VAI Folio 2023

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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