2023 Fall/Winter Highlights of Hope
This is the 2023 Fall/Winter edition of Van Andel Institute's Highlights of Hope donor publication.
This is the 2023 Fall/Winter edition of Van Andel Institute's Highlights of Hope donor publication.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
RESEARCH<br />
Parkinson’s expert Dr. Laurent<br />
Roybon establishes lab<br />
VAI Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dr. Laurent Roybon is working to pinpoint how and<br />
why neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s start and progress — and<br />
he’s using a breakthrough technique to do it.<br />
Roybon joined the Institute in 2022 as director <strong>of</strong> the VAI MiND Program’s<br />
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Platform, which helps scientists across the<br />
Institute implement iPSCs into their research. In <strong>2023</strong>, he also was appointed as<br />
an associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor who will establish and lead his own lab.<br />
His goal? To identify improved treatments that impede progression in<br />
Parkinson’s and other neurogenerative diseases — something not possible with<br />
current therapies.<br />
To do so, he leverages the power <strong>of</strong> iPSCs, which are derived from blood or skin<br />
cells and “reprogrammed” in the lab to return to an earlier “blank slate” state.<br />
From there, they can be coaxed to become other types <strong>of</strong> cells, making them<br />
powerful tools for scientists. For example, using iPSCs, scientists can generate<br />
living brain cells in the lab — allowing them to see firsthand the mechanisms<br />
underlying neurodegeneration.<br />
“Our goal is to move forward our understanding <strong>of</strong> neurodegenerative<br />
processes and develop innovative treatments to help patients and decrease<br />
burden on care partners,” Roybon said. “Using induced pluripotent stem cell<br />
technology, we can study these diseases in reprogrammed cells from patients,<br />
which will greatly aid in the development <strong>of</strong> personalized treatments. VAI is a<br />
fantastic place that is home to globally recognized expert scientists and state<strong>of</strong>-the-art<br />
research facilities, which will help us implement our projects.”<br />
What is a stem cell?<br />
Stem cells are biological<br />
“blank slates” that<br />
give rise to all the<br />
specialized cell types<br />
needed to assemble and<br />
power the human body,<br />
from skin cells to heart<br />
cells and everything<br />
in between. One <strong>of</strong><br />
their many important<br />
jobs is to maintain the<br />
body throughout life by<br />
replacing dead cells<br />
and rejuvenating<br />
damaged tissues.<br />
20 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
Change language