VAI Folio 2023

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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