VAI Folio 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Van Andel Institute is committed to improving the health
and enhancing the lives of current and future generations
through cutting-edge biomedical research and innovative
educational initiatives.
The Institute is home to more than 500 scientists, educators and
support staff who collaborate with partners around the world to
catalyze discovery and translate bold ideas into breakthrough
treatment strategies for cancer, Parkinson’s, metabolic disorders
and other diseases.
Our Graduate School offers a rigorous, research-intensive
Ph.D. program that develops leaders in molecular and cellular
biology. And our inquiry-based approaches for K –12 Education
drive life-changing progress with greater impact than traditional
academic models.
We invite you to discover our people and share in our progress.
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OUR STORY
David & Carol Van Andel
VAI FAST FACTS
CATALYTIC COLLABORATION
Dr. Peter A. Jones
A HUB FOR DISCOVERY
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf
ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTIONS
Dr. Russell Jones
A PASSION FOR RESEARCH
Dr. Menusha Arumugam
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Ben Talsma
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Areas of Strength
HOW WE’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Research Highlights
VAI’s Community of Supporters

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE BEGAN WITH A
VISION: TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH
AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF CURRENT
AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Van Andel Institute was founded in 1996 to pursue breakthroughs in biomedical research and
promote novel approaches to science education. Under the leadership of David and Carol
Van Andel, the Institute collaborates at the forefront of basic and translational science to multiply
the impact of discovery. Through shared values and an entrepreneurial spirit, we spark innovation
to answer critical questions for our world.
“At Van Andel Institute, our mission is simple:
we want to improve lives today and for
future generations. From our home in Grand
Rapids, we partner globally, pioneering paths
to life-changing therapies and treatments
for people living with diseases like cancer
and Parkinson’s. We work urgently every day,
knowing that the next development could
improve countless lives for the better. We
may never be the largest research institute,
but we strive to be the best at what we do.”
David Van Andel
Chairman & CEO
Van Andel Institute
““Our personal journey drives us every single
day. We know exactly what it feels like to
face one of these diseases as a patient, a
caregiver and a family. We’ve lived it, and
we empathize with everyone who receives
a life-changing diagnosis. Everything the
Institute does — from research in our labs
to education in the classroom and events
in the community — is a critical part of our
mission to provide hope to those who need
it most.”
Carol Van Andel
Executive Director
David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
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BUT IT’S NOT JUST OUR MISSION
THAT SETS US APART. IT’S HOW WE
MAKE IT REAL.
“This place is a miracle. As a
survivor and a person whose
family has been affected by
cancer, I am well aware that we
need better treatments and
cures. I also know that if we can
continue to support research
with discipline and tenacity, we
will one day find them.”
Dr. Juan Olivarez
Donor & Trustee
VAI FAST FACTS
Van Andel Institute
for Research
Ranked in 2022 by
Nature Index as
no. 30 in the Life
Sciences category
out of the top 100
nongovernmental/
nonprofits.
Areas of Strength
• Epigenetics
• Neurodegeneration
• Cell Biology
• Metabolism and
Nutrition
• Structural Biology
Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer (VAI–SU2C)
Epigenetics Dream Team Evaluating promising new treatments for
cancers, including:
• Metastatic colorectal cancer
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
(CMML)
Cure Parkinson’s–Van Andel Institute International Linked
Clinical Trials (iLCT) Repurposing existing medications to slow or stop
Parkinson’s progression, in collaboration with Cure Parkinson’s
The iLCT initiative aims to identify new therapies for Parkinson’s disease
by repurposing medications for other conditions, including diabetes, high
cholesterol and respiratory ailments. It is one of the world’s largest drug
repurposing programs for Parkinson’s.
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Bladder (urothelial) cancer
• Liver, pancreatic, bile duct and
gallbladder cancers
• Breast cancer
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Transforming students into
independent scientists through an intense, problem-focused Ph.D. degree in
molecular and cellular biology
40+ current students 40+ alumni
95% placement rate Students hail from 14 countries
Van Andel Institute for Education Creating K–12 classrooms where
curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive
6,000+ students directly served 5,000+ teachers served
13,000+ educators subscribed to instructional resources
Numbers current as of
July 2023
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OUR ROBUST COMMITMENT TO CATALYTIC
COLLABORATION CREATES, FACILITATES,
FUNDS AND FUELS PARTNERSHIPS LIKE NO
OTHER ORGANIZATION.
“Our mission extends far beyond the walls of the Institute. We seek out and bring together the
best minds from around the world to collaborate on the development of treatments and cures,
and we offer the leadership, support and resources that accelerate the work they do. Our
mission always leads the way at VAI, but how we achieve it is what makes us special.”
CATALYTIC COLLABORATION
Dr. Peter A. Jones saw a remarkable opportunity
at Van Andel Institute. It was the chance to
build a model for research and discovery that
could positively impact human health while
pushing the frontiers of science.
Now, after several years and establishing VAI
as a leader in epigenetics, Dr. Jones believes
the Institute is well on its way to realizing
that vision — the result of rigorous science,
removing obstacles to progress and creating
an environment where every member of the
Institute owns the mission.
“I call it catalytic collaboration. Here, the
brightest minds work together without limits.
People want to come here because they see VAI
as a major scientific hub that turns big ideas
into real breakthroughs for human health.”
Dr. Peter A. Jones
Chief Scientific Officer
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IT STARTS WITH OUR PEOPLE, EACH
OF THEM DEEPLY CONNECTED TO
THE WORK WE DO, EACH OF THEM
DRIVEN BY AN URGENT
DESIRE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
“We have incredible support at the Institute.
Because we have committed experts in all
the administrative areas — facilities, grants,
communications — I’m able to spend
time pursuing scientific ideas with my lab
members. The whole Institute works together
to advance our research.”
Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf
Professor
Department of Epigenetics
A HUB FOR DISCOVERY
The game changed for Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-
Mittendorf when she arrived at Van Andel
Institute. During her first visit, she realized the
Institute was different. Here she found the
highly collaborative, interdisciplinary hub she
sought — a place that fosters discovery through
a collaborative spirit and deep community
support.
“I talk with other scientists every day — new
ideas constantly come in and out of my lab,”
Dr. Fondufe-Mittendorf said. “The scientific
resources are incredible, the people are
fantastic, and I have time to imagine ideas, to
tackle problems and, most importantly, to focus
on my research.”
Dr. Fondufe-Mittendorf studies the relationship
between the environment and health,
specifically, how toxicants in drinking water
affect cancer risk. Her research has revealed
how low-dose arsenic exposure transforms
healthy cells into malignant ones, a finding that
pinpoints previously unknown vulnerabilities
in cancer.
“VAI gives me freedom,” Dr. Fondufe-Mittendorf
said. “Freedom to think. Freedom to start new
projects, to think broadly, and to change paths
when we need to. It’s how we innovate, and
how we move the science forward to ultimately
help develop new therapies and treatments
for disease.”
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IT CONTINUES WITH A CULTURE THAT
VALUES CURIOSITY AND ENCOURAGES
BRIGHT MINDS TO TAKE RISKS IN THE
NAME OF PROGRESS.
“We all are experts in our own specific areas,
but science knows no bounds. Exploring one
area leads into a natural crossover with others.
This is why collaboration is so important.
VAI provides the resources to support these
critical partnerships — and that makes all
the difference.”
Dr. Russell Jones
Chair
Department of Metabolism & Nutritional
Programming
ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTIONS
Dr. Russell Jones joined Van Andel Institute
to answer big questions about metabolism:
How does it fuel the immune system? Can we
leverage it to better treat cancer? How does it
sustain health?
Five years later, Dr. Jones and his colleagues
have built a world-class, collaborative
metabolism research program from scratch,
a feat made possible by the vast well of
community and institutional support at VAI.
Their pursuit of life-changing discoveries
has shed new light on the intricate ways
metabolism influences health and disease, and
led to powerful new tools that enable research
at VAI and beyond. In many ways, though, their
work is just getting started.
In the future, they hope to develop new dietary
strategies that improve treatments for cancer
and other diseases.
“VAI has enabled us to broaden our research
across multiple fields — that’s where innovation
lies,” Dr. Jones said. “You never know when a
spark will ignite the next breakthrough idea.
At VAI, we have the support, expertise and
infrastructure to make the most of it when it
does. This empowers us to pursue answers that
may improve health for generations to come.”
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ALL OF IT IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING
TOGETHER THE BEST IDEAS FROM
AROUND THE GLOBE TO ACHIEVE
TRANSFORMATIONAL BREAKTHROUGHS
IN SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.
A PASSION FOR RESEARCH
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Alum
Dr. Menusha Arumugam was always inspired
by science, but unlike many of her peers who
aspired to become doctors, she found herself
most at home in the research lab. She learned
of Van Andel Institute after coming to the
United States from Malaysia to study biology
as an undergraduate student. During her first
visit to VAI, “the commitment everyone has to
supporting, mentoring and developing one
another here was clear right away.”
While studying at VAI, Dr. Arumugam worked
alongside some of the sharpest minds in science
as she pursued advances in cancer research. “I’m
grateful for the experience I had at the Institute.
I’ve talked to graduate students at other schools
and they don’t get nearly the level of support
we do here. It’s an incredible opportunity that’s
allowing me to fulfill my dream of helping
people through my passion
for research.”
“I’ve wanted to be a scientist my whole life.
Even as a graduate student at VAI, I felt
like a trusted colleague. I was treated like
someone who will contribute to the next
breakthrough in human health.”
Dr. Menusha Arumugam
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Alum
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BREAKTHROUGHS THAT MATTER
BECAUSE THEY ENHANCE LIVES.
“It’s inspiring to see how much a simple
experiment can transform a child’s view of
the world. At VAI, we’re helping students
learn to think in ways that will help them
become a generation of innovators
and creators.”
Ben Talsma
Learning Solutions Specialist
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Ben Talsma has two passions:
bringing education to life for students
and making the world a better
place. It was the pursuit of these
two passions that made Van Andel
Institute the perfect fit.
Talsma first collaborated with
the Institute as an award-winning
educator. Since joining VAI, he sees
his values brought to life every day,
as teachers learn to transform their
instruction and as students find new
joy in learning.
Talsma believes that VAI is home to
an incredible combination of people,
programs and resources and that
it will impact countless students for
years to come.
“We’re in the business of giving life
to extraordinary ideas. For students,
we inspire a sense of wonder
and possibility. For teachers, we
support them in creating learning
experiences that are meaningful
and fun.”
Terra Tarango
Chief Education Officer
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THIS IS WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.
It’s a vision that empowers us to set lofty goals and gives us the confidence to pursue them.
AREAS OF STRENGTH
EPIGENETICS
CANCER
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
METABOLISM & NUTRITION
Epigenetics regulate when
the instructions in our
genes are acted upon
and when they are not, a
process that has massive
implications for health and
can drive disease.
Cancers occur when
healthy cells become
sick and replicate
uncontrollably. Through
research in the lab and
clinical trials, our scientists
seek improved ways
to treat these difficult
diseases.
Seven million to 10 million
people worldwide have
Parkinson’s. Our scientists
are pursuing new strategies
to slow or stop disease
progression — something
not possible with current
treatments.
The human body is fueled
by metabolism, a constant
cascade of chemical
reactions that ensure we
have the energy to survive
and thrive. We’re pursuing
a better understanding of
how metabolism impacts
our everyday lives and our
long-term health.
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
IMMUNOLOGY
BONE DISEASES
Our structural biologists
study the smallest building
blocks of life to understand
how they impact health
and contribute to disease
— a key component to
developing groundbreaking
new treatments.
From the air we breathe
to the water we drink, we
are exposed to a host of
environmental chemicals,
some with the potential
to contribute to diseases
like cancer — both now
and in future generations.
Our scientists seek a better
understanding to improve
health.
The immune system is
our first defense against
disease. Our scientists
are investigating how
this critical system works
and revealing the ways it
interacts with other vital
processes to support
health.
By studying how bone
develops, how cells
communicate, and how
cells respond to the
environment and change
with age, our scientists
are working toward new
breakthroughs that may
fuel improved diagnostic
and treatment strategies
for bone diseases.
DEMENTIAS
RARE DISEASES
DEPRESSION
Our scientists leverage
a multifaceted approach
to investigate how and
why dementias arise with
the goal of informing
breakthrough new
treatments.
Studying rare diseases is
necessary to develop new
therapies that improve
quality of life for people
with these disorders. This
work frequently has a
ripple effect — the findings
may shed new light on wellknown
diseases in addition
to rare ones.
Our scientists investigate
the underpinnings of
depression and suicidality,
with a special focus
on pregnancy-related
depression, depression in
Parkinson’s disease, and
development of a blood
test for diagnosing severe
depression.
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AND IT’S HOW WE KNOW WE’RE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
For those affected by neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
For people fighting cancer. For students and teachers embracing
the challenges facing our world.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
ESTABLISHING A LINK
BETWEEN THE APPENDIX &
PARKINSON’S
VAI scientists identified
the appendix as a
possible starting point
for Parkinson’s, opening
the door to potential
new therapies that aim
to head off the disease in
the gut, long before motor
symptoms occur.
BLOOD TEST FOR
PANCREATIC CANCER
VAI scientists are
developing a new
combination blood test
for pancreatic cancer that
may help catch the disease
sooner, which could lead to
earlier and more effective
medical intervention.
DEVELOPING MORE PRECISE
MEDICATIONS
VAI scientists for the first
time identified the structure
of a G protein-coupled
receptor, a major drug
target, which is a critical
step in understanding its
function and leveraging it
for treatment of disease.
VIRAL MIMICRY IMPROVES
CANCER TREATMENT
VAI scientists and
collaborators have found
that anti-cancer drugs
called demethylating
agents trick cancer cells
to behave as though they
are infected with a virus or
other pathogen. This “viral
mimicry” leads to cell death,
decreasing the number of
cancer cells and improving
the effectiveness of other
treatments, such as chemoand
immunotherapies.
EARLIEST STAGES OF LIFE
VAI scientists are studying
how DNA replicates, which
may one day contribute to
the development of better
therapies for the more
than 40 diseases related
to failures in this process.
SU2C CATALYST AWARDS
Van Andel Institute–
Stand Up To Cancer
Epigenetics Dream Team
scientists earned two of 10
prestigious Catalyst awards
from Stand Up To Cancer,
which support clinical trials
for new bladder cancer
and non-small cell lung
cancer therapies.
CREATING A CANCER ATLAS
VAI scientists played
integral roles in The Cancer
Genome Atlas, a federally
led project to molecularly
map cancer. The more
than decade-long initiative
was the most in-depth
undertaking of its kind,
spanning 10,000 tumors
across 33 cancer types.
SPREAD OF PARKINSON’S
DISEASE THROUGH THE BRAIN
VAI scientists were the first
to show that a Parkinson’s
disease-associated protein
spreads from parts of the
brain connected to the
nose to other brain regions
affected by the disease. The
discovery has implications
for finding ways to slow or
stop disease progression.
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AT VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE,
WE DO MORE THAN
DREAM ABOUT IMPROVING
HUMAN HEALTH.
WE STRIVE TO MAKE IT
A REALITY EVERY DAY.
Van Andel Institute’s signature events are important catalysts for
scientific innovation, bringing community members together in
support of research and educational initiatives that give people
hope for a healthier future. Through donations, sponsorships and a
shared passion, VAI’s community of supporters raises millions to fuel
a better tomorrow.
VAI Purple Community is a community-led awareness and
fundraising program that connects those who wish to make an
impact with the resources needed to do so. Grassroots volunteers
host events throughout the year designed to fit the needs of
their community, engaging with schools, businesses and local
organizations to raise funds for research, and VAI delivers the
guidance and support needed to make their events a success.
Through biomedical research and science
education, Van Andel Institute is committed
to improving the health and enhancing the
lives of current and future generations.
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