Highlights of Hope 20th Anniversary

HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 

2 Trustees | 3 Letter from David Van Andel | 4 Building the Dream 

6 Our History | 8 Pioneers, Visionaries and Trailblazers 

12 Events | 16 Revolutionizing Science Education 

22 A Legacy of Hope: Shifting the Paradigm on Parkinson’s Disease 

24 Building Momentum at the Epicenter of Epigenetics

INSTITUTE TRUSTEES 

Van Andel Institute Board of Trustees 

David Van Andel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute 

John Kennedy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical 

Mark Meijer, President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance 

Van Andel Research Institute Board of Trustees 


Tom R. DeMeester, M.D., Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Department of Surgery, 

Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California 

James B. Fahner, M.D., Chief of Hematology and Oncology, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital 

Michelle Le Beau, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology; Director, 

University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center; Director, Cancer Cytogenetics 

Laboratory, University of Chicago 

George Vande Woude, Ph.D., Distinguished Scientific Fellow, Founding Research Director, 

Van Andel Research Institute 

Ralph Weichselbaum, M.D., Chairman, Department of Radiation; Head, Ludwig Center for 

Metastasis Research, University of Chicago 

Max Wicha, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine; 

Founding Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Van Andel Education Institute Board of Trustees 


James E. Bultman, Ed.D., Former President, Hope College 

Donald W. Maine, Former President, Davenport University 

Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D., President, Aquinas College 

LETTER FROM DAVID VAN ANDEL 

Dear Friends, 

Twenty years have passed since Van Andel Institute was founded for the betterment of 

mankind and the improvement of the human condition through biomedical research and 

science education. 

In the ensuing two decades, we have accomplished much, perhaps more than we even 

dared to dream at the beginning. This 20 th anniversary issue of Highlights of Hope provides 

a small snapshot of the Institute’s history and accomplishments. 

Much of the support that has allowed us to carry out this vital work comes from you, and 

for this we owe you profound gratitude. Your generosity has enabled us to recruit giants 

in the world of biomedical research, like Dr. George Vande Woude and Dr. Peter Jones, to 

come to Grand Rapids and make this city their home. 

It has been my privilege to work with an incredible group of people who have provided 

direction for the research taking place in the Institute’s labs and in collaborative projects 

in laboratories and clinical sites throughout the world. These talented individuals have 

created a critical mass of biomedical research in the areas of cancer, neurodegenerative 

disease, and most recently, in the growing field of epigenetics. 

In addition to our work in biomedical research, we remain committed to science education 

that leverages vibrant new technologies and uses these tools in the service of knowledge, 

mentorship and discovery. Our devotion and passion for science education comes from 

an understanding that the many discoveries of the future will be uncovered by the 

students of today. 

As I look back, I am gratified by how far we’ve come in these two decades, and I am even 

more excited by the future and the impact we can have 20 years from now when we 

celebrate Van Andel Institute’s 40 th anniversary. 

I recall my father saying early on that to become a world-class research institute would 

require building the dream a step at a time—meticulously putting one stone upon another. 

I have no doubt that he would be proud of the many stones we have placed on the 

foundation of his dream. 

Working together, one step at a time, we will continue to build an Institute that serves 

humanity and makes powerful, lasting contributions to human health. 

Warmly, 

DAVID VAN ANDEL 

Gordon L. Van Harn, Ph.D., Emeritus Provost and Professor of Biology, Calvin College 

David Van Andel 

Chairman and CEO 

2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE 

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 3

OUR HISTORY 

BUILDING THE DREAM—ONE STEP AT A TIME 

Van Andel Institute is located in the 

heart of downtown Grand Rapids, 

Michigan, at the south end of Belknap 

Hill, a historic neighborhood and wellknown 

landmark that has long attracted 

people to its magnificent views of 

the Grand River, its breathtaking 

panoramas and its beautiful sunsets. 

Amway Co-Founder Jay Van Andel’s dream 

was to transform this area in the city’s 

center into a hub for scientific discovery 

and human health. His vision was to 

build an independent institute that would 

embrace novel approaches to biomedical 

research and science education, and 

develop a network of collaborations 

with organizations stretching from West 

Michigan to every corner of the world. The 

Van Andel family believed the Institute 

could serve as a guiding light of hope and 

bring about scientific discoveries that 

would benefit future generations. 

Defining the Mission 

The initial stages of the Institute’s formation 

were organized by a group of talented 

advisors that included Dr. Luis Tomatis, 

an esteemed Grand Rapids-based 

cardiothoracic surgeon who shared the 

Van Andel family’s passion for human 

health and community enrichment. He 

helped recruit top-tier scientific talent to 

form the Institute’s first Board of Scientific 

Advisors and appoint Nobel Laureate 

Dr. Michael Brown as the board’s 

first chairman. 

The Institute’s mission was refined with 

input from numerous scientific experts 

from a wide variety of research centers 

in the United States. Their insight helped 

create an institute encompassing 

innovative biomedical research 

and science education, and laid the 

groundwork for scientific collaborations 

that would have a lasting impact on 

human health. 

Phase I—Breaking Ground and 

Creating a Legacy 

Van Andel Institute could have been built 

anywhere in the world, and there were 

many who suggested other locations closer 

to traditional centers of research or major 

universities, but Jay Van Andel chose Grand 

Rapids because it was his community, the 

place that he called home. It was where 

his family had roots, and it was the place 

where Jay and his wife Betty raised their 

children. They thought it was important 

to give back to the community that had 

given them a life of hope and happiness. 

Van Andel felt strongly that the Institute 

should be built in the heart of Grand 

Rapids so that it could serve as a beacon 

of innovation and a catalyst for economic 

growth and revitalization for the city on the 

Grand River. 

“When my father first had the idea to create 

an independent biomedical research facility 

in his hometown, there were many people 

who thought it was not feasible or doable 

JAY VAN ANDEL 

in a city without a built-in support system 

for this kind of work,” Van Andel Institute 

Chairman and CEO David Van Andel said. 

“I really believe it’s a testament to the 

founders of this Institute that they were 

able to see beyond the ordinary and build 

something that transforms the dynamic of 

a city and inspires greatness in others.” 

In the latter half of the 20 th century, Grand 

Rapids was a town shaken by a changing 

post-industrial economy, and it was in 

many ways a city struggling for a lifeline. 

Although it was once a champion of 

industrial manufacturing and commerce, in 

1996 the city was in need of dreamers, bold 

ideas and people who were not afraid to 

build a new way forward. 

David Van Andel appointed architect 

James P. Gray to serve as project manager 

for the construction of the Institute and, 

together with a team of advisors, Van Andel 

and Gray scoured over proposals from 

architectural design firms in the 

BETTY VAN ANDEL 

United States, the United Kingdom, 

Germany, South Korea and Japan. In 

their search, New York-based, Uruguayan 

architect Rafael Viñoly’s work stood above 

the rest, and his initial concept for the 

Institute captured the imagination of the 

Van Andels and their team of advisors. 

“There are few places on this planet 

that you could do what we’ve done 

here, and it happened because of the 

community spirit...This community 

warmly welcomed this initiative, even if 

they were surprised by the scope of the 

vision. Twenty years ago, the phrase ‘life 

sciences corridor’ was a completely new 

concept in this city, but now it’s one 

of the most vital sources of economic 

growth and development for the region.” 

– David Van Andel 

Viñoly’s impressive portfolio of awardwinning 

designs includes the Tokyo 

International Forum and the Kimmel Center 

for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. 

In his concept, Viñoly used Grand Rapids’ 

topography and the Grand River as 

inspiration to design an iconic building that 

is striking in its modernity and respectful 

of its surroundings. Viñoly’s design for 

the Institute did not look like any other 

structure in West Michigan, and its bold 

forms and dramatic, sculptural lines 

signified that a new day had come for the 

city of Grand Rapids. 

CONTINUED ON PG 6 > 

ARCHITECT RAFAEL VIÑOLY UNVEILING THE MODEL OF VAI TO DAVID VAN ANDEL 

AND DR. LUIS TOMATIS AT THE AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL IN 1997. 

All five members of the first Van Andel Research Institute 

Board of Scientific Advisors were esteemed scientists who 

were or became Nobel Laureates. They included: 

Michael Brown, M.D. – Chairman 

Director, Jonsson Center of Molecular Genetics 

The University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas 

Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine 1985 

Richard Axel, M.D. 

Professor of Neurosciences 

Columbia University 


Joseph Goldstein, M.D. 

Chairman, Department of Molecular Genetics 

The University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas 


Daniel Nathans, M.D. 

Professor, Molecular Biology and Genetics 

Johns Hopkins University 

Senior Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 


Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D. 

Professor of Biology 

Massachussetts Institute of Technology 




OUR HISTORY 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) CASEY WONDERGEM, 

GOVERNOR JOHN ENGLER, VAI FOUNDER JAY 

VAN ANDEL, PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD AND 

VAI CHAIRMAN AND CEO DAVID VAN ANDEL. 

Two Decades of Sustained Growth on the Medical Mile 

Since Van Andel Institute broke ground in 1998 it has 

spurred vital economic growth in Grand Rapids and 

more than $1 billion worth of research and health care 

infrastructure along the city’s Medical Mile, including: 

2000: Grand Rapids Community College Calkins Science Center 

CONTINUED FROM PG 5 > 

The design for Phase I of the Institute 

was architect Rafael Viñoly’s first 

research facility, but in the 

intervening years he has gone on 

to design for Princeton University, 

Howard Hughes Medical Institute 

and several other notable 

research facilities. 

The Birth of the Medical Mile 

On May 20, 1998, the Van Andel family, 

along with the mayor of Grand Rapids, 

advisors and friends, broke ground on 

the building site and began the process 

of making the dream a concrete reality. 

This event set off a domino effect of 

development and economic growth that 

would invigorate the city. 

Following the initial phases of the Institute’s 

construction, then-Michigan Governor 

John Engler signed the Michigan Life 

Sciences Corridor legislation, a $1 billion 

biotechnology initiative, into law in the 

Institute’s lobby. This initiative created a 

collaborative web between the Institute, 

the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, 

Michigan State University in East Lansing 

and Wayne State University in Detroit. 

Phase I of the Institute initiated the 

expansion of the life science industry in 

West Michigan and promoted a new 

economy based on the pursuit of excellence 

in human health. Due in large part to the 

Van Andel family’s vision, the district that 

houses Van Andel Institute, located along 

Michigan Street and adjacent to Belknap 

Hill, has come to be known as the “Medical 

Mile.” Today, the Medical Mile serves as an 

important driver for economic development 

and vitality in the region. 

“Here at VAI, the world’s greatest 

medical detectives will unlock the 

secrets of molecular and cell 

biology, genetics and other life 

sciences. All because of Jay and 

Betty Van Andel’s belief and their 

willingness to act on that belief.” 

– President Gerald R. Ford 

(TOP) GRAND RAPIDS, BEFORE VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE WAS BUILT; 

(BOTTOM) TODAY’S MEDICAL MILE. 

2003: Grand Valley State University Cook-DeVos Center for 

Health Sciences 

2004: Spectrum Health Meijer Heart Center 

2008: Spectrum Health Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion 

2008: Mid Towne Village Women’s Health Center 

2009: Mercy Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center 

2009: Van Andel Institute Phase II 

2010: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 

Secchia Center 

2011: Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital 

2011: The RDV/Christman Michigan Street Development 

Opening in late 2017: Michigan State University's 

Grand Rapids Research Center 

1996 

1997 

1999 

Jay and Betty Van Andel found 

Van Andel Institute (VAI). 

David Van Andel becomes Chairman and CEO. 

VAEI hosts the first Van Andel Educators 

Institute, a national symposium for school 

principals and superintendents. 

Respected cancer scientist and NCI administrator Dr. George Vande Woude, 

joins as Research Director of Van Andel Research Institute (VARI). Research 

begins in temporary laboratory space at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. 

Dr. Luis Tomatis appointed first 

President of Van Andel Institute. 

Dr. Gordon Van Wylen 

appointed first Director of 

Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI). 

1998 

Groundbreaking ceremony for VAI’s facilities 

in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

VAI helps to establish Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile—a 

health sciences and medical corridor that serves as a source 

for innovative biomedical research, cutting-edge clinical 

care and economic growth in West Michigan. 



OUR HISTORY 

VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S 

FOUNDING RESEARCH DIRECTOR 

DR. GEORGE VANDE WOUDE. 

PIONEERS, VISIONARIES AND TRAILBLAZERS 

When Van Andel Research Institute’s 

(VARI) Founding Research Director 

Dr. George Vande Woude first came 

to Grand Rapids to discuss leading 

the Institute's research program, the 

building was still under construction. 

He was one of a handful of scientists 

who vied for the opportunity to create 

something revolutionary in a midsized 

city in Michigan. Building a research 

institute without support from existing 

institutions or a university was something 

that was almost unheard of in the world 

of biomedical research, but Vande Woude 

had developed a reputation as a scientist 

who forged his own path. 

Vande Woude met with representatives 

from the Institute including the Institute’s 

first president, Dr. Luis Tomatis. Tomatis 

led early efforts to recruit scientists 

and advisors, and scout a research 

director who would be able to shape the 

Institute’s strategic vision and embrace the 

uncertainty of a new endeavor. Tomatis’ 

passion for his work and enthusiasm for 

the Institute fostered important early 

relationships with scientific pioneers, 

visionary thinkers and trailblazers in 

the field of biomedical research. 

Together, We Will Make History 

Vande Woude doesn’t think of himself 

as a pioneer, but his contributions to 

cancer research are undeniably impressive. 

A towering figure in the world of genomic 

cancer research, Vande Woude spent 

eight years at the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture’s Plum Island Animal Disease 

Center and then served as director 

of the Basic Research Program at the 

National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Frederick 

Cancer Research and Development 

Center, and as director for the Division 

of Basic Sciences. 

During his 40-year tenure at the NCI, 

Vande Woude explored the exciting 

world of genomic cancer research 

in order to better understand what 

causes cancer at the molecular level. 

His impressive list of achievements 

includes discovering the human MET 

oncogene and proto-oncogene. These 

discoveries revolutionized how cancer 

was viewed and led to the development 

of novel targeted cancer therapies. 

Vande Woude made a point to recruit 

bright, young people who were doing 

adventurous work in basic and 

translational cancer research. One 

of these young scientists was 

Dr. Bart Williams, now director of VARI’s 

Center for Cancer and Cell Biology. 

“It was an incredible opportunity to build 

something with one of the pioneers in 

cancer research and design a biomedical 

research program from scratch,” Williams 

said. “The experience was very 'handson' 

– building something incredible where 

nothing had previously existed. In that 

process, there was a lot of energy 

and enthusiasm.” 

Under David Van Andel's leadership, 

Vande Woude guided these young 

scientists and stimulated a dynamic 

workplace that sparked a chain reaction of 

growth and collaboration within 

the Institute. A natural leader and 

passionate mentor, Vande Woude created 

an environment that was both supportive 

and aspirational. 

“George is a very detailed, hands-on kind 

of person, and his management style 

was important in creating the Institute 

and laying its solid scientific foundations,” 

Williams said. “He was instrumental in 

getting other scientists to think about 

coming here, doing cutting-edge research, 

and building a research institute in 

Grand Rapids.” 

Joined by his wife and lifelong supporter 

Dot, Vande Woude brought scientists from 

around the country to a city tucked away 

in West Michigan, helping to shape the 

Institute’s destiny for the next two decades. 

A mentor’s mentor, Vande Woude’s 

exuberant love of science and passion 

for the continuum of discovery remain 

cornerstones of the Institute’s approach 

to biomedical research and science 

education. His ability to nurture the 

careers of top-tier scientists provided a 

bedrock for the Institute’s initial research 


2000 

Phase I of VAI's construction is completed. 

VARI holds its first scientific symposium. 

2001 

VAI creates signature special event Hope on the Hill 

to recognize donors and their charitable gifts to the 

Institute. 

2003 

VARI hosts the first undergraduate interns in its laboratories. 

Scientific seminar series established, later 

renamed in memory of Dr. Han-Mo Koo, 

a VARI scientist who died of cancer in 2004. 

Dr. Gordon Van Harn 

appointed Director of VAEI. 

2004 

2004 sees the passing of Van Andel Institute 

Founders Jay and Betty Van Andel. 



OUR HISTORY 

(LEFT TO RIGHT) DR. BART WILLIAMS, 

DR. CRAIG WEBB AND DR. ART ALBERTS AT 

THE PHASE I GRAND OPENING. 


programs and provided the necessary 

momentum for growth and success. 

“If you love people and have the ability 

to help them do great things, then you’re 

really living the dream,” Vande Woude said. 

On the day Vande Woude signed his 

contract, Institute Founder Jay Van Andel 

held Vande Woude’s arm and said, 

“Together, we will make history.” 

“If you love people and have 

the ability to help them do 

great things, then you’re really 

living the dream.” 

- Dr. George Vande Woude 

Trailblazing Trustees—Peter Cook and 

Ralph Hauenstein 

The Institute began as the dream of the 

Van Andel family. Through the support of 

other West Michigan community leaders 

and philanthropists like Peter Cook and 

Ralph Hauenstein this dream helped 

transform the region. 

"Because of Peter Cook and Ralph 

Hauenstein's careful guidance, Van Andel 

Institute has grown not only in size but in 

stature in the scientific community, and 

served as a catalyst for the transformation 

of a community, a region and an economy," 

David Van Andel said. 

Both men shared a unique vision for their 

city and understood that the Institute 

would shift the economic trajectory of 

Grand Rapids and be a force for change. 

Their wisdom, business experience and 

community connections helped guide the 

Institute in its beginning and provided a 

sturdy philanthropic course for the future. 

After years of service, the two men were 

awarded emeritus status on Van Andel 

Institute’s Board of Trustees in 2008, 

and they continued to serve with distinction 

throughout their lives. Cook passed away in 

2010 and Hauenstein in 2016, but both men 

left behind impressive legacies that live on in 

the Institute’s mission and the thriving city they 

helped redefine. 

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE’S 

FIRST TRUSTEES, PETER COOK 

AND RALPH HAUENSTEIN. 

Dale Chihuly, a world-renowned glass 

sculptor, unveils Life, commissioned in 

2004 by Jay Van Andel in memory of 

Betty Van Andel. The sculpture hangs in 

VAI’s lobby. 

2006 

Carol Van Andel introduces the 

inaugural Couture for a Cure fashion 

event held to benefit VAI. 

VAEI begins its inaugural Out-of-School-Time Cohort Program. 

2007 

VAEI launches Science on Saturday program. 

VAEI hosts first West Michigan Regional 

Undergraduate Science Research Conference 

for students and professors. 

2005 

Van Andel Institute Graduate School (VAIGS) founded 

and receives charter from the State of Michigan to 

confer master’s and Ph.D. degrees. 

VAI signs an agreement with 

Michigan State University to support 

the creation of a medical school in 

downtown Grand Rapids. 

Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg appointed 

Dean of Van Andel Institute 

Graduate School. 

First students enter Van Andel Institute Graduate School. 

Groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II building expansion. 

VARI and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) establish the VARI/SIMM 

Center for Drug Discovery in Shanghai, China. 

2008 

Child authors of the book 

Kid’s Cancer Stories visit with 

more than 100 VAI employees 

for a book signing. 



EVENTS 

(STARTING AT THE TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT) COUTURE FOR A CURE 10 TH 

ANNIVERSARY; CAROL VAN ANDEL AND SARAH ROLLMAN WITH THE 

FIRST ANGEL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS, CHRISTINE BOELKINS 

AND VICKY LUDEMA; FOUR FOREST HILLS CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 

STUDENTS RAISED $100,000 OVER FOUR YEARS AND DONATED THE 

FUNDS TO VAI IN 2013; CAROL VAN ANDEL SPEAKS AT THE 2016 ART OF 

FASHION AND RESEARCH EVENT; MARANDA ADDRESSES THE CROWD 

AT THE 2015 CONVERSATION ABOUT DEPRESSION 

HOSTED BY CAROL VAN ANDEL. 

(STARTING AT THE TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT) THE FORTE TENORS 

PERFORM AT THE 15 TH ANNUAL HOPE ON THE HILL GALA; 

DAVID VAN ANDEL BLOWS OUT THE CANDLES DURING HIS 

BIRTHDAY AND VAI'S 5 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION; JBOARD 

CO-CHAIR RACHEL MRAZ SPEAKS AT THE 2012 AROUND THE 

WORLD EVENT; RALPH HAUNSTEIN DANCES AT THE HOPE ON 

THE HILL GALA IN 2010; 2012 PURPLE COMMUNITY HOCKEY 

GAME WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS. 



A MILESTONE 

PHASE II 

Groundbreaking 

Van Andel Institute broke ground on its 

Phase II expansion April 11, 2007. 

Phase II continued the vision of architect 

Rafael Viñoly and provided Institute 

scientists and operations staff with 

beautifully designed lab and office spaces 

where they could continue to develop new 

and exciting research initiatives into cancer 

and neurodegenerative diseases. 

Grand Opening 

On Dec. 8, 2009, Van Andel Institute cut 

the ribbon on its eight-story, $178 million, 

240,000-square-foot Phase II expansion. 

The expanded facility generated both 

economic and scientific opportunities by 

nearly tripling research space and creating 

the potential to support a $125 million 

annual research operation. 

(TOP) DAVID VAN ANDEL AT THE 

PHASE II GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY. 

(RIGHT) ARCHITECT RAFAEL VIÑOLY PRESENTS 

DAVID VAN ANDEL WITH THE PHASE II MODEL. 

DAVID VAN ANDEL LEAVES A HEARTFELT MESSAGE FOR HIS PARENTS, JAY AND BETTY 

VAN ANDEL, ON THE FINAL BEAM AT THE PHASE II TOPPING OFF CEREMONY. 

(TOP) DAVID AND CAROL VAN ANDEL ARE PRESENTED WITH A PAINTING OF THE INSTITUTE AT THE PHASE II GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION; 

(LEFT) DAVID VAN ANDEL ADDRESSES THE CROWD AT THE PHASE II RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY; (RIGHT) PHASE II RIBBON CUTTING 

(BOTTOM RIGHT) THE FINAL BEAM IS ADDED TO THE BUILDING AT THE PHASE II TOPPING OFF CEREMONY. 



SCIENCE EDUCATION 

REVOLUTIONIZING SCIENCE EDUCATION 

Biomedical research and science 

education are the pillars on which 

Van Andel Institute is built. After all, 

the life-changing scientific breakthroughs 

of tomorrow will be discovered by the 

students of today. 

Van Andel Institute (VAI) Co-Founder 

Betty Van Andel was a life-long educator 

and a fervent believer in the power of 

knowledge to shape lives. In the early 

planning stages of the Institute, Van Andel 

was intent on including education as an 

integral part of the Institute’s mission. 

David Van Andel, chairman and CEO of 

VAI, views the Education Institute as the 

fulfillment of his mother’s dream. 

“Her vision was to create an institution 

that would shape educational excellence 

and thereby inspire hope and enrich lives,” 

Van Andel said. “She realized that access 

to science education is one of the most 

powerful gifts you can give a person and 

one of the best investments you can make 

in the future.” 

In 1996, former President of Hope 

College and former Dean of the School of 

Engineering at the University of Michigan 

Dr. Gordon Van Wylen joined Van Andel 

Education Institute’s (VAEI) Board of 

Trustees and agreed to help shape the 

mission of the Education Institute. A man 

of immense scientific knowledge, education 

experience and integrity, Van Wylen’s 

expertise was instrumental in defining the 

early goals of VAEI. 

Van Wylen and the Board of Trustees 

decided that to have a significant 

impact on science education, the 

Institute must first address key issues 

regarding the needs of students and 

teachers. Working with educators 

and scientific experts, Van Wylen 

organized the first Van Andel Educators 

Institute in 1997. This meeting 

DR. GORDON VAN WYLEN 

brought educators and scientists together 

to discuss issues in science education and 

ways in which the Institute could effect 

positive change. 

In 1998, Van Wylen also assisted in 

founding the Van Andel Educational 

Technology School, which was a technology 

focused program for urban elementary 

schools in the Grand Rapids Public 

School system. 

These efforts were the first steps toward 

designing the Institute’s educational 

philosophy, which embraces inquiry-based 

learning, proactive teacher training and 

innovative technologies. 

Thinking and Acting Like a Scientist 

In the years following the founding of VAEI, 

influential experts in scientific research 

and academia worked diligently to shape 

the inquiry-based philosophy of the 

Institute’s science education and teacher 

development programs. 

The hallmark of VAEI’s inquiry-based 

education philosophy is that students learn 

science best not just by memorization, 

but by actually doing science. Based on 

the scientific method of observation, 

measurement, experimentation, and 

the formulation and testing of results, 

VAEI’s methods provide students with a 

meaningful, engaging learning experience 

VAN ANDEL EDUCATORS INSTITUTE, 1997 

and a sound understanding of scientific 

principles. Under the guidance of talented 

educators like Marcia Bishop, Dr. Gordon 

Van Harn and Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg, 

VAEI’s programs have grown to include 

the Field Experience, High School Journal 

Club, Out-of-School-Time Cohort Program, 

Science on Saturday and NexGen Inquiry ® 

(VAEI’s web-based education platform). 

2009 

Phase II of VAI construction completed. 

VAI hosts first Origins of Cancer 

symposium, which brings together experts 

from across the U.S. and U.K. 

2010 

David and Carol Van Andel rededicate the newly 

renovated Crescent Park. 

2011 

VAIGS launches 

partnership with 

the United Negro 

College Fund. 

2012 


Dr. Patrik Brundin appointed the Jay Van Andel 

Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Research and works 

to build the Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 

Purple Community, Van Andel Institute’s grassroots 

community awareness and fundraising program, 

is established. 

Dr. Jeff Trent appointed VARI President and 

Research Director. 

VAEI begins the High School Journal Club, 

creating an inquiry-based science 

education program for high school 

students in West Michigan. 

VAEI expands its professional development resources with QPOE 2 

® 

curriculum 

products and Partners in Science program for teachers. 

VAI hosts first international Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease symposium 

hosting hundreds of Parkinson’s scientists, clinicians and patient advocates. 




Dr. Gordon Van Harn – 

a Legacy of Learning 

It’s All About Inquiry! 

Van Andel Education Institute 

encourages both students and teachers 

to think and act like scientists. Instead 

of focusing on memorization, inquiry-based 

learning allows students to learn by asking 

questions and testing hypotheses. The 

Institute’s inquiry-based model centers on 

three dimensions: habits of mind, a sociallyand 

language-rich environment and the 

QPOE 2 

® 

investigation organizer. QPOE 2 

highlights the scientific process of asking 

a question, making a prediction, collecting 

data through observation, developing an 

explanation and ongoing evaluation to 

refine and improve the process. 

From the Founding Into the Future – 

NexGen Inquiry ® 

In the late 1990s, when the founders 

envisioned an institute that would have the 

potential to revolutionize science education 

and inspire generations of students, the 

internet was a curious new technology. 

Today, the Institute harnesses the power of 

web-based connectivity in the form of 

NexGen Inquiry—a powerful web-based 

science education platform that provides an 

opportunity for interactive learning in 

K–12 classrooms worldwide. 

The platform, accessible to anyone with 

an internet connection, was designed by 

education experts with the goal of 

bringing the Institute’s inquiry-based 

education philosophy to an unlimited 

audience. NexGen Inquiry provides a 

solid foundation for the Next Generation 

Science Standards (NGSS) and gives 

teachers accessible tools to help their 

students develop important 21 st century 

skills and a life-long love of science. 

Jim Nicolette, associate director of 

Van Andel Education Institute, believes that 

the Institute’s future in science education 

is dependent on the ability to scale-up the 

inquiry-based science education model 

in order to reach more teachers 

and students. 

“The model we’ve worked to develop is truly 

golden, and now we have to introduce it to 

a larger audience,” Nicolette said. 

“Betty Van Andel and the Van Andel family’s 

original intent was to change the way 

science is taught at the national level. Today 

we are really in a place to realize this bold 

idea and help educate more students than 

ever before.” 

FORMER VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE 

DIRECTOR DR. GORDON VAN HARN. 

Dr. Gordon Van Harn was one of the early 

leaders who shaped the destiny of 

Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI). 

Following a stellar academic career that 

included serving for more than 30 years 

as a faculty member in Calvin College’s 

Biology Department, where he taught 

physiology, undertook muscle and 

cardiovascular research, and served as 

provost and academic dean for the natural 

sciences, Van Harn became an active 

member of the Institute’s leadership. 

Van Harn joined the VAEI Board of Trustees in 

2000 and served with distinction as director 

of VAEI from 2001 to 2009. Under his 

leadership, Van Andel Education Institute 

expanded its programs across new 

spectrums of learning, including Van Andel 

Institute Graduate School, which offers a 

doctoral program in cellular and molecular 

biology. Van Harn defined the scope of 

VAIGS, secured its charter from the State 

of Michigan to confer degrees and enlisted 

an excellent board of directors to guide its 

development. In addition to VAIGS, Van Harn’s 

endless passion, creativity and planning 

helped found VAEI's Science Academy, which 

focuses on K–12 science education. 

2012 


First students graduate from VAIGS. 

2013 

Dr. George Vande Woude and Dr. Peter Jones named as Fellows of the American Association 

for Cancer Research Academy. 

VAIGS receives initial accreditation from Higher Learning Commission. 

2014 

VAI partners with Spectrum Health’s Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute in an effort to stimulate regenerative medicine for heart 

disease. The joint effort was made possible by a significant donation from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation. 

VARI establishes the Van Andel Research Institute-Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team to foster epigenetics research 

collaborations and move promising therapies into clinical trials. 

VAI and area partners collaborate to 

create a world-class biorepository 

following the Program for Biospecimen 

Science’s accreditation by the College 

of American Pathologists. 

Dr. Peter Jones appointed Van Andel Research Institute’s 

Chief Scientific Officer. VARI commits to becoming a global 

epigenetics research hub. 

VAI launches Pathway of Hope, a multifaceted initiative to study 

tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). 

VARI and UK-based research charity The Cure Parkinson’s Trust collaborate on the Linked Clinical 

Trials initiative. This effort aims to repurpose medications that have already been approved for use, 

and significantly reduce the time and cost required to bring new and more effective therapies 

to market. 

Dr. George Vande Woude receives the Fellowship Award in Biological Science from the American 

Association for the Advancement of Science. 




Our Students Are Scientists—Van Andel Institute Graduate School 

Higher education and biomedical 

research have a symbiotic relationship. 

It is not unusual for a research institute 

to be connected to a place of higher 

learning, but Van Andel Institute 

Graduate School (VAIGS) represents a 

new way of viewing this paradigm. 

When the Graduate School was founded 

in 2005, its curriculum and structure were 

based on the innovation and creativity 

taking place in the Institute’s research labs. 

Built on the concept of former Van Andel 

Education Institute (VAEI) President Gordon 

Van Harn, VAIGS was designed to function 

in tandem with the Institute’s biomedical 

research programs and nurture the next 

generation of great scientists. 

“To have a research institute within a large 

university is not that uncommon,” 

Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg, dean of the 

Graduate School and director of VAEI from 

2009 to 2015, said. “Many universities that 

are primarily education institutions will 

have a research institute in one area or 

another, but here at the Institute we have 

flipped that model.” 

Instead of research programs being 

informed by a university’s structure 

and organizational model, the Institute 

developed a graduate school informed by 

its leading-edge biomedical research. 

“One of the unique things about Van Andel 

Institute Graduate School is that we don’t 

just encourage our students to be effective 

scientists, we encourage them also to be 

effective biological research leaders who 

are able to run their own research groups, 

interact effectively within their institution 

and collaborate proactively with their 

peers,” Triezenberg said. 

Solving Real-World Problems 

Since VAIGS’s founding, the school has 

developed an innovative framework 

and curriculum that gives students the 

opportunity to spend the majority of their 

time working in the Institute’s labs where 

they can apply their knowledge toward 

solving real-world problems. 

“Our graduate students are integral 

members of the laboratory,” Triezenberg 

said. “They work with the senior scientists, 

with the postdocs, with the lab managers 

and with the research technicians in order 

to design projects, carry out and interpret 

experiments, and present their work at 

national and international conferences. 

They’re fully fledged professional scientists 

and regarded as such at the Institute.” 

In 2013, the Institute was fully accredited by 

the Higher Learning Commission. It currently 

has 10 graduates of the Ph.D. and master’s 

programs, and 20 new students enrolled. 

“We expect the school will grow as the 

Research Institute grows," said Triezenberg. 

"In the next few years, our graduates will 

fill high-level positions in academia and 

the private sector, and I think we will start 

to see the impact we are having on the 

scientific community.” 

A Continuum of Knowledge 

The integration of scientific research 

with education, beginning with VAEI, has 

rendered some incredible results. 

“We know that the future scientific experts 

are the curious students of today, and 

sometimes their journey begins in the 

Education Institute, which brings grade 

school students into a laboratory-style 

environment that gives them an idea 

of what it means to think and act like a 

scientist,” Triezenberg said. “Some of the 

first students in the VAEI program are now 

college students interning in the Institute’s 

laboratories. So, for the first time, we 

are seeing students we worked with 

from the beginning of their educational 

development mature into young scientists 

with a passion for research and the desire 

to advance human health.” 

The Institute’s full spectrum of science 

education, from VAEI on through the 

research-focused Graduate School, creates 

a continuum of knowledge that can carry 

a student’s passion for learning into an 

undeniably bright and promising future. 

2015 Purple Community hosts its first annual Purple Community 5K. 

VARI scientist Dr. Gerd Pfeifer named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

Winterfest, VAI’s signature special event benefiting Parkinson’s disease research, raised $1,000,000 since 

its inception in 2005. 

Country and pop music star Sheryl Crow performs at the Hope and Denim event in Nashville, Tennessee, to 

raise funds for cancer and neurodegenerative disease research at VAI. 

2016 

Van Andel Research Institute-Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team begins 

clinical trials on promising new therapies for cancer. 

Terra Tarango appointed VAEI Director and Education Officer. 

Launch of NexGen Inquiry ® , VAEI’s web-based science education platform. 

VARI scientists Drs. Peter Jones, Stephen Baylin and Stefan Jovinge play key roles in 

discoveries that were hailed as notable advances of 2015 by Nature Medicine. 

Research!America's Geoffrey Beene Builders of Science Award presented to 

David Van Andel and Dr. George Vande Woude. 

His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands 

visit the Institute. 

Dr. Peter Jones elected into the National Academy of Sciences. 

Center for Neurodegenerative Science adds new focus on neuroepigenetics. 

VARI significantly expands its structural biology capabilities with the establishment of a Cryo-EM Core, a suite of powerful electron 

microscopes that can image minuscule molecules that are vital in health and disease. VARI also recruits three exceptional 

scientists to augment the Institute’s existing structural biology expertise. 



PARKINSON’S 

PLEASE ADD A BANNER TO THIS PAGE 

A LEGACY OF HOPE: SHIFTING THE 

PARADIGM ON PARKINSON’S DISEASE 

A couple of years after the Institute was 

founded, Jay Van Andel’s autobiography, 

An Enterprising Life, hit bookshelves 

across the nation. In it, he detailed his 

hope for the then fledgling biomedical 

research and science education institute 

he and his wife Betty had founded on a 

hill in Grand Rapids. At the core of his 

hopeful words was a specific call to find 

new ways to treat the two most common 

neurodegenerative diseases—Parkinson’s, 

with which he had been recently diagnosed, 

and Alzheimer’s, with which Betty had been 

diagnosed many years earlier. 

As the Institute grew, his words remained 

a constant inspiration for the work 

ahead. By 2012, it was time. The Institute 

had the facilities. It had the resources. 

It just needed the right person to lead 

the charge against neurodegenerative 

diseases. 

(PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS, LEFT TO RIGHT) DRS. JEREMY VAN RAAMSDONK, JIYAN MA, 

PATRIK BRUNDIN, DARREN MOORE AND LENA BRUNDIN. 

Direct from Sweden 

In 2011, Institute CEO David Van Andel 

found the leader who would shape VARI’s 

Center for Neurodegenerative Science. 

Dr. Patrik Brundin was renowned in the 

world of neuroscience, a pioneering 

scientist and clinician who had been part 

of truly groundbreaking work in the field 

of Parkinson’s research and treatment. 

Those first conversations between 

Van Andel and Brundin in Grand Rapids 

held glimpses of a bright future, but were 

also firmly rooted in the memories of their 

fathers. Jay Van Andel, David’s father and 

the founder of the Institute, had passed 

away in 2004 from complications related 

to a long battle with Parkinson’s. Brundin’s 

father also had fought the disease and 

served as the driving inspiration behind 

his son’s passion for finding a cure. 

“I’m driven by my father’s memory every 

day,” Brundin said. “Seven to 10 million 

people worldwide have Parkinson’s. That’s 

seven to 10 million mothers, fathers, 

brothers, sisters and friends. And that’s 

seven to 10 million reasons to do this work.” 

By the time he left Michigan to return to 

Sweden, Brundin was convinced—Grand 

Rapids was the place he needed to be. 

A New Mission 

When Brundin officially arrived at 

the Institute in 2012, he wasted no 

time establishing the Center for 

Neurodegenerative Science as 

well as Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s 

Disease, an annual symposium designed 

to highlight cutting-edge science and bring 

together the scientific, medical and patient 

communities. The first symposium was a 

small affair but, like the Center itself, was 

poised to grow significantly in size 

and scope. 

By early 2016, just a few short years after 

its creation, the Center was growing rapidly, 

having eight exceptional, established 

investigators and rising talent. In much the 

same way, the field of Parkinson’s research 

also hit an inflection point, one bolstered 

by scientific discoveries and a dedicated 

community of people with Parkinson’s and 

their advocates. 

Answering the Call 

Two years earlier, a crowd of more than 

325 people—scientists, clinicians, students, 

people with Parkinson’s and advocates—sat 

in awed silence in the Institute’s Tomatis 

Auditorium during Grand Challenges. On 

stage, Tom Isaacs, co-founder of the UK 

research charity The Cure Parkinson’s Trust 

and one of the community’s most influential 

and well-respected voices, gave a powerful 

speech outlining the unmet needs of the 

Parkinson’s community: more definitive 

diagnosis, improved care and therapies that 

change the course of the disease. 

“We’re constantly learning 

something new—the pace is 

absolutely astounding. Each discovery is 

another step closer to a future in which 

Parkinson’s no longer robs people 

of their golden years. There’s a 

big shift coming—we can 

see it on the horizon.” 

– Dr. Patrik Brundin 

“Our sense of urgency is intense,” Isaacs 

said. “I think the world of Parkinson’s is on 

the verge of a seismic shift for the better.” 

His speech came at an auspicious 

time. For more than 50 years, treating 

Parkinson’s looked more or less the 

same and had focused on mitigating 

symptoms rather than addressing the 

actual underlying causes of the disease. 

But science has been far from idle during 

this time; in fact, it has been booming. 

The Right Place, the Right Time 

More is known about Parkinson’s now than 

THE CURE PARKINSON’S TRUST CO-FOUNDER, TOM ISAACS, ADDRESSES THE 

CROWD AT THE 2014 GRAND CHALLENGES IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE SYMPOSIUM. 

ever before. Once thought to be strictly a 

movement disorder, scientists have learned 

that it can include a host of non-motor 

symptoms such as depression, loss of 

sense of smell and cognitive impairment. 

And they’ve learned how it spreads from 

cell to cell in the brain, slowly killing neurons 

that produce dopamine, a chemical 

required for smooth movement. 

These findings and other insights into 

the underpinnings of Parkinson’s didn’t 

happen in a vacuum; rather, they required 

a multidisciplinary and collaborative 

approach, both of which are at the heart 

of the Center’s philosophy. By recruiting 

exceptional scientists from across the 

spectrum of Parkinson’s research, from 

genetics and epigenetics to pathology to 

therapeutic development, VARI is building 

a critical mass of expertise, ensuring 

a scientifically strong and innovative 

environment. The benefits of this work are 

broad, often spilling over to inform research 

on other neurodegenerative diseases such 

as Alzheimer’s and multiple system atrophy. 

At the same time, VARI scientists reach 

beyond Grand Rapids to collaborate with 

colleagues around the world, delving 

deeper into the mechanisms behind 

Parkinson's in an effort to translate their 

findings into new ways of definitively 

diagnosing the disease, slowing or stopping 

progress, and repairing the damage. Their 

ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life 

for people with Parkinson’s. They’re getting 

closer; together with The Cure Parkinson’s 

Trust, VARI is finding new uses for existing 

drugs approved to treat other diseases 

that may also treat Parkinson’s. Some of 

these efforts have already made it into the 

crucial clinical trial phase, and others are 

well on their way. 

The Center and its efforts to move therapies 

to the clinic continue to grow—plans call for 

the recruitment of a neurologist to establish 

VARI-supported clinical trials where Jay and 

Betty Van Andel’s dream began, in Grand 

Rapids. With every step, their vision—the 

Institute’s vision—to positively impact 

human health is becoming a reality. 

“We’re constantly learning something 

new—the pace is absolutely astounding,” 

Brundin said. “Each discovery is another 

step closer to a future in which Parkinson’s 

no longer robs people of their golden years. 

There’s a big shift coming—we can see it on 

the horizon.” 



EPIGENETICS 

DR. PETER JONES AND DAVID VAN ANDEL ON STAGE 

AT DR. JONES' PRESS CONFERENCE IN 2014. 

BUILDING MOMENTUM AT THE EPICENTER OF EPIGENETICS 

The first time Dr. Peter Jones saw 

Dale Chihuly’s glass sculpture, Life, 

suspended in the Institute's lobby, he 

was inspired. In it, he saw something 

others did not. 

Tucked in among the ocean-blue glass orbs 

of its six-foot-tall helix were red spheres 

reminiscent of the way chemical marks 

that help control genes attach to DNA. It 

immediately resonated with 

Jones, who is a superstar in epigenetics, 

a burgeoning field that holds untold 

promise for finding new ways to treat 

cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases. 

Jones took it as a sign—epigenetics was 

in the Institute’s DNA. It just needed to 

be expressed. 

Charting a New Course 

In 2014, Jones packed up 37 years of 

research and moved from Los Angeles to 

Grand Rapids to become the Institute’s 

chief scientific officer. He had spent much 

of those four decades at the University 

of Southern California, where he led the 

university’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer 

Center and helped revolutionize the 

understanding of how our genes work. 

A renowned scientist and leader, Jones 

could see the potential and the promise, 

not only to put Van Andel Research Institute 

on the map, but most importantly, to 

save lives through innovative research, 

strong collaborations and cutting-edge 

clinical trials. 

“It was a rare chance to do something 

really special,” Jones said. “Thanks to the 

exceptional generosity of the Van Andel 

family and the outstanding scientific 

foundations built by Dr. George Vande 

Woude, the Institute was in a position that 

few organizations are lucky enough to 

experience. So we set our goals high. When 

people say Van Andel Research Institute, 

we want them to say epigenetics, and when 

people say epigenetics, we want them to 

say Van Andel Research Institute." 

A Matter of Identity 

Every cell in the body has almost the exact 

same DNA, yet the cells that comprise us 

are vastly different. What causes a brain cell 

to be a brain cell? Or a muscle cell to be a 

muscle cell? 

The answer is epigenetics. 

Literally meaning “above genetics,” 

epigenetics overlays the genetic code and 

determines when genes should be switched 

“on” or “off,” ultimately affecting cell type 

and function. And, like genetics, when 

epigenetic processes go awry—when genes 

are inappropriately turned off or on—the 

result can be disease, such as cancer or 

a myriad of other illnesses. Epigenetics is 

(PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS, LEFT TO RIGHT) DRS. SCOTT ROTHBART, 

PETER JONES, HUI SHEN, PETER LAIRD, GERD PFEIFER, PIROSKA SZABÓ, 

STEFAN JOVINGE AND STEVEN J. TRIEZENBERG. 

a growing field that presents an excellent 

opportunity for treating some of the biggest 

threats to human health. 

Jones knew epigenetics was one area where 

the Institute could truly become the best of 

the best. When he arrived in Grand Rapids, 

he set the Institute on an ambitious new 

course—to become a world-renowned 

hub for epigenetics research and in doing 

so, to find new ways to better treat cancer, 

Parkinson’s and other diseases. 

“Patients don’t have the time to wait and 

neither do we,” Jones said. “We have the 

opportunity to make a real difference in 

people’s lives.” 

There hasn’t been much waiting since 

Jones arrived in 2014. The number of 

faculty has grown dramatically from 23 

to 33 investigators, many with a focus on 

epigenetics. Reflecting the rise of Big Data, 

VARI has massively upgraded its computing 

power and technological capabilities to 

support large-scale genomic, epigenomic, 

and structural studies aimed at unraveling 

the molecular underpinnings of health and 

“Patients don't have the time to 

wait and neither do we. We have the 

opportunity to make a real difference 

in people's lives.” 

- Dr. Peter Jones 




EPIGENETICS 


disease. It is also now home to a 

Cryo-EM Core, a suite of high-powered 

electron microscopes that can determine 

the structure of minute molecules 

1/10,000 th the width of a human hair. 

Perhaps most exciting, the Institute is 

supporting clinical trials across the U.S. 

and abroad in the hope of moving new 

therapies into clinical practice. 

Further Together 

Before new drugs are used in patients 

they must run the gauntlet of clinical trials, 

which are complex, costly and rigorously 

conducted studies designed to ensure a 

drug’s efficacy and safety. These trials also 

require a tremendous amount of support 

and time. Jones and his team knew this 

obstacle presented an opportunity to have 

an immediate impact. 

They also knew that joining forces with some 

of the most influential and well-respected 

cancer research, medical and philanthropic 

organizations in the U.S. and abroad would 

strengthen and streamline their efforts. So, 

on a fall day in 2014, leading scientists and 

clinicians from these organizations along with 

representatives from Stand Up To Cancer, the 

American Association for Cancer Research, 

and industry met at the Institute with one 

goal—to compete against cancer rather 

than each other. 

One of the results was the Van Andel 

Research Institute–Stand Up To Cancer 

Epigenetics Dream Team, a multiinstitutional 

effort to move epigenetic 

combination therapies into clinical trials 

and, ultimately, to patients. It was built on 

Stand Up To Cancer’s paradigm-shifting 

Dream Team model, which focuses on 

supporting cutting-edge research by 

collaborative teams. 

The first trial under the team’s auspices 

was launched in 2016 and focused on 

a promising combination therapy for 

AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT THE DALE CHIHULY SCULPTURE, LIFE, THAT 

IS INSTALLED IN THE INSTITUTE'S LOBBY. 

VARI IS HOME TO THREE FELLOWS OF THE 

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH ACADEMY; DR. PETER JONES, VARI'S CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER 

AND CO-LEADER OF THE VARI-SU2C EPIGENETICS DREAM TEAM; DR. GEORGE VANDE WOUDE, VARI'S FOUNDING 

RESEARCH DIRECTOR; AND DR. STEPHEN BAYLIN, CO-LEADER OF THE VARI-SU2C EPIGENETICS DREAM TEAM. 

metastatic colorectal cancer. Multiple 

trials are in the pipeline to investigate 

new therapies for other cancers such 

as myelodysplastic syndrome and acute 

myeloid leukemia. 

“Collaborations like this are important— 

they harness resources and expertise that 

go beyond any one organization,” Jones 

said. “It’s impossible for one place to have 

all of the experts and the best of everything. 

By joining forces, we can have an impact 

not only here, but globally. We can do so 

much more.” 

Forward Momentum 

What started in Grand Rapids is now 

moving far beyond the city’s boundaries, 

a revolution reflected in the scientific 

discoveries shaping tomorrow’s lifechanging 

therapies. The Institute has always 

“When people say Van Andel Research 

Institute, we want them to say 

epigenetics, and when people say 

epigenetics, we want them to say 

Van Andel Research Institute. 

- Dr. Peter Jones 

been and will continue to be a connector, 

a way to bring people and organizations 

together in the pursuit of a common goal, 

one outlined by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 

the earliest days of VAI—improving health 

and impacting lives. The ability to weave 

together the expertise and resources of 

many is more important now than ever 

before; scientific fields and new technology 

have become increasingly specialized, and 

going it alone is no longer an option. 

As the Institute has grown so has the city, 

especially the Medical Mile that now crowns 

Belknap Hill. At the same time, science 

and medicine have been in the midst of 

unprecedented discoveries, ever refining 

the understanding of life’s most intricate 

mechanisms. 

The last 20 years have laid the foundation 

for the Institute’s future—one that is 

predicated on translating hope into 

discovery and discovery into impact. 



LEAVING A LEGACY 

Including Van Andel Institute (VAI) in your estate plans is a great way to make a lasting 

impact on biomedical research and science education that will benefit generations to 

come. Donors who include VAI in their estate plans are invited to join the Society of Hope 

and receive recognition in our annual report. 

Here are a few planning strategies that can help you provide for your heirs and leave 

your legacy: 

BEQUESTS 

A bequest made through your will or trust is one of the most common ways to provide 

from your estate for heirs and favorite charities. You can make a bequest of a dollar 

amount, specific asset or percentage of your estate. 

“Van Andel Institute has some of 

the sharpest biomedical research 

minds in the country, and they 

can’t do their work unless we help 

them acquire the tools to perform 

this groundbreaking research.” 

– Steve Grill, planned giving donor 

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS 

By completing a simple form, you can designate heirs and charities as the beneficiary of 

retirement plans, financial accounts and life insurance policies. 

GIVE IT TWICE TRUST 

You can set up a special charitable remainder trust that will pay income to your heirs and 

then leave the remaining principle to a charity. 

333 BOSTWICK AVE. NE 

GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 

WWW.VAI.ORG 

For more information about gift planning, please 

contact Patrick Placzkowski at 616.234.5030 or 

Teresa Reid at 616.234.5040.

Highlights of Hope 20th Anniversary

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?