2022 Annual Report

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.
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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.