’aime” Pancreatic
Cancer Fund, aptly named with
the words “I love you” in French.
The fund resides at Van Andel
Institute.
“Our love got cut short, but
some people live their whole
lives without experiencing what
we did,” Rusty said. “This is a
way to stay positive, to keep
her memory strong, and to
hopefully help someone in
the future.”
The Wendy Jo Blakely “Je t’aime”
Pancreatic Cancer Fund is
a permanent fund in the
Department of Cell Biology
at the Institute. It will support
groundbreaking pancreatic
cancer research for years to
come. If you are interested in
supporting the Wendy Jo Blakely
“Je t’aime” Pancreatic Cancer
Fund or establishing a similar
gift in memory of a loved one,
please contact Kate Frillmann
at 616.234.5515 or
kate.frillmann@vai.org.
THE BLAKELY FAMILY
20 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

The Wendy
Jo Blakely
“Je t’aime”
Pancreatic
Cancer Fund is
a permanent
fund in the
Department of
Cell Biology at
the Institute.
It will support
groundbreaking
pancreatic
cancer research
for years to
come.
Support a brighter future with a planned gift
A 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.
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.
We welcome a conversation about estate giving that makes
the most sense for you while also supporting the mission
of VAI.
For additional information about estate giving, visit
vai.giftlegacy.com or contact Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy
Director, at 616.234.5515 or kate.frillmann@vai.org.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 21

EVENTS
VAI Golf Outing
Golfers met in West Olive for the 15th annual VAI Golf Outing.
Hosted at the stunning Wuskowhan Players Club, the event
brought together community members, businesses and local
organizations for an afternoon filled with golf, fun and research
updates. The event featured a silent auction, a drone drop raffle,
lunch and dinner — along with remarks from Hope College
Football Coach Peter Stuursma.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, The Timothy Long and William
Mackay group of Merrill Lynch.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) HOPE COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH PETER STUURSMA;
DINA MCKNIGHT-DARGIS, BETH VANPORTFLIET, CAROL VAN ANDEL & MARCY ROTH; PLAYERS WARM UP AT THE DRIVING RANGE; KURT
HASSBERGER, DAVID VAN ANDEL & JACK DOLES
22 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Couture for a Cure
Michigan’s premiere fashion event gathered scientists, supporters and
community members for an evening of fashion, fun and philanthropy.
The 17th annual spectacular was one to remember, featuring a one-ofa-kind
fashion show by Leigh’s along with a special presentation from
world-renowned Italian brand Max Mara. Rarely seen outside their famous
Milan shows, Max Mara treated guests to a unique look into their Fall/
Winter 2022 Collection. In addition to stunning glamour from Max Mara
and Leigh’s, the runway showcased new looks from Artistry, many of which
were available for guests at the beauty bar, where they could receive
makeup touchups throughout the evening. A strolling cocktail hour and
silent auction allowed attendees to mingle, while those looking to upgrade
their wardrobes visited a unique Max Mara pop-up shopping experience.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Amway, and our Presenting Sponsors,
Leigh’s and Max Mara.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; LEIGH’S MODELS SHOW OFF THE LATEST LOOKS; MAX MARA SHOPPING
EXPERIENCE; REBECCA WIERDA, CAROL VAN ANDEL & KELLI TEMPLETON; DJ AB ENTERTAINS DANCING GUESTS
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 23

EVENTS
Hope on the Hill and The
Chocolate Factory
The 22nd Hope on the Hill was a sweet celebration of the heroes
looking for the golden ticket against cancer, Parkinson’s and
other diseases. The whimsical evening featured delectable
cuisine and curious concoctions, including Gobstopper Gimlets
and Chocolate River Cocktails. Guests, many dressed in their own
fantastical outfits, were treated to world-class entertainment by
improv artist and magician Michael Carbonaro, star and executive
producer of the truTV series “The Carbonaro Effect.”
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Fifth Third Private Bank.
24 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

(STARTING AT TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) WHIMSICAL DECORATIONS;
AUCTIONEER KICKS OFF PADDLE RAISE; HOPE ON THE HILL ENTRANCE;
JIM ZWIERS, CAROL VAN ANDEL, JANE ZWIERS & DAVID VAN ANDEL;
MICHAEL CARBONARO; DAVID VAN ANDEL; MARANDA EMCEES THE EVENT;
JOHN NOWINSKI & DR. SARA NOWINSKI RECEIVE THEIR GOLDEN TICKET
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 25

EVENTS
A Conversation About Health and
the Environment — Hosted by
Carol Van Andel
The environment in which we live, work and play impacts our
health — and the health of future generations — in countless
ways. A Conversation About Health and the Environment —
Hosted by Carol Van Andel highlighted groundbreaking research
into these intricate connections and how they may be leveraged
for a healthier tomorrow. Attendees heard from VAI scientists
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, who studies the link between
cancer and toxicants, and Dr. Heidi Lempradl, who investigates
how the effects of certain chemical exposures could ripple
through generations.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Howard Miller Company.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; DR. YVONNE FONDUFE-MITTENDORF; ATTENDEE ASKS A QUESTION;
MARANDA LEADS THE Q&A SESSION; DR. HEIDI LEMPRADL
26 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Winterfest Celebration
Grand Rapids’ winter extravaganza returned for the 18th
year, combining food, cocktails and generosity to support
Parkinson’s disease research. Held at Cascade Hills Country
Club, the evening featured spectacular auction packages
and outstanding conversation. Guests heard about the
latest advancements in Parkinson’s disease research from
Dr. Darren Moore, Chair and Professor in the Department of
Neurodegenerative Science, who shared news about clinical
trials and future Parkinson’s research.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Buist Electric.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DAVID VAN ANDEL; GUEST PARTICIPATES IN PADDLE RAISE;
DR. DARREN MOORE DELIVERS REMARKS; DAVID & CAROL VAN ANDEL; MARANDA CHATS WITH KAREN CUSTER
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 27

PHILANTHROPY
Thank you to our generous
event sponsors
To learn more about sponsoring an event, contact Sarah Rollman at sarah.rollman@vai.org.
Winterfest
Rob & Dawn Arnoys
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Buist Electric
Calamos Investments LLC
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Custer Inc.
Deloitte
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Ernst & Young
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Jana Hall
Harvey Automotive
HB Wealth Management
Hines Corporation
Macatawa Bank
McShane & Bowie, PLC
MSU College of Human Medicine
Owen Ames Kimball Co.
P.L. Capital
Lee & Alexandra Perez
Pioneer Construction
Rycenga Building Group
Sharpe
University of Michigan Health-
West
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Robert & Karen Wiltz
Around the World
Accretive Company, Inc.
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Blake Crabb
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Element Four
John Hancock Financial
Matt & Sarah Jones
KM Online Marketing
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Leigh’s
Mercantile Bank
Mike & Rachel Mraz
NVINT
Lee & Alexandra Perez
Regal Financial Group
West Michigan Woman
Wicked Pro
Design & Discovery
John & Mary Amell
Autocam Medical
Bayside Capital
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
Bluewater Technologies
Bradley Company/Brad & Katie
Toothaker/Chip Bowling
The Brooks Family
Buist Electric
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
CWD Real Estate
David & Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation
Dominique & Julie DeNooyer/
DeNooyer Chevrolet/Bob &
Colette DeNooyer
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
John Dykema & Michele
Maly-Dykema
The Edgar & Elsa Prince
Foundation
Eenhoorn
Ernst & Young LLP
First National Bank of Michigan
The George & Evelyn on 8th
Jeff & Ann Harten
The Hilldore Group — Baird
Holland Hospital
Inontime
Patrick & Jasmine Irish
Jeffery Roberts Design
M&J Foundation & F45 Holland &
Grand Haven
Paul & Anne Nemschoff
Paolo Nicolai
Nicolai North America
Padnos
Plastic Surgery Associates
Priority Health
Schupan
SIBSCO
Trans-Matic Mfg. Co. Inc.
Visbeen Architects Inc.
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
West Michigan Woman
Vicky Weller
Woodways International
Jim & Jane Zwiers
VAI Golf Outing
Bluewater Technologies
Consumers Credit Union
Custer Inc.
Dan & Vicki Distin
Erhardt Construction
First National Bank
Gallagher Insurance
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Ben & Molly Hunting
Life EMS Ambulance
Loomis, Sayles & Company
Macatawa Bank
Making the Turn Against
Parkinson’s
McAlvey Merchant & Associates
Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long &
William Mackay
Midwest Capital
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health
Services
Priority Health
Rockford Construction
John & Therese Rowerdink
Secrest Wardle
Sharpe
Tom & Mary Stuit
Summit Point Roofing
University of Michigan Health-
West
Dave & Beth VanPortfliet
Wells Fargo
West Michigan Woman
Couture for a Cure
Acrisure
Amway
Andy J. Egan Co., Inc.
The Bengtson Center for
Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery
Bluewater Technologies
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
Cheeky Strut
Consumers Credit Union
Mimi Cummings
CWD Real Estate
David & Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Discovery Financial/David &
Angela Muilenberg
Eenhoorn
Eileen DeVries Family Foundation
Eurest
First National Bank of Michigan
Gallagher Insurance
Patti Griswold
Jana Hall
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
Dave & Donna Hockstra
J.C. Huizenga
Humphries Development
Jandernoa Foundation
Jeffery Roberts Design
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Margaret Klopcic
Kool Auto Group
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Life EMS Ambulance
Max Mara
McAlvey Merchant & Associates
Pediatric Dental Specialists of
West Michigan
Shawn & Sarah Platt
Priority Health
Brenda Rinks
RoMan Manufacturing
Scott Group Studio
Southport Trucking
The Steve & Amy Van Andel
Foundation
Sharon Van Dellen
Michael & Gayle VanGessel
West Michigan Woman
Meg Willit
Hope on the Hill
Al & Robin Koop Foundation
Amway
Aon
Autocam Medical
John & Ginny Baysore
Bill & Amy Bennett
Jeff & Meg Bennett
Betz Industries
Dave & Jill Bielema
Bluewater Technologies
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
28 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Buist Electric
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Calvin University School of Health
Cancer & Hematology Centers of
Western Michigan, P.C.
Ryan & Jessica Cook
Tom & Tracy Curran
Custer Inc.
Davenport University
David & Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation
Eenhoorn
Ellis Parking Co.
Fifth Third Private Bank
Gallagher Insurance
Daniel & Magee Gordon
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Grand Valley State University
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Jana Hall
Hansen/Balk Steel Treating Co.
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Hope College
Howard Miller Company
ICN Foundation
Jandernoa Foundation
Matt & Sarah Jones
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Craig & Debra Kinney
Josh & Connie Kooistra
Blake & Mary Krueger
John & Katie Kuiper
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Gary & Vicky Ludema
Macatawa Bank
Mayflower Designs, Electrical
Contractor & Residential Builder
Meijer
The Meijer Foundation
Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long &
William Mackay
Michigan State University College
of Human Medicine
New Holland Brewing Co.
Northern Jet Management
NPF Investment Advisors
Owen Ames Kimball Co.
Pageworks
Peter C. & Emajean Cook
Foundation
Pioneer Construction
Pitsch Companies
Plastic Surgery Associates/Grand
Pearl Spa
Priority Health
Progressive AE
Quality Air Service Inc.
Rev Foundation
Rockford Construction
Eve Rogus & Paul Becker in
memory of Clementine (Teenie)
Rogus
Rowerdink Inc.
Tony & Dawn Semple
Sharpe
Spectrum Health
Rob & Susan Stafford
Steelcase Inc.
Stephen Klotz Family Foundation
The Steve & Amy Van Andel
Foundation
Duke Suwyn
Taconic Charitable Foundation
Thomas S. Fox Family
Dr. Steve & Laura Triezenberg
Truscott Rossman Group
University of Michigan Health-
West
Mike & Michelle VanDyke
Van Eerden Foodservice
Dr. Bob & Grace VanTimmeren
Christian & Kara VerMeulen
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Wells Fargo
West Michigan Woman
Williams Kitchen & Bath
Greg & Meg Willit
Wolverine Worldwide
Jim & Jane Zwiers
A Conversation About Health
and the Environment — Hosted
by Carol Van Andel
Cornerstone
Gallagher Insurance
Howard Miller Company
iHeart Media
Leigh’s
West Michigan Woman
This list includes sponsors of
signature events through
December 2022.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 29

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.
Peter M. Allen
Tom & Marianne Allen
Joseph Babauta Jr.
Rita Babauta-Love
Elizabeth Barber
Patricia Bonnell
Ralph Barton
Randy Barton
Darrin Batdorff
Grandville Middle School
Philip Battershall
Shirley Battershall
Ernest C. Bevins
David & Julie Bevins
Dale Bordewyk
Shirley Bordewyk
Connie Brummel
Roger Brummel
Mona Jean Canniff Bode
Mary Jean Swaney
Richie Cebelak
Geralyn Winks
Chris Covert
Gina Covert
Lynn Cudney
Chuck & Patricia Bloom
Ronald DeGreen
Carole DuHadway
Larry DeSmith
Brian & Jennifer DeSmith
Robert Dudley
Dave & Sharon Slobodnik
Robert DuHadway
Bill & Linda Peterson
Melissa Eden
Keith & Carolyn Murphy
Floyd Fleetham
Lawrence Waite & Lucy
Hough-Waite
Gordon Girod
Mark Hofman & Stephanie
De Leeuw
Barbara Grewe
Scott & Beth Dubravac
David Fehringer
Kayley Hendershot
Daniel Joseph
Grace Schatz
Linda Weingartz
Cheryl Yee
Tom Halstead
Gene & Barb Gutting
Susan Hawkins
Dave & Sallie Brinks
Eleanor Hughes
Ron & Luann DeVries
Nancy Inman
Robin Wendland
David Kaliniak
David & Lana Green
David Hardy
Catherine Kaliniak
Rob & Patti Kaliniak
Bill & Renee Yeo
Sharon Karsten
David Karsten
Wilson Karsten
David Karsten
Mark L. Kastner
Anonymous
Nathanael Kastner
Erin Kilburn
Ramon Nayar & Katya
Sidelnik
Sanford C. Leestma
Marjory Leestma
Wilber Lettinga
David & Carol Van Andel
Family Foundation
John “Jack” Maher
Dave & Sallie Brinks
Patrick Maher
Maureen Maher
J. Daniel Marslender
Walter & Kimberlee Catton
Nelson McBride
Mary Susan McBride
Mel Nylaan
Marjory Leestma
Claire Ozinga
Joy DeBoer
Denise Picardat
Brian Picardat
Mark V. Puccio
Julie Puccio
Richard Pullen
Ruth Kemp
Julie Regnier McCoy
Michelle Regnier
William Harry Reynolds
Dave & Sallie Brinks
Clementine “Teenie” Rogus
Paul Becker & Eve Rogus
John & Lucille Ryan
Donald & Patricia Patterson
Carlin Sall
Amy Martinie
James Stacy
Caroline Stacy
Marilon Teter
Maryanna Johnson
Valorie Triemstra
David & Carol Van Andel
Family Foundation
Jay & Betty Van Andel
William & Yvonne Van Ee
Dee Van Heuvelen
Gene Van Heuvelen
Marvin & Lois Van Heuvelen
Bill Van Regenmorter
Bill & Rosemary Stevenson
Dr. George Vande Woude
Dave & Susan Birdsall
Joyce A. Vander Sloot
Jack Vander Sloot
Patricia Vaughan
Phil Babel
Barry Barr
John & Myrna Borling
John & Mary Breuninger
James Bruno
Lynn Clark
Ruben Familia & Andrea Nielsen
Stan & Terri Goodwin-Newberry
Gil & Janice Guarino
Mary Hendrickson
Warren & Sondra Hickmott
30 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Patrick & Diane Howard
Martin & Sandi Huffman
Lyubov Johnson
Pat & Betty Kaufmann
Nick & Linda Kobylk
Gilbert & Bev Larsen
Alan & Jane Lendway
Tom & Virginia Longuillo
Guy Lunsford
Patrick Matsche & Melanie
Nesterenko
Sean McReynolds
John Milbrand
Phil & Julie Milbrand
Jill Nagel
Leland & Susan Newens
Lila O’Keefe
Steven & Teri Olson
Kate Ramos
Cindy Rapp-Zelinski
Alana Robinson
Rick & Kristine Slifer
Richard & Laura Spatz
Larry & Jill Stucchi
Judi Swift
Jim & Shari Tompkins
Gilbert & Jill Vaughan
Barbara Vick
Mr. Ben Watson
Weatherly & Associates
Nina Christine Veneklase
Catherine Amodeo
Eric Westra
Chelsea Westra
David Wiersema
Julie Wiersema
Randal L. Winchester
Chuck & Lois Winchester
James Andrew Wood
Roger & Phyllis Strauss
George Woons
Carole Zoller
Eugene J. Yost
Carole Yost
Daniel Young
Joe & Kelley Young
TRIBUTES
Grant Backer
Davis Backer
Gisela Kah
Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs
George Sharpe Sr.
William & Paula Murphy
Amy Bauer
James & Shirley Fitzgerald
Evan Beukema
Emma Beukema
Dylan Bruinsma
Gordy & Cathy Bruinsma
Patricia Cebelak
James & Mary Helen DeLiefde
Geralyn Winks
David Kammeraad
Chad & Cherrah Casserly
David & Kimberly Lund
Dale & Jacob Lesperance
Ethan Lesperance
Charlotte Montambo
Denise Schott
Chelsea Overbeek
Shirley Overbeek
Dr. Todd Stevens
Kathleen Teunis
Dona Whitehouse
Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs
Geralyn Winks
Patricia Cebelak
Allison DeHorn
Allan & Jo Ann Hooper
Photos By Kaity
Gordy & Cathy Bruinsma
Mary Helen DeLiefde
Patricia Cebelak
Geralyn Winks
Wendy Rebhan
Nicholas Rebhan
These lists represent gifts made between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2022. The accuracy of these lists is very important to us. Please contact 616.234.5392 if an error has been made.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 31

Support VAI’s
research and
education
initiatives with
a gift from your
donor-advised fund
If you have a donor-advised fund, now is the time to
make a positive impact on the future of healthcare,
biomedical research and graduate and K–12 education.
A grant from your DAF directly supports our mission
and helps create a brighter future.
Giving to VAI from your donor-advised fund is easy:
• Call your DAF manager and recommend a
gift to Van Andel Institute.
• Your DAF will send a check or wire money
directly to VAI.
Highlights of Hope is supported through
Van Andel Institute operational funds,
ensuring 100% of donations go
toward the Institute’s research and
educational efforts.
To learn more about supporting VAI through your
donor-advised fund, please contact:
Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy Director
616.235.5515
kate.frillmann@vai.org