2022 Annual Report

2022
Annual
Report

Van Andel Institute began with
a vision: to improve human health.
A hub for ideas and advancements, the Institute is fueled by a
community of bright minds that share a relentless curiosity and
a deep commitment to make the world a better place through
biomedical research into cancer, Parkinson’s, metabolic disorders
and other diseases. Our graduate school offers a rigorous, researchintensive
Ph.D. program, while our K-12 education initiatives inspire
teachers and students through a focus on curiosity, creativity and
critical thinking.
At Van Andel Institute, we do more than dream about improving
human health. We strive to make it a reality every day.

Table of Contents
2 A letter from David Van Andel
4 Research
6 Research highlights:
Neurodegenerative Science
8 Research highlights: Epigenetics
10 Research highlights: Cell Biology
11 Cryo-EM turns five
12 Research highlights: Structural Biology
14 Research highlights:
Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
16 Translating impact from lab to clinic
18 Research highlights:
Core Technologies and Services
19 Catalyzing discovery through collaboration
20 VAI Principal Investigators
28 Van Andel Institute Graduate School
29 How VAI supports early-career scientists
32 Education
34 Education highlights
38 Events and Philanthropy
40 Event photos
50 Signature event sponsors
52 Donor spotlight: Jeffery Roberts
54 Donor spotlight: Richard Cebelak
56 From Purple Community to
JBoard Ambassador
58 Running for family and research
60 Circle of Hope
60 VAI by the numbers
61 Leadership team
62 Board Members
64 Board of Governors
65 JBoard Ambassadors
30 Graduate School highlights
31 VAI welcomes three new faculty
1

A letter from
David Van Andel
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We’ve been blessed with another year of advances in
research and education, each milestone reaffirming
our commitment to life-changing therapies and
breakthroughs. More than 25 years since our inception,
we’re still fully immersed in an ongoing quest to unlock
the secrets of science.
The reason we continue to exist and thrive? Nothing less
than an insatiable desire to embrace humanity and all
of its touchstones that translate to need. And make no
mistake; We’re in it for the long run.
Imbued within the pages of this Annual Report, you’ll see
how honored we are to share the achievements of our
scientists and educators — underscored with gratitude
toward the individuals and organizations who support
our efforts to create a better, healthier world both now
and for those who will follow in our wake.
And what a future it’s shaping up to be: VAI continues
its purposeful growth, welcoming new scientists and
educators who expand our research and classroom
capabilities. We conduct cutting-edge research with
the knowledge that meaningful advances can only come
through an unwavering push forward. Together, we’re
learning more about cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s,
and other diseases. And we’re both privileged and
proud to share those discoveries with the world so that
breakthroughs made right here in West Michigan can
have an impact in every corner of the globe.
Our successes extend to our Graduate School and K–12
education initiatives, both of which continue to lean on
the curiosity, creativity and critical thinking necessary
to develop the next generation of scientists. Education
also has been at the heart of the Institute’s mission
since its founding, and our programs continue to elevate
science and teaching throughout the nation.
Thanks to these efforts, VAI has become internationally
recognized, a feat that would not be possible without
the support of individuals, organizations, businesses and
communities who believe in our mission and our passion
to improve health for generations to come.
From all of us at Van Andel Institute — and on behalf of
the untold millions whose very lives might be changed
by who we are and what we do — thank you and God
bless you.
Sincerely,
David Van Andel
Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO
2

“From all of us at Van Andel Institute — and on
behalf of the untold millions whose very lives might
be changed by who we are and what we do —
thank you and God bless you.”
— David Van Andel
Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO
3

Van Andel Institute
for Research
EVERY DAY, WE COLLABORATE AT THE FOREFRONT OF FUNDAMENTAL AND
TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE IN PURSUIT OF BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENT
STRATEGIES FOR CANCER, PARKINSON’S AND OTHER DISEASES.
OUR GRADUATE SCHOOL OFFERS A RIGOROUS, RESEARCH-
INTENSIVE PH.D. PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS LEADERS
IN MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY.

Department of Neurodegenerative Science
The Institute’s Department of Neurodegenerative
Science is home to experts in Parkinson’s disease
and other progressive neurological disorders, such
as Alzheimer’s and related dementias, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS) and depression. Their goal
is to improve quality of life for people with these
diseases by:
Impeding disease progression: VAI scientists are
working to better understand the complex causes of
Parkinson’s in order to develop new treatments that
slow or stop the disease’s progression or even prevent
it altogether — something no current treatment can do.
Designing more definitive diagnostic methods:
There are currently no definitive diagnostic tests for
Parkinson’s, which complicates treatment decisions
and puts an undue burden on patients. Institute
scientists are searching for biological indicators called
biomarkers, which can be assessed objectively and
used to better diagnose the disease.
Investigating the underpinnings of Alzheimer’s
and other disorders: VAI’s research extends
beyond Parkinson’s into diseases like Alzheimer’s,
frontotemporal dementia, ALS, depression and
suicidality.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Blood markers can predict depression in pregnancy
Signs of inflammation in the blood reliably predict and identify severe depression in pregnancy, reported a
study led by Van Andel Institute’s Dr. Lena Brundin and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services’ Dr. Eric
Achtyes. The team’s analysis established a set of 15 biological markers found in the blood that can predict
whether pregnant women will experience significant depressive symptoms with more than 80% accuracy.
The findings could give physicians a much-needed tool to identify women who may be at risk for depression
and better tailor their care throughout pregnancy. 1
Neuroscientist Dr. Qiang Zhu joins VAI
In January 2022, neuroscientist Dr. Qiang Zhu joined VAI as an assistant professor. Zhu is an expert in two
devastating neurodegenerative diseases that affect movement and cognitive function: amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). His research bridges the fields of genetics, epigenetics,
cell biology and behavioral neuroscience — a combination that provides a critical window into the
interconnected factors that may contribute to ALS and FTD. Zhu is hopeful that his work, which focuses on
repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene, will uncover new targets for treatment and new biomarkers that will
aid scientists and physicians in studying and tracking disease progression.
Movement disorders pioneer Dr. Anthony E. Lang honored with Jay Van Andel Award
VAI awarded renowned movement disorders pioneer Dr. Anthony E. Lang with its 2022 Jay Van Andel Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research. The award was presented during Grand
Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease, VAI’s flagship annual Parkinson’s disease symposium, in September.
Lang’s groundbreaking, multifaceted 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 — a feat not possible with existing therapeutic strategies. The award
was established in 2012 in memory of VAI Founder Jay Van Andel, who battled Parkinson’s disease for a decade
before his death in 2004. The annual award is given to scientists who have made outstanding contributions to
Parkinson’s disease research and who have positively impacted human health.
Funding Acknowledgement
1
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and the National Institute of Mental Health of the
National Institutes of Health under award no. R01MH104622 (Brundin). The clinical trial identifier is NCT02566980. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and
does not necessarily represent the official views of the granting organizations.
6

RESEARCH
9
7

Department of Epigenetics
Scientists in VAI’s Department of Epigenetics
seek to understand how epigenetic changes may
either protect us from or predispose us to complex
diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and metabolic
disorders. They do so by:
Building on the basics: From uncovering the
underpinnings of disease to understanding the
mechanisms that propel the spread of diseases like
cancer, VAI scientists are dedicated to revealing the
molecular machinery that underlies a variety of
complex disorders.
Translating discovery: Institute scientists are
committed to putting laboratory discoveries to work in
the real world by helping translate them into actionable
new treatments that can better combat disease and
save lives.
Moving new therapies into the clinic: VAI works
closely with leading medical organizations in the U.S.
and abroad to take new therapies into the doctor’s office
through clinical trials, which are vital for ensuring that
new treatments are safe and effective. The Institute
is home to the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To
Cancer (VAI–SU2C) Epigenetics Dream Team, a multiinstitutional,
collaborative effort that brings together
several of the world’s most respected research and
clinical organizations to translate scientific discoveries
into new standards of patient care. The goal is simple —
get new and more effective cancer therapies to
patients faster.
For more information on our clinical collaborations,
please see page 16.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
New cellular ‘clock’ offers fresh way to measure
cellular age
Cellular aging is a major risk factor for many chronic
diseases, but accurately measuring it is difficult. Now, VAI
scientists have developed 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 findings, published in
Nature Communications, are a vital step toward realworld
applications for assessing disease risk and guiding
treatment decisions in the doctor’s office. The research
was led by Dr. Jamie Endicott, a recent graduate of
Van Andel Institute Granduate School who worked in the
lab of Dr. Peter W. Laird. Laird and Dr. Hui Shen are the
corresponding authors of the study. 1
VAI, The Scientist launch podcast mini-series on
health and the environment
How do our environment and diet set the stage for
future health? That’s one of the big questions VAI and
The Scientist tackled in the podcast mini-series Exposed:
Environmental Echoes in Health, part of The Scientist’s
Lab Talk podcast series.
The three-episode series featured VAI scientists Dr. Nick
Burton, Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf and Dr. Heidi
Lempradl, who explored how the factors to which we are
exposed in our environment can impact our health and
the health of future generations. All episodes of Exposed:
Environmental Echoes in Health are available at The
Scientist and on all major podcast platforms. The podcast
accompanies a Q&A with VAI’s Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik,
who explores the long-lasting impacts of environmental
exposures.
Data Insights grant fuels computing projects
at VAI, GVSU
A collaboration between VAI’s Dr. Tim Triche, Jr. and
Grand Valley State University’s Dr. Zach DeBruine to
make data more accessible to researchers worldwide
received support through a $200,000 Data Insights
grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
The project 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 researchers and
citizen-scientists to unlock 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 challenging even for highpowered
computers.
DeBruine is a former postdoctoral fellow in Triche’s
lab who earned his doctorate from Van Andel Institute
Graduate School. 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 that requires 1/10th the
computing space without losing data or performance.
8

Scientists redefine obesity with discovery of
two distinct subtypes
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. The findings, published in the journal
Nature Metabolism, offer a more nuanced understanding
of obesity than current definitions and may one day
inform more precise ways to diagnose and treat obesity
and associated metabolic disorders. The study also
revealed new details about the role of epigenetics and
chance in health and provides insights into the link
between insulin and obesity. 2
Creation of new tool represents a paradigm
shift in epigenetics research of model systems
for human disease
Epigenetics plays a role in virtually every aspect of
health and disease, but studying exactly how and why
epigenetic changes affect us has been a challenge due
to a lack of appropriate tools and techniques. Now, VAI
scientists and their collaborators have developed a
powerful new tool that will help us better understand
how epigenetics maintains health and, when things go
wrong, promotes diseases such as cancer. The research
was led by VAI’s Dr. Peter W. Laird and Dr. Hui Shen
and will facilitate groundbreaking research around
the world. 3
New technique helps scientists run circles
around cancer
Rampant inflammation has long been linked to cancer,
but exactly how it pushes healthy cells to transform
into malignant ones has remained a mystery. Now,
VAI scientists have found one culprit behind this
connection: oxidative stress, a process that disrupts the
genetic code by damaging DNA. The findings, published
in Science Advances, provide crucial new insights into
the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress in certain
cancers and offers new opportunities for potential
prevention strategies. This work was made possible
using a new technique called circle damage sequencing
developed by the lab of VAI’s Dr. Gerd Pfeifer. In 2021,
Pfeifer’s lab also used circle damage sequencing to
determine that the mutations that give rise to
melanoma result from a chemical conversion in
DNA damaged by sunlight — not just a DNA
copying error as previously believed. 4
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf joins VAI
Epigenetics expert Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf
joined VAI’s growing faculty as a professor in January
2022, a move that expanded the Institute’s research into
the relationship between environmental exposures and
cancer. Fondufe-Mittendorf studies the relationship
between environmental factors, such as arsenic in
drinking water, and cancer risk. Her research has
revealed how low-dose arsenic exposure transforms
healthy cells into malignant ones — revelations that have
significant public health implications.
Funding Acknowledgements
Research reported in this publication was supported by:
1
Van Andel Institute and the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes
of Health under award no. R01AG066764 (Laird and Shen). Approximately 50% of the
funding for this study came from federal sources; approximately 50% came from nonfederal
sources.
2
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). Approximately 5% ($50,000) of
funding for this study is from federal sources; approximately 95% ($950,000) is from
non-U.S. governmental sources.
3
Van Andel Institute; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and the National Cancer
Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01CA157918,
R01CA212374 and R01CA234125 (Laird). Shen is supported by the National Cancer
Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R37CA230748. Jones is
supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under
award no. R35CA209859.
4
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute and
the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no.
CA228089 (Pfeifer).
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 funders.
RESEARCH
727
9

Department of Cell Biology
Our health, and consequently our lives, depends on the coordinated activities
of our individual cells; diseases arise when the activities of these cells become
derailed. Through combined expertise in different cell types and communication
mechanisms and using state-of-the-art approaches, scientists in VAI’s
Department of Cell Biology pursue fundamental research to understand how our
cells grow, communicate, survive, assemble into tissues and organs, respond to
the environment and change with age. This transformative work will yield new
diagnostic and treatment strategies to improve the quality of life for people with
cancer, bone diseases and rare disorders.
Studying how cells assemble and repair organs: Our scientists are looking closely
at how cells replicate and gradually become specialized, particularly in the skeleton
and the blood. The department’s labs focus on understanding a host of cellular
processes, including how cells sense the changes in the body, how cells adjust to
meet these needs, how cells talk to and work with each other, how the aging process
damages cell integrity and contributes to disease, and how to restore the proper
cellular function in aging organs.
Understanding how derailed cells trigger cancers: Cancer can occur when cells
are derailed during growth or specialization. Our scientists are investigating the
genetic and molecular cues for abnormal cell activity in the development of cancers,
including leukemia, breast cancer, sarcomas and pancreatic cancer. They aim to
translate this knowledge into novel approaches for diagnosis and treatment.
Exploring how cellular processes change over time: As our cells age, changes
arise that lead to dysfunction and disease. Our scientists are exploring how cellular
processes that function seamlessly in healthy people can fail as they age. This
research may one day inform treatments to delay or prevent osteoarthritis, bone
fragility and cancer.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
VAI grad student awarded fellowship to pursue new osteoarthritis
therapies
The PhRMA Foundation 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.
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.
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. 1
VAI scientist earns grant to investigate cellular communication in
development and disease
Dr. Stephanie Grainger is working to decipher how cells “talk” to each other in hopes
of better understanding how this process protects health and, when things go wrong,
promotes disease. In 2021, she was awarded a $2.4 million, five-year Maximizing
Investigators’ Research Award from the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences of the National Institutes of Health for her project, and, in 2022, she received
additional supplemental funding to fuel this critical research. Grainger’s research
may shed new light on healthy development and the role of cellular communication in
cancer, osteoporosis, heart conditions and other diseases. 2
Funding Acknowledgements
Research reported in this publication was supported by:
1
The PhRMA Foundation.
2
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM142779 and award
no. R35GM142779-02S1 (Grainger).
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.
10

A half decade of discovery: VAI’s cryo-EM turns five
To understand life’s building blocks — the molecules that give structure to our
cells, fuel our bodies and play integral roles in health and disease — we need
powerful technology that allows us to see them in deep detail.
That’s where cryo-EM comes in. Short for cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-EM is a
special type of technique and equipment that helps scientists zoom in on molecules
in their natural state. The insights gleaned from these images tell us how
molecules work, how they interact with other molecules and how they
might be leveraged to design treatments for diseases like cancer,
Parkinson’s and many others.
Five years ago, VAI established the David Van Andel Advanced
Cryo-Electron Microscopy Suite. It includes three state-of-the-art
microscopes, two of which are cryo-EM. Since then, our scientists
have made many important discoveries that are reshaping our
understanding of health and disease. To date, discoveries include:
• The first images of TRPM5, a taste-sensing molecule that may one day lead to
improved ways to treat diabetes and other metabolic and immune disorders. To
date, the structures of three of the eight proteins in this crucial molecular family
have been resolved at VAI.
• The most detailed “blueprints” to date of the mechanisms used by tuberculosis
bacteria to survive attacks by the immune system.
Around
the
Institute
• The first atomic-level images of a “molecular machine” that installs
proteins on cell membranes, a crucial process that has implications
for a host of diseases, including Alzheimer’s and cystic fibrosis.
• The first images of a special type of molecular “gate” that lets
chemical messages in and out of cells while helping them maintain
pH balance — a critical function that keeps cells alive and helps
prevent stroke and other brain injuries.
RESEARCH
• New insights into how our genetic code is repaired, a crucial process
that keeps us healthy and staves off disease.
• The first high-resolution images of a pair of molecules, DNMT3A
and DNMT3B, that play important roles in cancer and may serve as powerful
targets for anti-cancer medications.
“Cryo-EM is one of the most important
tools in modern science. It is fueling
discovery here at VAI and around the world
by sparking new advances and laying the
foundations for new frontiers in health.”
— Dr. Peter A. Jones, Chief Scientific Officer
Van Andel Institute
11 11

Department of Structural Biology
Scientists in the Institute’s Department of Structural
Biology aim to understand the most basic building
blocks of biology to inform our understanding of
health and disease, and to aid in the development of
new, improved medications for an array of disorders.
Studying the foundations of life: Our scientists are
investigating the mechanisms that allow our DNA to
replicate, as well as the molecules at the core of some of
our most vital systems, such as temperature regulation,
communication between cells, and energy production
and regulation.
Turning weaknesses into strengths: Our scientists
are investigating molecular vulnerabilities in bacteria,
such as those that cause tuberculosis and urinary tract
infections, and in diseases, such as cancer, to find ways
to leverage these weaknesses for treatment.
Aiding drug discovery: By better understanding
molecular structure and function, our scientists could
aid in the development of more targeted medications
with fewer side effects.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Study reveals insights into enzyme that combats common greenhouse gas
An enzyme that combats the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2
O) may one day give scientists a potent new tool for
reducing the amount of the gas in the atmosphere thanks in part to findings published in Nature. The study details
how the enzyme — N 2
O reductase — is assembled and offers key insights into its ability to render nitrous oxide
into harmless nitrogen and water. The research was co-led by VAI's Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü, and University of
Freiburg's Dr. Oliver Einsle. 1
Molecular ‘blueprint’ illuminates how plants perceive light
Plants rely on their ability to sense light for survival. But unlike animals, plants don’t have eyes full of photoreceptors
to capture and convey messages from visual stimuli. Instead, plants are coated with a network of light-sensing
photoreceptors that detect different wavelengths of light, allowing them to regulate their lifecycles and adjust to
environmental conditions. Now, VAI and Washington University scientists have determined the molecular structure
of one of these vital photoreceptors — a protein known as PhyB — revealing a wholly different structure than
previously known. The findings, published in Nature by VAI’s Dr. Huilin Li and Washington University’s
Dr. Rick Vierstra, may have implications for agricultural and “green” bioengineering practices. 2
VAI marks five years of discovery with cryo-EM
To understand life’s building blocks — the molecules that give structure to our cells, fuel our bodies and play integral
roles in health and disease — we need powerful technology that allows us to see them in deep detail.
That’s where cryo-EM comes in. Short for cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-EM is a special type of technique and
equipment that helps scientists zoom in on molecules in their natural state. The insights gleaned from these images
tell us how molecules work, how they interact with other molecules and how they might be leveraged to design new
treatments for disease.
Five years ago, VAI established the David Van Andel Advanced Cryo-Electron Microscopy Suite. It includes three stateof-the-art
microscopes, two of which are cryo-EM. Since then, our scientists have made many important discoveries
that are reshaping our understanding of health and disease, such as new insights into how our DNA repairs itself, how
our cells communicate and sense their environment, and how potential targets for new medications work.
12

Cryo-EM reveals how ‘911’ molecule helps fix DNA
When something goes wrong during DNA replication, cells call their own
version of 911 to pause the process and fix the problem — a failsafe that
is critical to maintaining health and staving off disease. We now know
more about this crucial system thanks to Dr. Huilin Li and The Rockefeller
University’s Dr. Michael E O’Donnell, who revealed how a key piece of this
repair process — appropriately called the 911 DNA checkpoint clamp — is
recruited to the site of DNA damage. The findings, published in Nature
Structural and Molecular Biology, illuminate new insights into the way cells
ensure genetic instructions are properly passed from one generation of cells
to the next. 3
Dr. Zheng Ruan earns prestigious K99 grant, first in VAI 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 summer 2022, Dr. Zheng Ruan, a postdoctoral fellow
in the labs of Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü, earned the first K99/R00 award in
VAI’s 26-year history. Dr. 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. 4
Funding Acknowledgments
Research reported in this publication was supported by:
1
European Research Council under award no. 310656 (Einsle); Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under award no.
CRC1381 (project ID: 403222702; Einsle) and award no. RTG2202 (project ID: 46710898, Einsle); the BIOSS Centre
for Biological Signaling Studies at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Einsle); a McKnight Scholar Award (Du); a
Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neuroscience (Du); a Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (Du); a Pew
Scholars in Biomedical Research Award from the Pew Charitable Trusts (Du); and the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01NS111031 (Du).
2
Van Andel Institute (Li), Washington University (Vierstra) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of
the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01GM127892 (Vierstra) and R35GM131754 (Li).
3
Van Andel Institute (Li), The Rockefeller University (O’Donnell) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences
of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01GM115809 (O’Donnell) and R35GM131754 (Li); the Breast Cancer
Research Foundation under award no. 20-068 (O’Donnell); and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (O’Donnell).
4
Dr. 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 or other granting organizations.
Funding
VAI scientists have 133 active
awards totaling $166.1 million.
Figures current as of November 2022
In 2022, VAI scientists earned 35
new awards totaling $41.8 million.
Figures current as of November 2022
Publications
In 2022, VAI scientists published
120 papers. Of these, 48 were in
high-impact journals.
Figures current as of November 2022
Faculty and Cores
34 Labs
9 Cores
Nature Index
The Nature Index, which measures
institutional scientific output,
ranks VAI no. 31 in the Life
Science category out of the top
100 nongovernmental/nonprofits.
VAI ranks no. 41 overall.
RESEARCH
13 13

Department of
Metabolism & Nutritional Programming
By developing a detailed understanding of
metabolism and how it is impacted by nutrition,
genetics and epigenetics, VAI scientists aim
to develop metabolism-based therapies and
interventions with the ultimate goal of improving
human health. Their areas of focus include:
Understanding metabolism in health and
designing preventative strategies: Metabolism is
a key part of virtually every aspect of human health.
By understanding its basic mechanics and how this
vast system is regulated, scientists hope to develop
strategies for maintaining healthy function and
preventing diseases caused by metabolic breakdowns.
Determining how metabolic problems contribute
to disease and translating these findings into
new therapies: Some diseases, like diabetes, stem
almost entirely from metabolic dysfunction, while
others, like cancer and Parkinson’s, are thought to be
at least partially fueled by problems with metabolism.
Determining how and why these problems occur will
give scientists the insights needed to design new, more
effective therapies for these tough-to-treat disorders.
Investigating the impacts nutrition and
metabolism can have across generations: Can
our diets affect our children? Or their children? If so,
can we ensure a healthier future by mitigating what
we eat now? These are some of the questions that the
Institute’s Department of Metabolism and Nutritional
Programming hopes to answer.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Cellular waste may supercharge immune cell function
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. This research,
led by VAI’s Dr. Russell Jones, lays the foundation for future personalized dietary recommendations
designed to supercharge the immune system and augment therapies for cancer and other
diseases. The findings also suggest that the function and survival of these critical cells
are strongly influenced by the nutrients available in their environment — a key
insight that offers a new understanding of how the immune system and
metabolism interact. 1
Metabolism expert Dr. Evan Lien joins VAI
In summer 2022, cancer metabolism expert Dr. Evan Lien joined VAI’s
growing faculty, an addition that further expands the Institute’s research
into the underlying causes of cancer. As an assistant professor in the
Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Lien
investigates the intersection between diet and cancer, focusing on how
dietary changes may impact tumor development and growth. Cancer
cells have voracious appetites for nutrients and energy, which they use
to fuel their uncontrolled growth and invade healthy tissue. Using
cutting-edge techniques, Lien and his lab aim to uncover how variations
in a person’s diet may influence tumor growth and metabolism. He then
plans to translate his findings into actionable strategies for improving
cancer treatment and response.
Funding Acknowledgement
1
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). Research reported in this
publication is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official
views of the National Institutes of Health or other funding organizations.
14

RESEARCH
15 15

Translating impact from lab to clinic
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE–STAND UP TO CANCER
EPIGENETICS DREAM TEAM
The Institute is home to the VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team, a multi-institutional,
collaborative effort that brings together several of the world’s most respected
research and clinical organizations to translate scientific discoveries into improved
patient care. The goal is simple — get new, more effective cancer therapies to
patients faster.
INTERNATIONAL LINKED CLINICAL TRIALS PROGRAM
The Cure Parkinson’s–Van Andel Institute International Linked Clinical Trials
Program identifies potential new therapies for Parkinson’s from medications
developed to treat other diseases that also show potential for impeding Parkinson’s
disease progression. By doing so, iLCT aims to significantly cut the amount of
time it takes for a potential treatment to move from the lab to clinical trials
and, ultimately, to people with Parkinson’s.
Combining two cancer medications may increase survival
in relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome
A pair of cancer medications that 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, according
to results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial published in Clinical
Cancer Research.
The trial was supported by the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer
Epigenetics Dream Team, a multi-institutional effort to move potential
combination cancer treatments into clinical trials.
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Promising top-line results demonstrated for diabetes
drug in Parkinson’s
Top-line results from a clinical trial of the diabetes medication
liraglutide in Parkinson’s disease indicate that liraglutide improves
aspects of daily living and non-motor symptoms in people with
Parkinson’s. The trial was conducted by researchers from Cedars
Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, and co-funded by Van Andel Institute
and Cure Parkinson’s through the International Linked Clinical
Trials Program.
In addition to improving overall average survival from five to 15 months, the
trial findings suggest the effectiveness of combining medications that target the
immunological and epigenetic drivers of cancers. 1
Funding Acknowledgement
1
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.
16

RESEARCH
Research by the numbers
VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team
4 Clinical trials ongoing,
enrolling patients
3 Clinical trials in correlative
analyses, enrollment closed
7 Clinical trials closed
International Linked Clinical Trials
17 Clinical trials ongoing
15 Clinical trials completed over
the life of the program
* Numbers current as of
December 2022
15 17

Core Technologies & Services
Van Andel Institute’s Core Technologies and Services offer a comprehensive range
of advanced technologies and expertise to support and enhance research at the
Institute and at collaborating organizations. Staffed by highly qualified professionals
with an acute understanding of their respective fields, the Core team is committed
to providing superior service and conducting exceptional science to further the
Institute’s goal of improving human health through basic and translational research.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
VAI awarded $7.9 million to continue role as Cancer Moonshot SM Biobank
Biorepository
VAI’s Biorepository was awarded a $7.9 million, five-year contract from the National Cancer
Institute, 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. 1
VAI’s Mass Spectrometry Core to foster discovery
Mass spectrometry is a powerful technique that reveals the different types of molecules
in a sample and provides vital insights to scientists seeking to understand health and
disease. To further empower research, in 2022, VAI expanded its Mass Spectrometry Core
with additional state-of-the-art equipment and expert staff. This growth places our mass
spectrometry infrastructure among the best in the U.S. and will drive discoveries for years
to come.
18
Funding Acknowledgement
1
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.

New programs catalyze discovery by fostering collaboration
In science, innovation and collaboration are a powerful combination that fuel breakthroughs and drive discovery.
Van Andel Institute’s West Michigan Neurodegenerative Diseases (MiND) Program and Metabolism and Nutrition (MeNu) Program are prime examples of what we
can achieve when the brightest minds combine their collective brainpower to tackle big questions.
RESEARCH
Established in 2021, these programs are designed to accelerate our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well
as the impact of diet and nutrition on human health at a molecular level. The goal? To transform research findings into much-needed prevention and treatment
strategies that improve and enhance lives.
The programs also provide crucial funding to Institute scientists to explore unanswered questions and gather early data required to apply for future grant funding
— an important mechanism that multiplies impact.
MiND Program
Since its inception, the MiND Program has developed and implemented several
projects to search for the origins of neurodegenerative diseases.
One is West Michigan’s first neurodegeneration-specific biobank, which
collects blood samples from people with Parkinson’s disease. These
samples are analyzed and compared to samples from people without
the disease, which helps scientists identify differences that might
contribute to disease onset and progression. To date, more than
90 participants have donated blood to this groundbreaking project.
The second project is the Brain Biobank, another first of its kind
project in West Michigan. Located within VAI’s accredited Biorepository,
the Brain Biobank drives insight and discovery by providing scientists with
the samples needed to investigate the underpinnings of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s
and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Both projects are possible thanks to the selfless donations of volunteers in
Grand Rapids and beyond.
MeNu Program
As of year-end 2022, the MeNu Program has funded 12 pilot projects designed to
reach new vistas in metabolism research. This catalytic pilot funding
fosters collaboration, fuels the development of new scientific tools,
kick-starts high-risk/high-reward research, and generates early
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data that can lead to additional grant funding. The program has
also granted four postdoctoral fellow awards.
The approach is already bearing fruit: A groundbreaking study
on how the immune system is fueled to fight infection was
published in the journal Cell Metabolism 1 and a new method
developed with MeNu funding was published in the prestigious
journal Nature Protocols and led to a $3.25 million federal grant to
explore the metabolism of immune cells. 2
MeNu also is home to a world-class mass spectrometry platform, a suite of
technologies that allows scientists to investigate metabolism in stunning
molecular detail. Its installation in 2021 places VAI among the best institutions
for this platform in Michigan and in the U.S. — a stunning achievement that will
support discovery for years to come.
Funding Acknowledgments
Research reported in this publication was supported by:
1
Van Andel Institute (Russell Jones), and an Allen Distinguished Investigator Award, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised grant of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Russell 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).
2
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under award no. R01AI165722 (Russell Jones).
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 funders.
1519

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Van Andel Institute for Research
is home to a team of scientists
dedicated to improving the health
and enhancing the lives of current
and future generations through
groundbreaking biomedical research.
LEADERSHIP
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer; Director, Cancer Center
Dr. Peter A. Jones is a pioneer in epigenetics, a growing field that explores how genes are
regulated and provides new avenues for developing therapies for cancer and other diseases.
His discoveries have helped usher in an entirely new class of drugs that have been approved
to treat blood cancer and are being investigated in other tumor types. Jones is a past
president of the American Association for Cancer Research, a Fellow of the AACR Academy, a
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the National Academy of Sciences
and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He is co-leader of the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To
Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team.
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
President and Dean, Van Andel Institute Graduate School; Professor, Department of Epigenetics
Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg is the dean of Van Andel Institute Graduate School. His lab, which
closed in 2018 after 31 years of productive research, explored the genetic and epigenetic
control systems of viruses to understand how infections progress and to reveal new ways to
stop them. His discoveries with herpes simplex viruses opened up new possibilities for antiviral
drug development and revealed new insights into how human cells control gene expression.
Bart Williams, Ph.D.
Director, Core Technologies and Services; Professor
Dr. Bart Williams studies the building blocks of bone growth on behalf of the millions
suffering from diseases such as osteoporosis. He seeks new ways of altering cell signaling
pathways to encourage healthy bone development and deter cancer spread to the skeleton.
Dr. Williams also serves as director of VAI’s Core Technologies and Services, which provide
technology and specialized expertise to Institute scientists and collaborators.
20

Department of
Epigenetics
Virtually all 37.2 trillion cells in our bodies have the same
DNA, the spiraling molecule that contains the genetic
instructions required to make us who we are. But if every
cell works from the same playbook, how and why does the
human body have so many different types of cells? Why
do some become skin cells while others become muscle
cells, heart cells or brain cells?
The answer is epigenetics — a complex set of processes
that determine when and to what extent certain genetic
instructions are carried out. Epigenetic processes are
vital for healthy cellular function, and when things go
awry, they can play major roles in disease.
By investigating the epigenetic processes that finetune
DNA, our scientists aim to pinpoint the origins of
complex diseases and determine how they are impacted
by our past and present, and how they influence future
generations.
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D.
Interim Chair and Professor
Dr. Xiaobing Shi investigates the
mechanisms that regulate DNA
and gene expression to better
understand how they impact
cancer development. His research
has led to the discovery of several new “readers” of
epigenetic marks that may serve as targets for cancer
treatment.
Stephen B. Baylin, M.D.
Director’s Scholar; Professor
Dr. Stephen Baylin studies the
body’s genetic control systems —
called epigenetics — searching for
vulnerabilities in cancer. Baylin
is a pioneer in this field and was
among the first to trace the epigenetic causes of cancer.
His studies have led to new therapies for breast, lung
and colorectal cancers, among others. He is co-leader of
the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics
Dream Team, a Director’s Scholar at VAI and the Virginia
and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns
Hopkins University.
Nick Burton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nick Burton explores how
our environment, especially
microbes, can impact our health
and the health of our offspring
— even before they are born. His
research has extensive implications for understanding
how epigenetics contributes to human disease and how
the environment we are exposed to today affects not
only our own health but also our children’s.
Yvonne Fondufe-
Mittendorf, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf
investigates how environmental
factors, such as toxicants,
impact our genetic code and
contribute to cancer. Her research is illuminating
powerful new insights that could influence our
understanding of health and disease, providing a path
forward for new strategies for cancer prevention and
treatment.
Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Peter W. Laird seeks a
detailed understanding of
the molecular foundations of
cancer, with a particular focus
on identifying crucial epigenetic
alterations that convert otherwise healthy cells into
cancer cells. He is an international leader in this effort
and has helped design some of the world’s state-ofthe-art
tools to aid in epigenetics research. Laird is
also a principal investigator for the National Cancer
Institute’s Genome Data Analysis Network and played a
leadership role in The Cancer Genome Atlas, a multiinstitutional
effort to molecularly map cancers.
Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Gerd Pfeifer studies how
the body switches genes on and
off, a biological process called
methylation that, when faulty,
can lead to cancer or other
diseases. His studies range from the effect of tobacco
smoke on genetic and epigenetic systems to the
discovery of a mechanism that may help protect the
brain from neurodegeneration.
RESEARCH
1721

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
DEPARTMENT OF EPIGENETICS (CONTINUED)
J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik seeks
to understand how we become
whom we become, and how our
disease susceptibility is defined
from early on in life, even before
conception, with the long-term goal of being able to
predict a lifelong health outlook at birth.
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Scott Rothbart studies the
ways in which cells pack and
unpack DNA. This elegant process
twists and coils roughly two
meters of unwound DNA into a
space less than one-tenth the width of a human hair.
Although this process is impressive, it is also subject to
errors that can cause cancer and other disorders.
Dr. Rothbart seeks new targets for drug development in
this process.
Hui Shen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Hui Shen develops new
approaches to cancer prevention,
detection and treatment by
studying the interaction between
genes and their control systems,
called epigenetics. Her research focuses on women’s
cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, and has shed new
light on the underlying mechanisms of many other
cancer types.
22
Piroska Szabó, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Piroska Szabó studies the flow
of epigenetic information from
parents to their offspring, with a
focus on how epigenetic markers
are remodeled during egg and
sperm production, and how these markers are rewritten
after fertilization. These processes have profound
implications for fertility and embryo development.
Timothy J. Triche, Jr., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
As a statistician and
computational biologist with an
interest in clonal evolution and
cancers of the blood, the work of
Dr. Timothy J. Triche, Jr., focuses
on wedding data-intensive molecular phenotyping to
adaptive clinical trial designs in an effort to accelerate
the pace of drug targeting and development in rare or
refractory diseases.
Hong Wen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Hong Wen investigates the
molecular underpinnings of
pediatric cancers, with a focus
on how epigenetic dysregulation
impacts gene expression and
drives malignancy. Her work holds great promise
for developing new, improved therapies for these
devastating diseases.
FEDERAL AND
FOUNDATIONAL
FUNDING IN 2022
Awards breakdown
New Awards in 2022:
35
Figures current as of November 2022
Active Awards:
133
Figures current as of November 2022
Active Award Funding:
$166.1 million
Figures current as of November 2022

Department of
Neurodegenerative
Science
Worldwide, between 7 million and 10 million people
have Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological
condition marked by tremor, rigidity and the gradual
loss of voluntary movement, along with a host of other
symptoms, such as loss of sense of smell, cognitive
issues, constipation, trouble sleeping and pain.
Additionally, more than 30 million people have Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementias.
Currently, there are no cures and no effective ways
to slow or stop disease progression in Parkinson’s
and Alzheimer’s. Our scientists aim to change that
by investigating the complex factors that give rise to
neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, from
genetics and epigenetics to aging, inflammation, and the
structure of the brain itself — even the role of the gut and
the immune system.
With the exception of a small number of people whose
Parkinson’s is directly linked to family genetic inheritance,
most cases are sporadic, meaning they have no known
cause. A growing body of evidence suggests that genetic
and epigenetic predisposition coupled with environmental
factors, such as exposure to certain inflammatory
agents, may trigger the disease, which progresses for
years or even decades before the onset of its signature
movement-related symptoms.
As the global population ages, the number of people
with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s is expected to
significantly increase in the coming years, underscoring
the importance and urgency of developing improved
treatment strategies. By leveraging discoveries made
in VAI’s labs and collaborating with researchers around
the world, our scientists are working to translate
breakthroughs into life-changing new treatments.
Darren Moore, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Dr. Darren Moore seeks new
diagnostic and treatment
approaches for Parkinson’s
by investigating the inherited
form of the disease, which
comprises 5% to 10% of cases. He aims to translate the
understanding of these genetic mutations into better
treatments and new diagnostic tools for Parkinson’s,
both inherited and non-inherited. Discoveries from
Dr. Moore’s lab routinely elucidate the faulty molecular
interactions that transform healthy, functioning neurons
into diseased ones.
José Brás, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. José Brás investigates how
variations in our genes impact
the onset and progression of
neurodegenerative diseases such
as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and
dementia with Lewy bodies. Using
cutting-edge technologies and bioinformatic approaches,
he has identified new genetic mutations that impact
disease risk.
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
As a psychiatrist and a scientist,
Dr. Lena Brundin seeks ways to
diagnose and treat depression
and suicidality by studying
inflammation of the nervous
system. Her findings may lead to earlier interventions
for depressive patients and to the development of a new
class of antidepressants that targets the immune system.
She also investigates how inflammatory mechanisms can
damage nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease.
Hong-yuan Chu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Hong-yuan Chu investigates
how and why dopamineproducing
cells die off in
Parkinson’s, a process that
underlies many of the disease’s
hallmark symptoms. He plans to leverage this new
knowledge to develop new, more precise ways to slow
or stop disease progression.
Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Gerhard Coetzee searches
the human genome for
minuscule changes that
contribute to the onset,
progression and drug resistance
of many diseases, including cancer and Parkinson’s.
His team deploys genome sequencing technologies
and high-powered computational arrays to tease out
patterns and interactions of markers and treatment
targets from among the human genome’s more than
three billion DNA base pairs.
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Rita Guerreiro parses
the genetic variations that
contribute to neurodegenerative
diseases such as Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, dementia with
Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. Her
research has led to new insights into the genetic
contributors to these diseases, which currently have
no cure and no treatments that slow progression.
RESEARCH
1923

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
DEPARTMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE
SCIENCE (CONTINUED)
Michael Henderson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Michael Henderson
investigates the causes of
neurodegenerative diseases like
Parkinson’s and dementia with
Lewy bodies, and the factors
that control disease progression. He hopes to translate
his findings into new therapies that slow or stop this
progression.
Qiang Zhu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Qiang Zhu investigates
the genetic, epigenetic and
cellular factors that lead to
neurodegenerative diseases
such as ALS and frontotemporal
dementia. To date, his work has revealed the complex
mechanisms underlying the most common genetic cause
for both of these diseases — an insight that has provided
novel targets for the development of new therapies.
Department of
Cell Biology
Our health, and consequently our lives, depend on the
coordinated activities of our individual cells. Scientists
in VAI’s Department of Cell Biology investigate how these
cells grow, communicate, survive, assemble into tissues,
respond to the environment and change with age. Their
transformative work aims to yield new diagnostic and
treatment strategies to improve the quality of life for
people with cancer, bone diseases and rare disorders.
Tao Yang, Ph.D.
Interim Chair and Associate Professor
Dr. Tao Yang studies the signaling
systems that govern skeletal stem
cells and the role they play in
diseases such as osteoarthritis
and osteoporosis. Bones are
the body’s largest producer of adult stem cells, which
mature into cartilage, fat or bone tissue — a process that
falters with age. Dr. Yang seeks a better understanding
of these systems in search of new treatments for
degenerative bone disorders and other skeletal aging.
Stephanie Grainger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Stem cells give rise to every cell
type in the human body and play
important roles in health and
disease. Dr. Stephanie Grainger
seeks to understand how these
special cells develop, how they are maintained and how
they can become cancerous, with the goal of developing
new strategies for combating cancer.
24
Scott Jewell, Ph.D.
Director, Pathology and Biorepository
Core; Professor, Department of Cell
Biology
Dr. Scott Jewell is a nationally
recognized expert in biobanking,
which encompasses the
management and storage of the crucial biological
samples that facilitate research into health and disease.
As director of VAI’s Pathology and Biorepository Core,
Dr. Jewell oversees the Institute’s contributions to many

large-scale, collaborative projects designed to shed new
light onto cancer, Parkinson’s, rare disorders and many
other diseases.
Brian Haab, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Brian Haab searches for new ways
to diagnose and stratify pancreatic
cancers based on the chemical
fingerprints tumors leave behind. Part
of the problem Dr. Haab aims to solve
is that cancers often look and behave normally — until after
they’ve started making people sick. Dr. Haab is sleuthing
out clues to build a library of diagnostic tools that will help
providers diagnose tumors earlier and optimize treatment.
Matt Steensma, M.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Matt Steensma studies the
genetic and molecular factors that
cause benign tumors to become
cancers, in search of vulnerabilities
that may be targeted for treatment.
As a scientist at VAI and a practicing surgeon at Corewell
Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, he is committed
to translating scientific discoveries into treatments that
improve patients’ lives.
Bart Williams, Ph.D.
Director, Core Technologies and Services;
Professor
Dr. Bart Williams studies the building
blocks of bone growth on behalf of
the millions suffering from diseases
such as osteoporosis. He seeks
new ways of altering cell signaling pathways to encourage
healthy bone development and deter cancer spread to the
skeleton. Dr. Williams also serves as director of VAI’s Core
Technologies and Services, which provide technology
and specialized expertise to Institute scientists and
collaborators.
Two VAI scientists named to elite Highly Cited
Researchers list
Dr. Russell Jones and Dr. Peter W. Laird were included in the
2022 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list, a distinction
marking them as leaders in their fields. The greatly anticipated
annual list identifies researchers who 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
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measure of influence and impact
in the scientific community. Jones
studies how diet and metabolism
impact the immune system’s
ability to fight infection and
cancer. Laird investigates the
role of epigenetics in cancer.
Both were included on the
2021 list.
Craig Reynolds joins VAI as Vice President for
Research Protections
In fall 2022, VAI appointed Craig Reynolds as Vice President
for Research Protections following a national search. Reynolds
joined VAI from University of Michigan, where he most
recently served as Assistant Vice President for Research-
Sponsored Projects. He was hired during an exceptional
period of growth in our organization.
Since 2014, the Institute has recruited more than two dozen
principal investigators who have established labs at VAI and
expanded our research into new areas including metabolism
and nutrition.
RESEARCH
25

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Department of
Structural Biology
Imagine standing on the moon and having eyes so
powerful that you can clearly watch a tennis match on
Earth. Now imagine using that same visual power to see
down to the molecular level, and you have structural
biology — a field that allows scientists to study the
smallest components of life in exquisite detail.
Determining the shape of these critical molecules is
vital for understanding their function in health and
disease. Scientists in Van Andel Institute’s Department of
Structural Biology harness state-of-the-art techniques to
visualize molecules that may serve as treatment targets
for cancer, neurological disorders, metabolic diseases,
infectious diseases and more.
They’re revealing groundbreaking new insights into the
most fundamental aspects of biology, from parsing the
ways cells sense and respond to the environment to
illuminating the intricacies of DNA replication. And they’re
laying the foundations for new therapies by revealing how
a drug molecule disables its target protein.
Huilin Li, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Dr. Huilin Li uses cryo-electron
microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal
the most basic building blocks
of DNA replication and other
systems vital for life. He has
been at the vanguard of cryo-EM for more than
20 years, and his research has implications for some
of the world’s most critical public health concerns,
including tuberculosis, cancer, mental illness and
many more.
Juan Du, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Juan Du seeks to
understand the brain’s intricate
communication systems using
state-of-the-art structural
biology approaches, such as
cryo-EM. Her work has revealed new insights into
critical processes such as temperature regulation
in the human body, which has implications for
development of new medications for neurological
disorders.
Wei Lü, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Wei Lü is working to unravel
how brain cells communicate
with each other. Using techniques
such as cryo-EM, his work
has contributed to the field’s
understanding of molecules that play crucial roles in the
development and function of the nervous system.
Evan Worden, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Evan Worden leverages VAI’s
powerful suite of cryo-electron
microscopes to explore the
complex molecular interactions
that give rise to cancer. To date,
his research has revealed novel insights into poorly
understood regulatory elements in the genetic code
and illuminated how aberrations in these processes can
transform healthy cells into malignant ones.
26

Department
of Metabolism
and Nutritional
Programming
For the human body to function properly, it must have the
right amount of energy and resources in the right place at
the right time. Every aspect of life is fueled by metabolism,
a constant cascade of chemical reactions that ensure
we have the energy to survive and thrive. But sometimes
things go wrong, depriving our cells of the energy and
resources required for healthy function.
When energy production or distribution breaks down, the
results can be catastrophic — diseases such as cancer,
Parkinson’s and diabetes are all known to have varying
degrees of metabolic involvement.
Scientists in VAI’s Department of Metabolism and
Nutritional Programming explore the intricate mechanics
of cellular metabolism and their implications for health
and in disease. Using cutting-edge techniques, they’re
investigating metabolism’s interaction with other critical
systems, such as the immune system, and revealing how
environmental exposures and metabolic dysfunction
contribute to diseases such as diabetes, autoimmunity,
cancer and neurodegeneration. They’re also parsing
the ripple effect that nutrition may have through the
generations, exploring how our diets could lay the
epigenetic foundations for the health of our descendants.
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Dr. Russell Jones investigates
metabolism at the cellular level
to understand how it affects
cell behavior and health, with a
specific eye on cancer and the
immune system. By revealing how cancer cells use
metabolic processes to fuel their growth and spread, he
hopes to develop new treatments that help patients by
changing the standard of care for cancer.
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Connie Krawczyk investigates
the links between metabolism,
epigenetics and the immune
system, with the goal of
understanding how they work
together to keep us healthy and, when things go wrong,
to promote disease.
Adelheid Lempradl, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Adelheid Lempradl is
investigating how the dietary
choices and environmental
exposures of parents may
impact the health of their
offspring in the hopes of translating her findings into
new ways to prevent disease and create a healthier
future.
Evan Lien, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Cancer cells have voracious
appetites for nutrients and
energy, which they use to
grow and spread. Dr. Evan
Lien searches for ways to
deprive tumors of their fuel sources by exploring the
molecular and biochemical interactions between diet,
metabolism and cancer with the goal of developing
breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies.
Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Sara Nowinski investigates
how cells determine the
amount of energy needed
for everyday life and how
they adjust to meet those
requirements. Her research has uncovered new
insights into the intricate balance between nutrient
availability and cellular respiration — both critical
components to maintaining health.
RESEARCH
27

A modern approach to graduate education
Van Andel Institute Graduate School’s Ph.D. in
molecular and cellular biology is a researchintensive,
interdisciplinary program that prepares
students for exceptional careers as independent
investigators. The Graduate School combines
extensive practical experience and rigorous
scientific training with in-depth academic
coursework and professional development — a
powerful combination that gives our students a
springboard for success. By the end of their studies
at the Institute, students graduate not only with a
Ph.D., but also with the tools required to build
a strong career as a biomedical scientist and
research leader.
The Graduate School is housed directly across
the street from the Institute’s main facility, next
to Van Andel Institute for Education. The facilities
are freshly renovated, featuring classrooms and
workstations, quiet study places, shared locales to
fuel interaction and collaboration, a reading room,
and lounge and kitchen areas for students
to recharge.
The space is designed for change, allowing the
Graduate School to comfortably grow into its next
chapter while maintaining the characteristics that
have long made it attractive to students: innovative
approaches to teaching, intimate cohort sizes,
access to cutting-edge technology and guidance by
faculty mentors at the top of their research fields.
28

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 on the business of
scientific research and leadership.
However, 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, 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.
Around
the
Institute
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 an
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 at kate.frillmann@vai.org.
RESEARCH
In December 2022, VAI increased postdoctoral salaries, placing us among the
best-paying research organizations for postdocs in the U.S.
29

A modern approach to graduate education
2022 HIGHLIGHTS Graduate School by the numbers
Associate Dean joins Van Andel Institute Graduate School
In July, the Graduate School welcomed Dr. Sarah Bodbyl as associate dean. In her
new role, Dr. Bodbyl supports Institute faculty in curriculum and course design,
implementation and review. She also leads professional development courses,
supports graduate students applying for predoctoral fellowships, and oversees
undergraduate and graduate internship opportunities.
Before joining the Institute, Dr. Bodbyl served as a faculty developer for the Trefny
Innovative Instruction Center at the Colorado School of Mines, a public research
university in Golden, Colorado. She previously held several positions at Michigan
State University in the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education
and at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. Dr. Bodbyl earned her undergraduate
degree from Calvin University and a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from
the University of Kansas.
Origins of Cancer symposium honors Founding Research Director
Dr. George Vande Woude
VAI’s final Origins of Cancer symposium brought together students, scientists and
medical professionals to honor the late Dr. George Vande Woude, the Institute’s
founding research director and a groundbreaking scientist whose discovery of
the MET oncogene revolutionized our understanding of cancer. The event, which
has been organized by VAI graduate students since 2013, featured a distinguished
roster of speakers who highlighted Dr. Vande Woude’s legacy as well as recent
breakthroughs in the oncogene field.
49 Students enrolled
36 Students graduated (32 Ph.D.; 4 M.S.)
1.4:1 Student:faculty ratio
5.4 Years on average time to degree
79% Cumulative graduation rate
Numbers current as of Nov. 21, 2022
30

VAI welcomes three new faculty
VAI’s growth continued in 2022 with the addition of three new faculty members, whose groundbreaking work augmented our existing strengths and
expanded our research into new areas. The Institute is now home to 35 labs and more than 500 staff — all dedicated to building a healthier future.
Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Epigenetics
Dr. Fondufe-Mittendorf studies the relationship between environmental factors, such as arsenic in drinking water, and
cancer risk. Her research has revealed how low-dose arsenic exposure transforms healthy cells into malignant ones —
revelations that have significant public health implications.
RESEARCH
“Our environment has a profound impact on our health, down to the molecular level. My research addresses some
of today’s health challenges by developing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning this critical
relationship. VAI is a global center for leading-edge epigenetics research, and I am thrilled to be part of it.”
Evan Lien, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Dr. Lien investigates the intersection between diet and cancer, with a focus on how
dietary changes may impact tumor development and growth. He plans to translate
his findings into actionable strategies for improving cancer treatment and response.
“Diet is such an important determinant of human health, but there is still so much
we do not understand about the molecular and biochemical interactions between
nutrition and cancer progression. I am thrilled to join the Department of Metabolism
and Nutritional Programming at VAI, where we will have the extensive expertise and
state-of-the-art resources to answer these questions.”
Around
the
Institute
Qiang Zhu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Dr. Zhu studies two devastating neurodegenerative diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal
dementia (FTD). He is hopeful that his work, which focuses on repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene, will uncover new
treatment targets and biomarkers that will aid scientists and physicians in studying and tracking disease progression. His
efforts have already led to a clinical trial for treating specific subtypes of ALS and FTD.
“The lack of therapies that impede progression of ALS and FTD is a major gap in patient care. I’m heartened that my
research to date has contributed to clinical exploration of potential treatments, and am excited to expand my efforts
at VAI. The Institute has exceptional research facilities and a highly supportive, collaborative scientific environment.
I look forward to teaming up with my colleagues to achieve our shared goal — new, more effective treatments for
neurodegenerative diseases.”
2731

Van Andel Institute
for Education
WE BELIEVE THAT HOPE FOR TOMORROW LIVES IN THE STUDENTS OF
TODAY. BY BRINGING THE SPIRIT OF RESEARCH INTO EDUCATION,
WE CAN BUILD CLASSROOMS WHERE CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY
AND CRITICAL THINKING THRIVE.

K-12 Education
Van Andel Institute for Education is dedicated to bringing the spirit of research into classrooms and
building spaces where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive. Our educators develop inquiry-based
approaches for K–12 education to help teachers, administrators and parents support the next generation
of problem solvers. These programs are designed to engage students at an intrinsic level while delivering
innovative strategies for teachers, with a shared goal of promoting high-quality education for all. Students
participate in authentic learning experiences that allow them to think critically and challenge themselves,
all while having a healthy dose of fun. Our educators are committed to making the classroom a place where
students and teachers want to be.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
FOR SCHOOLS
Professional Development
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. It combines immersive workshops,
learning sessions and ongoing coaching to create
customized learning paths for teachers and
administrators. In 2022, VAI offered Flex PD solutions
to more than 25 schools and provided professional
development services to more than 2,300 educators.
Our Better Together virtual networking events have
brought together K–12 administrators to exchange
ideas on how to increase engagement, accelerate
learning and incorporate elements like socialemotional
and project-based learning in their schools.
Similarly, VAI’s Admin Guides give administrators
free, comprehensive research and recommendations
for key topics such as school improvement planning,
teacher morale and more.
VAI also hosted Science on the Grand: A STEAM
Conference for Inquiry-based Educators. Over two
days, education experts and classroom teachers
gathered to unleash research-based, classroomtested
content — all designed to support educators in
increasing inquiry-based instruction. The conference
served more than 100 educators and focused on
creating a classroom that supports STEAM instruction
while nurturing educators’ curiosity for personal
growth and enjoyment.
Instructional Tools
Project-based learning immerses students in authentic
learning experiences that engage the heart, hands and
minds of students. Yet, developing these projects can
be an intimidating — and time-consuming — prospect
for educators. This is where Blue Apple comes in. 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. VAI shipped 324 Blue Apple
projects to teachers in the 2021–22 school year, an
increase of 16% over the previous year.
VAI shipped 324 Blue Apple projects to teachers in the
2021–22 school year, an increase of 16% over the previous year.
34

K–12 EDUCATION
35

K-12 Education
Of course, not all teachers are ready to implement full project-based learning units,
so VAI supports all teachers by helping them infuse higher-level thinking skills into
activities they are likely already doing. Blue Apple Timely Topics address relevant
content with a series of free, 15-minute mini-lessons that are easy-to-implement for
teachers and highly motivating for students. The mini-lessons, which include topics
like “Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month” and “Classroom Community,” have been
downloaded more than 5,000 times by educators in over 40 countries.
Field Trips & More
Science doesn’t happen only in the classroom — some of the best learning
experiences come from stepping out into the real world. VAI Field Trips immerse
students and teachers in thinking and acting like scientists. Students get the
opportunity to conduct unique, grade-specific investigations and participate in
hands-on discovery. There are more than 40 different programs available, each
uniquely designed to provide an engaging and educational experience. Coming out
of the pandemic, teachers have been particularly interested in field trips. VAI
hosted more than 2,500 students for field trips in 2022, an increase of 50% over
the previous year.
Thousands of students have visited our classrooms in downtown Grand Rapids over
the years, but our intrepid team of educators also visit Michigan communities and
beyond through Curiosity on Wheels. This customizable event brings hands-on, funfilled
STEM investigations to students in their own community. Curiosity on Wheels
delivers experiences that are as memorable as they are educational, creating lively
events for students, teachers and families.
High school students with an interest in science have the opportunity to collaborate
with VAI researchers with VAI’s High School Journal Club. This intensive and
impactful program brings students, teachers and VAI scientists together to engage
in scientific discourse. Students emulate the practice of VAI scientists, collaborating,
reading, analyzing and presenting scientific journal articles in formats easily applied
to the classroom.
FOR FAMILIES
Summer Camps
Science doesn’t disappear when summer vacation starts. Through our VAI Summer
Camps, students can attend unique camps celebrating science, engineering and
robotics. The demand for these weeklong, affordable camps was at an all-time high,
so VAI doubled up on many camp offerings, meeting with a total of 305 students
in 2022 compared to 168 in 2021! Camp themes included fossils, space exploration,
learning about the Grand River ecosystem, renewable energy, and many more.
Afterschool Cohort
For students looking to stay engaged beyond classes, the Afterschool Cohort
program encourages students to think and act like scientists and engineers. They
conduct investigations using real scientific tools, engaging with science at an
intrinsic level. Topics include biodiversity, human health and human innovation. Best
of all? There is no cost to participate in the program — tuition is covered by VAI’s
generous donors.
VAI hosted more than 2,500 students for field trips in 2022,
an increase of 50% over the previous year.
36

K–12 EDUCATION
37

Events &
Philanthropy
THROUGH DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS AND A SHARED
PASSION FOR THE FUTURE, VAI’S COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS
RAISES MILLIONS TO FUEL A BETTER TOMORROW.

Carol Van Andel
Angel of Excellence Dinner & Award Presentation
For the last nine years, the annual Carol
Van Andel Angel of Excellence Dinner &
Award Presentation has celebrated the
commitment and passion of VAI’s most
dedicated supporters, highlighting their
extraordinary efforts in the service
of research, discovery and hope. The
2022 award recipients were Amway, Jill
Bielema, Bluewater Technologies, Michael
and Lynette Ellis, and Grand Rapids
Griffins.
40
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR
LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
TIM GORTSEMA FROM GRAND
RAPIDS GRIFFINS & CAROL
VAN ANDEL; CAROL VAN ANDEL
GREETS ATTENDEES; BRADEN
GRAHAM FROM BLUEWATER
TECHNOLOGIES &
CAROL VAN ANDEL; JILL
BIELEMA & CAROL VAN ANDEL;
MICHAEL & LYNETTE ELLIS &
CAROL VAN ANDEL; MILIND
PANT FROM AMWAY &
CAROL VAN ANDEL

Winterfest
Celebration
Grand Rapids’ winter extravaganza
returned for the 17th year, combining
food, cocktails and generosity to support
Parkinson’s disease research. Attendees
gathered at Cascade Hills Country Club to
enjoy dinner, live musical entertainment
and a paddle raise auction. Guests
saw the direct impact of their support
as Parkinson’s disease advocates and
scientists shared their stories, bringing
a personal spotlight to the value of
scientific exploration.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Buist
Electric.
EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
DAVID VAN ANDEL; CAROL VAN ANDEL
TALKS WITH JACK ROMENCE; EVENT
CO-CHAIRS GEORGE SHARPE JR. &
MISSY SHARPE DELIVER REMARKS
41

Design & Discovery
Merging the inspiration of modernist
furniture design with the elegant
silhouettes and colors of contemporary
fashion, this event inspired the
imagination while supporting research.
Held at the legendary Haworth
headquarters and showroom in Holland,
Michigan, guests were treated to a
runway show by Leigh’s while enjoying
delectable hors d’oeuvres, artisan
cocktails and complimentary swag bags.
The event featured a silent auction with
a selection of high-end products and
experiences from generous supporters,
along with a stunning sculpture donated
by Paolo Nicolai.
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors,
Haworth and Leigh’s.
42
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
FRANCO BIANCHI; LEIGH’S MODEL SHOWS OFF THE
LATEST FASHION; REBECCA WIERDA & CAROL
VAN ANDEL; MILLER GANAPINI & PAOLO NICOLAI;
VEHICLES ON DISPLAY AT HAWORTH HEADQUARTERS

JBoard
Mixer
VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors
are a group of vibrant
young professionals who
seek to support the mission
of VAI, working to create
a healthier tomorrow for
the next generation. Every
year, Ambassadors gather
for a JBoard-only mixer,
the perfect opportunity to
discuss ideas, passions and
goals for the future — all
while enjoying delicious food
and cocktails.
EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
JBOARD CO-CHAIRS RACHEL MRAZ
& BLAKE CRABB; GUESTS ENJOY
REFRESHMENTS; GUESTS ENJOYING
THE MIXER
43

Around the World
Hosted by VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors,
Around the World invites Institute
supporters, researchers and educators
to kick off their summer by enjoying
fine wine and meals from local food
trucks. The event featured interactive
activities facilitated by Van Andel
Institute for Education, igniting the
curiosity, creativity and critical thinking
of attendees. All proceeds support the
Institute’s K–12 education programs.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Lake
Michigan Credit Union.
44
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR
LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
BEN TALSMA & TERRA
TARANGO; CAROL VAN ANDEL
& VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE FOR
EDUCATION GUESTS; JBOARD
CO-CHAIRS RACHEL MRAZ
& BLAKE CRABB; GUESTS
NETWORKING

VAI Golf
Outing
Golfers returned to 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.
EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
KURT HASSBERGER,
DAVID VAN ANDEL & JACK DOLES;
DINA MCKNIGHT-DARGIS,
BETH VANPORTFLIET,
CAROL VAN ANDEL & MARCY ROTH;
PLAYERS WARM UP AT THE
DRIVING RANGE; HOPE COLLEGE
FOOTBALL COACH PETER
STUURSMA
45

Couture for a Cure
Michigan’s premier fashion event returned
for another evening full of glamour, 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 exhibited
outside their famous Milan shows, Max
Mara treated guests to a unique look at 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. A strolling
cocktail hour and silent auction allowed
attendees to mingle, while those looking to
upgrade their wardrobe 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.
46

EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE) LEIGH’S
MODELS SHOW OFF THE LATEST
LOOKS; CAROL VAN ANDEL; MAX
MARA SHOPPING EXPERIENCE;
REBECCA WIERDA, CAROL
VAN ANDEL & KELLI TEMPLETON;
LEIGH’S MODELS ON THE
RUNWAY; DJ AB ENTERTAINS
DANCING GUESTS
47

Hope on the Hill & The Chocolate Factory
Returning for the 22nd year, 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
fantastic outfits, were treated to worldclass
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.
48
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
JIM ZWIERS, CAROL VAN ANDEL,
JANE ZWIERS & DAVID VAN ANDEL;
MICHAEL CARBONARO (RIGHT)
ENTERTAINS THE AUDIENCE; GUESTS
ARRIVE AT HOPE ON THE HILL

A Conversation About Health & 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.
EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Howard
Miller Company.
(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR
LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
CAROL VAN ANDEL;
DR. YVONNE FONDUFE-
MITTENDORF; ATTENDEE
ASKS A QUESTION;
DR. HEIDI LEMPRADL
49

Signature special event sponsors
We are grateful to have extraordinarily dedicated signature event sponsors. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting
our mission throughout the year.
Accretive Company, Inc
Acrisure
Al & Robin Koop Foundation
John & Mary Amell
Amway
Andy J. Egan Co., Inc.
Aon
Rob & Dawn Arnoys
Autocam Medical
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Bayside Capital
John & Ginny Baysore
The Bengtson Center for Aesthetics
& Plastic Surgery
Bill & Amy Bennett
Jeff & Meg Bennett
Betz Industries
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
Dave & Jill Bielema
Bluewater Technologies
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
Bradley Company/Brad & Katie
Toothaker/Chip Bowling
The Brooks Family
Buist Electric
Calamos Investments LLC.
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Calvin University School of Health
Cancer & Hematology Centers of
Western Michigan, P.C.
Cheeky Strut
Consumers Credit Union
Ryan & Jessica Cook
Cornerstone
Blake Crabb
Mimi Cummings
Tom & Tracy Curran
Custer Inc.
CWD Real Estate
Davenport University
David & Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation
Deloitte
Dominique & Julie DeNooyer/DeNooyer
Chevrolet/Bob & Colette DeNooyer
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Discovery Financial/David & Angela
Muilenberg
Dan & Vicki Distin
John Dykema & Michele Maly-Dykema
The Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation
Eenhoorn
Eileen DeVries Family Foundation
Element Four
Ellis Parking Co.
Erhardt Construction
Ernst & Young LLP
Eurest
Fifth Third Private Bank
First National Bank of Michigan
Gallagher Insurance
The George & Evelyn on 8th
Daniel & Magee Gordon
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Grand Valley State University
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Patti Griswold
Jana Hall
Hansen/Balk Steel Treating Co.
Jeff & Ann Harten
Harvey Automotive
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
HB Wealth Management
The Hilldore Group — Baird
Hines Corporation
Dave & Donna Hockstra
Holland Hospital
Hope College
Howard Miller Company
J.C. Huizenga
Humphries Development
Ben & Molly Hunting
ICN Foundation
iHeart Media
Inontime
Patrick & Jasmine Irish
Jandernoa Foundation
Jeffery Roberts Design
John Hancock Financial
Matt & Sarah Jones
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Craig & Debra Kinney
Margaret Klopcic
KM Online Marketing
Josh & Connie Kooistra
Kool Auto Group
Blake & Mary Krueger
John & Katie Kuiper
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Leigh’s
Life EMS Ambulance
Loomis, Sayles & Company
Gary & Vicky Ludema
M&J Foundation & F45 Holland &
Grand Haven
Macatawa Bank
Making the Turn Against Parkinson’s
Max Mara
Mayflower Designs, Electrical Contractor
& Residential Builder
McAlvey Merchant & Associates
McShane & Bowie, PLC
Meijer
The Meijer Foundation
Mercantile Bank
Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long & William
Mackay
Michigan State University College of
Human Medicine
Midwest Capital
Mike & Rachel Mraz
MSU College of Human Medicine
50

Paul & Anne Nemschoff
New Holland Brewing Co.
Paolo Nicolai
Nicolai North America
Northern Jet Management
NPF Investment Advisors
NVINT
Owen Ames Kimball Co.
P.L. Capital
Padnos
Pageworks
Pediatric Dental Specialists of West
Michigan
Lee & Alexandra Perez
Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health
Services
Pioneer Construction
Pitsch Companies
Plastic Surgery Associates/Grand
Pearl Spa
Shawn & Sarah Platt
Priority Health
Progressive AE
Quality Air Service Inc.
Regal Financial Group
Rev Foundation
Brenda Rinks
Rockford Construction
Eve Rogus & Paul Becker in memory of
Clementine (Teenie) Rogus
RoMan Manufacturing
John & Therese Rowerdink
Rowerdink Inc.
Rycenga Building Group
Schupan
Scott Group Studio
Secrest Wardle
Tony & Dawn Semple
Sharpe
SIBSCO
Southport Trucking
Spectrum Health
Rob & Susan Stafford
Steelcase Inc.
Stephen Klotz Family Foundation
The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation
Tom & Mary Stuit
Summit Point Roofing
Duke Suwyn
Taconic Charitable Foundation
Thomas S. Fox Family
Trans-Matic Mfg. Co. Inc.
Dr. Steve & Laura Triezenberg
Truscott Rossman Group
University of Michigan Health-West
Sharon Van Dellen
Van Eerden Foodservice
Dave & Beth VanPorfliet
Mike & Michelle VanDyke
Michael & Gayle VanGessel
Dr. Bob & Grace VanTimmeren
Christian & Kara VerMeulen
Vicky Weller
Visbeen Architects Inc.
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Wells Fargo
West Michigan Woman
Wicked Pro
Williams Kitchen & Bath
Greg & Meg Willit
Robert & Karen Wiltz
Wolverine Worldwide
Woodways International
Jim & Jane Zwiers
EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
51

A decade of support: Inside Jeffery Roberts’
passion for biomedical research
Jeffery Roberts remembers saying goodbye to
Grand Rapids. As he prepared to further his studies
in Chicago, he thought he was leaving a city that had
finished growing. Thirty-five years later, he returned
to a dramatically different place — one thriving with
educational, medical and scientific discoveries. The
city hadn’t just reinvented itself, Roberts said, it had
refocused on helping humanity.
Classical training in the fine arts combined with degrees
in architecture, fashion and interior design led him on
a path to start his own full-service design firm, Jeffery
Roberts Design. His return to Grand Rapids brought new
opportunities to engage with the city, including a tour of
Van Andel Institute.
“I was invited to the building to tour the labs and get a
feel for the Institute’s work, when all of a sudden, I just
started thinking, ‘This is a cause for me,’” Roberts said.
He has directly supported that cause for more than a
decade, becoming a fervent supporter of VAI through
donations, sponsorships, event organizing and
volunteering. His support extends beyond donations, as
he wants to be involved as often as possible.
“I realize that my passion and talent can be used to
further support the Institute, so I have to use that gift,”
Roberts said. He’s even helped organize events from
the ground up, playing a key role in the development
of Building Hope, an architecture and design focused
fundraising event. Regardless of how busy he may be in
his professional life, Roberts always has time for VAI.
“In our lives, we have to be aware of the balance of our
purpose within society and our personal responsibility
for well-being,” Roberts said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve
learned to focus on using the talents I’ve been given to
make positive impacts on the world.”
So much involvement can be tiring, but rewarding. A
self-described introverted extrovert, Roberts needs
time to recharge after large events. He chooses to focus
on the value of VAI’s work and the commitment of other
supporters, a combination that always energizes him to
stay involved. That energy is also fueled by a personal
connection: When Roberts was a teenager, his younger
brother died from a rare form of childhood cancer. A
patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, his
brother participated in treatment research, which
developed into an approved protocol for other patients.
Seeing the direct impact of cancer research fueled
Roberts into a lifelong commitment to support similar
causes.
“Everyone can make a choice as to how they give back,”
Roberts said. “For me, it’s about supporting institutions
like VAI, places that are working on research that can
deliver a better future for everyone.”
Roberts is committed to ensuring that future by
continuously looking for ways to get involved with VAI.
Although his personal connection to cancer means
it will always remain a focus, he’s recently shifted his
interest to VAI’s metabolism research and education
initiatives. These are causes that are becoming
important in his own life, Roberts said, and he’s excited
to learn more about their development.
“Looking back at the happenings of the last decade, you
can see a clear acceleration in terms of research and
education,” Roberts said. “You start to think, ‘What is
the next generation going to do, how will this success
continue?’ You can’t help but get excited about it, and
I hope to continue playing a small part through my
support.”
“Everyone can make
a choice as to how
they give back. For me,
it’s about supporting
institutions like VAI,
places that are working
on research that can
deliver a better future
for everyone.”
— Jeffery Roberts
52

EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
53

Positivity & perseverance: Richard Cebelak’s journey
with Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a challenging
diagnosis. It requires adjustments to
day-to-day life and changes in regular
habits. But for Richard Cebelak,
Parkinson’s would not get him out of
his routine.
When Richard was diagnosed in 2015,
he and his wife, Patricia, knew it
would be a long journey they would
undertake as one.
“Richard’s positive attitude meant
we would take one step at a time
together,” Patricia said. “At that point,
we understood how fragile life was,
and we would deal with it hand in hand.”
“You hear about the
scientists working to
make the world better
and get to talk to them
and learn from them.
It really gives
you hope.”
— Patricia Cebelak
For Richard, “dealing with it” meant
staying active. In addition to following
medical guidance for treatment,
Richard and Patricia went to exercise
classes, spent time with friends, met
other people with Parkinson’s and
volunteered when able. Grand Rapids
itself also had a role to play.
“Living in the area, I knew of people
who came from Petoskey, Battle Creek,
Kalamazoo — all to visit the facilities
that exist in our own backyard. Being
in this medical community, it gave us
the support we needed,” Patricia said.
After adjusting to life with Parkinson’s,
Richard and Patricia regularly
attended VAI’s Winterfest Celebration,
which raises funds to support
Parkinson’s research at the Institute.
They found it the perfect opportunity
to learn about the disease directly
from scientists, something that was
more impactful than the literature.
“You hear about the scientists working
to make the world better and get to
talk to them and learn from them. It
really gives you hope,” Patricia said.
Most importantly for them, they were
supporting a local cause with global
impact: This wasn’t an institute in
another country, Patricia said. The
research is happening right in their
own backyard.
“Seeing the Van Andel family be
involved, meeting the researchers,
talking with other supporters — it
built a connection of trust with the
Institute that made us believers in
the impact a place like this can have,”
Patricia said.
Richard wanted to change the
perception of Parkinson’s, making it
a point to maintain his daily errands,
keep habits and, most importantly,
remain out in the community. For
him, this was the opportunity to
show that good things can come from
challenges, Patricia said, but it was
also his way of tackling problems. You
could never slow Richard down, and
his friends knew that: They took him
ice fishing in 2021 — five years after
his initial diagnosis.
“That was Richard, the one whose
friends would build a special rig
to help him go ice fishing with
Parkinson’s disease, the one who
would go on his solo trips to the lake
every Sunday,” Patricia said. “The
disease wouldn’t slow him down, and
it was inspiring to get to spend so
much time with him doing what he
liked to do.”
Richard stuck to his routine to the
very end, going on a fishing trip on
the day of his passing in June 2021. His
legacy lives on in the fond memories
of friends and family, and through
the impact he and Patricia have made
through their support of research.
54

EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
RICHARD CEBELAK; PATRICIA & RICHARD CEBELAK
55

From Purple Community to JBoard Ambassador
During an eighth-grade class project on
chemotherapy, Sydney Vucelich stumbled onto
Van Andel Institute’s website. She thought her work
would benefit from the perspective of an expert
from the community. After exchanging a few emails,
Sydney found herself visiting Medical Mile to meet
with renowned cancer scientist and VAI Founding
Research Director, the late Dr. George Vande Woude.
“Looking back, I really can’t believe it — a successful,
internationally recognized scientist sat down with
three eighth graders to answer our questions about
chemotherapy,” Sydney said.
The meeting left such an impression that Sydney knew
she had to get involved. That’s when she learned about
VAI Purple Community and decided it was the perfect
opportunity. Sydney and her friends Allie Wittenbach,
Isabella Fiorenzo and Mariah Otolski organized a track
team fundraiser, baking cookies and selling purple
T-shirts to support the cause. It was her first time
volunteering, and it was a success: The event raised
more than $5,000 to support research at the Institute.
Her dedication to Purple Community continued during
her time at Forest Hills Central High School, where
Sydney and her friends organized Purple Games and
other fundraising events throughout the year, raising
more than $100,000 by the time she graduated. For
Sydney, the value went beyond the funds. The real
benefit came from bringing VAI’s mission to the
community. Sydney and her classmates received the
Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award in 2014 for
their efforts.
“My grandmother was diagnosed
with lung cancer, and my
grandfather with pancreatic cancer.
So, it wasn’t just about raising
money. It was about working to
change the future for the better.”
— Sydney Vucelich
After graduation, Sydney spent time away from VAI,
Grand Rapids and Purple Community, but the mission
remained present.
“My grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer, and
my grandfather with pancreatic cancer. So, it wasn’t just
about raising money. It was about working to change
the future for the better,” she said.
When she returned home, Sydney joined the JBoard,
VAI’s network of young professionals. She was joined
by her husband, Samuel, who had his own personal
connection to the cause.
“My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
about 15 years ago, and that experience is something
that makes you want to do more,” Samuel said. “Hearing
from Sydney about VAI and attending JBoard events
made me realize this is a place where we can make
an impact.”
For Sydney, engaging with VAI along with her husband
deepened her connection to the Institute while
strengthening their relationship. They find it to be a
perfect cause, one that connects their family history,
personal interests and passion to create a better future.
The JBoard has also connected them to the Grand
Rapids community, bringing together other young
professionals with shared interests. This was an
unexpected benefit, Samuel said, but one that has made
it clear the Institute is the right place for them.
“At so many networking events, people have a selfcentered
perspective, but that does not happen
here,” Samuel said. “No matter who you talk to at a
VAI or JBoard event, they’re there for the science, the
researchers, the cause — and the conversation always
hinges on how we can make a greater impact together.”
Sydney and Samuel see JBoard, and their involvement
with VAI as a whole, as a lifelong relationship. They aim
to continue supporting the Institute, attending events
and following along with its mission. It might even carry
into the next generation.
“Just the other day, my sister was telling me that she
would like to get involved with the Institute, and I’m also
working on getting more of Samuel’s side of the family
into things,” Sydney said. “Hopefully, one day my kids
can organize their own Purple Community events.”
To learn more about VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors visit
vai.org/JBoard.
56

EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
SAMUEL & SYDNEY VUCELICH
4957

Running for family & research
Nearly 40,000 athletes crowd the streets of
Chicago every year to compete in the city’s historic
marathon. Many see it as a physical challenge,
pushing themselves to the limit alongside an iconic
skyline. For George Sharpe Jr., the marathon is not
just about running — it’s a personal, emotional and
spiritual challenge.
Sharpe Jr. always had a passion for medical research and
philanthropy, but the importance of getting involved was
elevated in 2009, when his father, George Sharpe Sr.,
was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis
brought them closer together.
“We face the challenges together, and we’ve imagined
ways in which we can turn this challenge into action
to make a lasting contribution to the Parkinson’s
community,” Sharpe Jr. said.
Those contributions are broad and impactful: Sharpe
Jr. and his wife, Missy, are co-chairs of VAI’s Winterfest
committee, leading the planning for Grand Rapids’
winter extravaganza focused on supporting Parkinson’s
research.
The efforts don’t stop there. In 2017 and 2019, Sharpe
Jr. ran the Chicago Marathon as part of VAI’s Marathon
Team, raising money for the Institute’s research efforts.
He ran again in 2022, this time alongside his lifelong
friend Joe Brennan. Their friendship dates back 35
years, to grade school and early college years. Their
run became a record-breaking fundraising event:
Sharpe Jr. raised more than $26,000 for Parkinson’s
research, the highest total achieved by a VAI marathon
runner.
The Sharpe family’s commitment to research,
discovery and hope is unwavering. Their ongoing
support continues to fund research to help us better
understand, diagnose and treat Parkinson’s disease.
“It makes a difference knowing that such
groundbreaking and potentially life-altering research
is happening in our own backyard,” Sharpe Jr. said. “We
know the research happening today might not have
a direct impact on our lives or our loved ones, but it
might one day help another family with hopes, dreams
and memories like our own.”
“It makes a difference knowing that such groundbreaking and potentially life-altering
research is happening in our own backyard. We know the research happening today might
not have a direct impact on our lives or our loved ones, but it might one day help another
family with hopes, dreams and memories like our own.”
— George Sharpe Jr.
58

EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY
51 59

Philanthropy
Circle of Hope Anonymous (4)
The Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of Hope
recognizes those who have included
Van Andel Institute in their will, trust or other
estate plans. Through our acknowledgment of
and gratitude to these exceptional people, we
hope that their generosity will inspire others.
(Members as of Dec. 1, 2022)
Gasper Amodeo*
Vivian Anderson*
Stanley* & Blanche* Ash
Kevin & Michelle Bassett
Philip* & Shirley Battershall
John* & Nancy Batts
Frederick & Julie* Bogaert
John* & Sharon* Bouma
Dr. Jim & Martie Bultman
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
William & Marilyn
Crawford
Dr. Glenn & Patrice
Deibert
Barbara Erhards
J. Scott Grill*
Jana Hall
Joan Hammersmith*
Terry & Jacklyn Hickman
Arthur J. Jabury*
Maryanna Johnson
Dennis* & Joanne*
Kozarek
Reneé Kuipers*
Kenneth Larm
Timothy & Kimberly Long
Donald* & Kathleen Maine
Jamie Mills & James Nichols
LG* & Helen* Myers
Robert* & Lorraine* Nyhoff
Steven & Melissa Ozinga
Jill & Ken Peirce
Jone Phillips*
Donna Rosa
Ronald & Mary Rutkowski
Alan Ryan*
Tom & Barb Shaw
Ralph Siegel*
George Sietsema*
Eva Sonneville*
Alvin* & Hylda* Tuuk
John Van Fossen
John J. Visser*
Greta Wellington*
Carol Winton*
John Wisneski*
*Indicates deceased
Circle of Hope member
By the numbers
VAI Operating Revenues
2% 3%
VAI Operating Expenses
4%
Designated Gifts | $4,397K Total
$1,936K Unrestricted
64%
31%
$73,000K
$35,000K
$4,000K
$2,400K
Investment
return utilized
Grant & contract
revenue
Contributions
Other
revenues
30%
66%
$77,800K
Research
Management,
$35,500K
general & other
$5,000K Education
44%
44%
3%
26%
26%
21%
21%
3%
3%
3%
3%
$1,127K
$1,936K
$911K
$1,127K
$146K
$911K
$140K
$146K
$137K
$140K
$137K
Cancer
Unrestricted
Neurodegenerative
Cancer
Education
Neurodegenerative
Internship Program
Education
Other*
Internship Program
Other*
60
* INCLUDES 3% SCIENTIFIC EVENT SPONSORSHIPS
& METABOLISM

Institute Leadership Team
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
David Van Andel played a prominent role in bringing professional hockey
back to Grand Rapids in 1996. He is co-owner and chairman of the twotime
Calder Cup champion Griffins.
Van Andel is Chairman and CEO of Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids.
He is also an entrepreneur involved in several other business interests in
the natural and life science products industries. He currently serves as
a member of Amway’s Board of Directors on its Executive, Governance
and Audit committees. He is also active in numerous business, cultural
and community organizations, including The Right Place Economic
Development Agency and The Economic Club of Grand Rapids.
Van Andel was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and he graduated from
Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He and his wife, Carol, have four
children and three grandchildren.
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer
Jerry Callahan, Ph.D., MBA
Chief Strategic Officer
Thomas R. Curran, Jr., J.D.
General Counsel
Jana Hall, Ph.D., MBA
Chief Operations Officer
Timothy Myers, MBA, CPA
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Sam Pinto
Vice President & Chief Facilities Officer
Craig Reynolds
Vice President for Research Protections
Terra Tarango
Director & Chief Education Officer,
Van Andel Institute for Education
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
President & Dean, Van Andel Institute
Graduate School
Kathleen Vogelsang, CFA, MBA
Chief Investment Officer
Linda Zarzecki
Vice President of Human Resources
LEADERSHIP
61

Van Andel Institute Board Members
Van Andel Institute
Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,
Van Andel Institute
John Kennedy
President & Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical
Mark Meijer
Founder & President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance
Van Andel Research
Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,
Van Andel Institute
James B. Fahner, M.D.
Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
& Senior Administrative Physician for Philanthropy
& Community Relations at Helen DeVos
Children’s Hospital
Michelle Le Beau, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/
Oncology; Director, University of Chicago
Comprehensive Cancer Center; Director, Cancer
Cytogenetics Laboratory, University of Chicago
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor,
Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director,
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Van Andel Education
Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,
Van Andel Institute
James E. Bultman, Ed.D.
President Emeritus, Hope College
Susan Keipper Meell
Chief Executive Officer, MMS Education
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scholar in Residence for Diversity,
Equity & Inclusion, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for
Philanthropy, Grand Valley State University; President
Emeritus, Aquinas College; Interim President, Grand
Rapids Community College
Teresa Weatherall Neal, Ed.D. (hon)
Former Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools
(LEFT TO RIGHT) JOHN KENNEDY, DAVID VAN ANDEL
& MARK MEIJER
62

Van Andel Institute Graduate
School Board of Directors
Van Andel Research Institute
External Scientific Advisory Board
BOARDS
Maria Cimitile, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Honors College,
Grand Valley State University
James B. Fahner, M.D.
Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
& Senior Administrative Physician for Philanthropy
& Community Relations at Helen DeVos Children’s
Hospital
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Institute
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board; Distinguished Scholar in
Residence for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Dorothy
A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley
State University; President Emeritus, Aquinas College;
Interim President, Grand Rapids Community College
Mary O’Riordan, Ph.D.
Vice Chair of the Board; Associate Dean of Graduate
& Postdoctoral Studies and Frederick C. Neidhardt
Collegiate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Michigan Medical School
Candace T. Smith-King, M.D.
Vice President, Corewell Health Academic Affairs,
Corewell Health System; Pediatric Specialist, Helen
DeVos Children’s Hospital
Sharon Y.R. Dent, Ph.D. (ESAB Chair)
Professor & Chair, Department of Epigenetics &
Molecular Carcinogenesis; Professor, Center for Cancer
Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular
Carcinogenesis; Co-Director, Center for Cancer
Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology; Director, Institute
for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Joseph Ecker, Ph.D.
Professor, Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology
Laboratory; Director, Genomic Analysis Laboratory;
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator; Salk
International Council Chair in Genetics, Salk Institute
Theresa Guise, M.D.
Professor & Bone & Mineral Disorders Section Chief,
Department of Endocrine Neoplasia & Hormonal
Disorders; Co-Director, Rolanette & Berdon Lawrence
Bone Disease Program of Texas; Cancer Prevention
Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Scholar, The
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Tony Hunter, Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory;
American Cancer Society Professor; Renato
Dulbecco Chair; Director, Salk Institute Cancer
Center, Salk Institute
Mitchell Lazar, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Medicine; Willard & Rhoda
Ware Professor in Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases;
Director, Penn Diabetes Research Center; Director,
Cox Institute for Medical Research; Chair, Center
& Institute Directors Forum; Founding Director,
Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism,
University of Pennsylvania
Thomas J. Montine, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Pathology;
Stanford Medicine Endowed Professor in Pathology;
Member, Stanford Bio-X; Member, Wu Tsai
Neurosciences Institute; Founding Director, Pacific
Udall Center, Stanford University
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine;
Madeline & Sidney Forbes Professor of Oncology;
Director, Forbes Institute for Cancer Discovery;
Founding Director, University of Michigan Rogel
Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of
Michigan
Danny R. Welch, Ph.D.
Founding Chair, Department of Cancer Biology,
University of Kansas Cancer Center
63

Van Andel Institute Board of Governors
Co-chairs
Tim Long
Vicky Ludema
Members
Dr. Marguerite Aitken
Rosemary Anderson
Kurt Arvidson
Heidi Auman
Jeffrey & Cheryl Baker
James & Shirley Balk
Regena Bassett
Jeffrey Battershall
John & Ginny Baysore
Paul Becker & Eve Rogus
Priscilla Becker
Brian & Tami Jo Beltman
Jeff & Meg Bennett
Matthew & Shari Berger
Gregory & Rajene Betz
Dave & Jill Bielema
Ted & Betsy Boelema
Chuck & Chris Boelkins
M. Rodrick & Kathleen Bolhous
Carrie Boer
Anne Brennan
Brent Brinks
Leonard Brucato
Dr. Jim & Martie Bultman
Beau Burnett
William & Jackie Bylenga
Carol Bylsma
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Scott & Heidi Campbell
Josh & Linda Jo Carron
Jeffrey Cauley
Samuel Colella
Dr. Thomas & Nancy Coles
Diane Colvin
Keith & Shirley Cook
Matthew Cook
Ryan & Jessica Cook
Charles Cox
Bill & Marilyn Crawford
Mimi Cummings
Tom & Tracy Curran
David Custer
Stephen Czech
Kim Dabbs
Thomas DeJonge
Doug & Sandy Dekock
Marleen DeLong
Daniel DeRyke
Robert & Allison DeVilbiss
Dick & Betsy DeVos
Douglas & Maria DeVos
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Ron & Luann DeVries
John Dykema & Michele
Maly-Dykema
Dr. Mark Eastburg
Mike & Lynette Ellis
Henry & Anne Emrich
Peter & LeAnn Engles
Tina Freese Decker
José Pedro Freitas
Dan & Lou Ann Gaydou
Stuart Genschaw
Dr. Stephen Germic
Daniel Goris
Braden Graham
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Jefra Groendyk
Ronald Haan
Dr. Peter Hahn
Dr. Jana Hall
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
Matt & Jennifer Haworth
Paul & Rose Heule
Matthew Hoeksema
Dr. Philip T. & Sharon Hoekstra
J.C. Huizenga & Tammy Born-
Huizenga
Bill & Starr Humphries
Anthony Hunter
Ben & Molly Hunting
Win & Kyle Irwin
John James
Mike & Sue Jandernoa
Sidney & Cate Jansma
Tom Jasper
Kevin Jeakle
Lynn Jekkals
Cara Jones
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Matt & Sarah Jones
David & Nancy Kammeraad
Brenda Kastner
Greg & Tammie Keane
John & Nancy Kennedy
Rick Keyes
Dr. Chung Yul Kim
Craig & Debbie Kinney
Linda Klein
Stephen Klotz
Jerry Kooiman
Matthew & Danielle Kool
Al & Robin Koop
Blake & Mary Krueger
John & Katie Kuiper
Gregory & Patrice Lankfer
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Ken Larm
John Leese
Tim & Kim Long
Charles Lott
Gary & Vicky Ludema
Michael & Suzanne Lunn
Philomena Mantella
Holly McCaw
Thomas & Dawn McDonald
Thomas McGovern
Michael & Jen McGraw
Dina McKnight-Dargis
John McSorley
MCS Marketing
Mark & Mary Beth Meijer
Rusty Merchant
Buzz & Lisa Miller
Jack H. Miller
Ben & Elisabeth Mills
William & Patricia Mills
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Mark & Elizabeth Murray
Richard & Paula Nelson
Laurie-Ann Netto
Jack Nichols
Greg Northrup & Birgit Klohs
Dr. Juan R. & Mary Olivarez
Steve Olson
Milind Pant
Richard Pappas
Lee & Alexandra Perez
Lewis Pitsch
Richard Postma
Todd Rempe
Dr. John Renucci
Pat Ringnalda
Jeffery Roberts
Thank you, Board of Governors.
As members of the Van Andel Institute Board of Governors, you serve as ambassadors who help advance the Institute’s mission and vision in the local community.
Thank you for being our partners and contributing significantly to our success.
64

Doug Rottman
Timothy Rottschafer
John & Therese Rowerdink
H. Gideon Sanders
Mark Satkoski
Timothy Schowalter
Mary Schregardus
Matthew Scogin
Charlie Secchia
Tony & Dawn Semple
George & Linda Sharpe
George & Missy Sharpe
Tom & Barb Shaw
Sherri Smith
David & Linda Spencer
John & Judy Spoelhof
Robert & Susan Stafford
Peter Stamos & Dr. Soonmee
Cha-Stamos
Frank Stanek
Robert Stead
Anne Stephens
Dr. James & Dolly Strikwerda
Tom & Mary Stuit
Theresa Sullivan
Duwane Suwyn
Renee Tabben
Praveen Thadani
Dr. Steven J. & Laura Triezenberg
John Truscott
Michael & Jennifer Turala
David & Sandy Turner
David & Carol Van Andel
Steve & Amy Van Andel
Dan Van Dyck
Michael & Michelle Van Dyke
Daniel & Ann Marie Van Eerden
Ronald & Helen Van Farowe
Donna Van Haren
Maria Van Til
John Van Wylen
Brian & Lori Vander Baan
Dr. Douglas Vander Woude
Vanderhyde Brothers Ford, Inc.
Allen & Nancy VanderLaan
David & Beth VanPortfliet
Dr. Chris & Kara VerMeulen
Peter Versluis
Russ & Chris Visner
Phil & Kathy Vogelsang
Travis Ward
Tom Welch
Juli Wemmer
Benjamin Wickstrom
Scott & Rebecca Wierda
Julie Wiersema
Jim & Sue Williams
Greg & Meg Willit
Bob & Karen Wiltz
Jim & Mary Workman
John & Kathy Workman
Jim & Jane Zwiers
Van Andel Institute JBoard Ambassadors
Co-chairs: Blake Crabb & Rachel Mraz
Peter & Paige Afendoulis
Keegan Balk
Chris Billmeier
Blake Crabb
Jordan Custer
Aaron & Afton DeVos
Sam DeVries
Ben Eastburg
Jennifer Fischer
Evan Frick
James Frieling
Chris & Meghan Gartman
Zach Gebben
Nate Harris
Mike Hemmingsen
Jason & Brandi Huyser
Matt & Sarah Jones
Trey Kailunas
Margaret Kennedy
Kevin & Kathryn Kileen
Kaleb Kimble
Michael & Andrea Leestma
Kimberly Livingston
Kathleen Martin
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Thomas Murray
Nathan & Erin Nartker
Jon & Elle Oberdick
John O’Neill
Kendra Osowski
Greg Paplawsky
Lee & Alexandra Perez
Justin Pinto
Cody Pletcher
Alexandra Price
Patrick & Jenna Riley
Nicole Rodammer
Sara Ross
Alex Schrotenboer
Allison Sleight
Riley Smith
Joe Spoelhof
Timothy Streit
Mark Stuit
THIS LIST INCLUDES MEMBERS ACTIVE ANY TIME BETWEEN JAN. 1, 2022 AND DEC. 31, 2022.
Aaron & Hailey Van Andel
Chris Van Andel
Jesse & Heather Van Andel
Kyle Van Andel
Dan VandenBosch
Sarah Vander Baan
Tripp & Katie VanderWal
Samuel & Sydney Vucelich
Justin Welker
Cameron Young
Megan Zubrickas
BOARDS & COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS
Thank you, JBoard Ambassadors.
As JBoard Ambassadors, you are leaders who exhibit the power of young professionals to make a difference. We appreciate the energy and dedication you bring to the
Institute. Thank you for your vision and your friendship in our efforts to improve the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations.
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333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | 616.234.5000 | vai.org