Highlights of Hope Fall/Winter Issue 2024

HIGHLIGHTS OF
HOPE
FALL/WINTER ’24 ISSUE
2 VAI welcomes 7 new faculty 4 New research aims to improve cancer
immunotherapy 6 Scientists identify ‘fingerprint’ that marks cells susceptible to
Parkinson’s 7 For some ovarian cancers, timing is everything
8 Speeding hope by slowing Parkinson’s progression 9 Experts converge at VAI to
discuss all things epigenetics 10 Exploring the brain’s intricate neuronal network
11 Early career scientists earn accolades 12 A celebration of generosity
& discovery 14 Combining a pair of medications may offer a better way to fight
colorectal cancers 15 Graduate School welcomes new students
16 Immune cells swap snacks & trade information to do their jobs. Can we help
them be more effective? 18 Curiosity & creativity thrive through community
engagement 20 Donor spotlight: Sarah Vander Baan 22 Donor spotlight: Graham
Family 24 Events 31 Sponsors 32 Tributes

RESEARCH
VAI welcomes 7 new faculty
This year has been one of tremendous growth and opportunity for Van Andel Institute. So far in 2024, we’ve welcomed seven world-class
scientists to our faculty, each bringing expertise that will drive breakthroughs to improve health.
“Van Andel Institute continues to be a premier destination for scientists searching for a place where they can do exceptional, gamechanging
science,” said Dr. Peter A. Jones, VAI president and chief scientific officer. “We are thrilled to welcome our new faculty and look
forward to their future contributions.”
Clifford Cho, M.D.
Professor
Department of Cell Biology
Dr. Clifford Cho is a surgeon-scientist whose pioneering discoveries have
led to FDA-approval of histotripsy as a cancer treatment. Histotripsy uses
ultrasound waves to disrupt tumors and elicit an immune response, which
helps the body better fight cancer cells. He is a professor in Van Andel
Institute’s Department of Cell Biology, chief medical officer of University of
Michigan Health-West and a professor at University of Michigan.
Melissa Hoyer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Dr. Melissa Hoyer studies the fundamental cellular processes that
support brain health. To date, her research has revealed important
insights into several critical cellular systems required for normal
function — and detailed how errors in these vital processes
contribute to disease.
Derek Janssens, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Epigenetics
Dr. Derek Janssens explores the factors that give rise to blood
cancers with the goal of informing improved diagnosis and
treatment strategies. His research has contributed to powerful new
methods that enable scientists to better study the complex factors
that drive cancer development.
2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Hong Li, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Structural Biology
Dr. Hong Li uses the latest technologies to study RNA,
an important molecule that not only helps carry out the
instructions found in DNA but also facilitates the function
of protein enzymes. Her leading-edge research has farreaching
implications for understanding the role of RNA in
health and disease — and for informing new diagnostic and
treatment strategies.
Travis Walton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Structural Biology
Dr. Travis Walton studies the cellular cytoskeleton, which
provides structure and stability to cells. Problems with
this critical architecture can contribute to a wide range of
human diseases. Dr. Walton’s lab uses cutting-edge imaging
technologies to identify vulnerabilities in the cytoskeleton
that can lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Yang Yang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Structural Biology
Dr. Yang Yang leverages leading-edge imaging technologies
to illuminate new insights into neurodegenerative diseases,
such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Her research has
revealed the structures of critical disease-related protein
filaments — an important step toward developing improved
treatments.
Liman Zhang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Structural Biology
Dr. Liman Zhang studies the multifaceted ways that the
immune system responds to infection and cancer. By
focusing on the role of inflammation in these nuanced
interactions, Dr. Zhang hopes to inform improved treatments
for cancer and other disorders.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 3

RESEARCH
New research aims to improve
cancer immunotherapy
To say that immunotherapies have been a game-changer for
cancer feels like an incredible understatement.
These powerful treatments, which work by bolstering the immune
system’s ability to detect and kill cancer cells, have saved countless
lives since the first immunotherapy was approved for cancer in
2011. 1 Today, more than 1,000 immunotherapy clinical trials are
underway, each exploring different cancers and contexts. 2
Van Andel Institute Fellow Dr. Josh Jang is one of the scientists at
the forefront of developing ways to improve immunotherapies.
His work focuses on a specific class of these treatments called
immune checkpoint inhibitors, which supercharge the immune
system’s cancer-fighting powers.
“Immunotherapies have helped so many people, but not every
person or every cancer responds to them,” Jang said. “We want to
change that.”
Jang is uniquely positioned to pursue solutions. He is a scientist
who works with the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ©
(SU2C) Epigenetics Dream Team, a multi-institutional collaboration
that evaluates promising combinations of cancer therapies
through clinical trials. The initiative is unique because it pairs
epigenetic agents, which work by fixing errors in how our
genetic instructions are used, with other treatments such as
immunotherapies.
“The idea is that epigenetic drugs might prime cancer cells to be
more vulnerable to immunotherapies and other cancer-fighting
therapies,” Jang said.
Cancers — and people — vary widely. What works for one type of
cancer (or one person) may not work in another. That’s why Jang
and his colleagues are carrying out high-tech molecular, genetic and
epigenetic analyses of samples from the people who participate
in the trials. This critical work gives scientists an inside look at how
combination therapies affect cancers on a molecular level, insights
that could help them fine-tune treatments and find ways to identify
people who will best respond to certain approaches.
This latter point is of particular importance to Jang. In very rare
cases, some people treated with immunotherapy may experience a
phenomenon in which their cancer progresses rather than recedes.
It’s a problem that Jang and his VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team
colleagues are keen to solve. Thanks to their recent findings, they’re
well on the way toward finding answers.
A wrench in the gears
In science, a single observation can have a major impact.
For Jang and his collaborators, this moment arrived when reviewing
bladder cancer data gathered by the VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream
Team. They noticed a small subset of these cancers progressed
more quickly in response to immunotherapy.
“Immunotherapies have helped so
many people, but not every person or
every cancer responds to them. We
want to change that.”
— Dr. Josh Jang
This image shows
bladder cancer cells from
a tumor that progressed, with the different
colors representing the different types of
cells that compose the tumor.
Image courtesy of Dr. Josh Jang.
4 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

But why? What made them different? And could that difference be
fixed?
They dug into the data and there it was — a clue found in the
form of a gene called CYP1A1. In tumors that progressed after
immunotherapy, the team found CYP1A1 was selectively and highly
expressed — a signature that may differentiate cancers that
progress versus those that don’t. Importantly, CYP1A1 is also part of
a wider network known as the AHR pathway. 3
“Pathways” are interconnected networks of molecules and
reactions that carry out specific tasks within cells. Our health is
based on all our molecular pathways working well and in concert.
But when something goes wrong — when a wrench is thrown into
the gears or a part breaks — the results can lead to disease. This
can happen for many different reasons, such as genetic mutations,
which scramble the instructions required to produce key pathway
components called proteins.
Scientists are deeply interested in pathways because they offer
opportunities to treat diseases like cancer. Much like an engineer
figuring out why a production line went haywire, scientists seek out
errors in pathways and try to find ways to fix them.
This is the approach Jang and his colleagues are taking with the
AHR pathway. When something in the AHR goes awry, it can
interfere with the immune system and contribute to cancer
development.
Their initial findings led to Jang being awarded a prestigious
Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer
Institute, which will fuel further research into the role of AHR in
bladder cancer. Jang is hopeful their findings also might inform a
better understanding of this critical pathway in other cancers.
“Understanding why some cancers progress after immunotherapy
and finding ways to prevent it is a massive unmet need,” Jang said.
“I’m so fortunate to be part of such an excellent team of clinicians
and scientists who are working together to solve this problem and
help people battling cancer.”
Mining for markers
Fixing problems with AHR and CYP1A1 is only half of the equation.
The other part lies in identifying people at risk for progression
after immunotherapy.
Enter biomarkers.
Biomarkers are measurable, biological indicators of disease. For
example, temperature is a biomarker used to evaluate fever,
HbA1c is a biomarker that measures blood sugar levels, and
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is used to diagnose and monitor
prostate cancer. Jang and the team are hopeful that CYP1A1 or
other parts of the AHR pathway may serve as biomarkers, which
would enable doctors to identify people at risk for accelerated
cancer progression before they undertake immunotherapy.
If successful, Jang envisions a future in which a person with
cancer is screened for susceptibility for progression after
immunotherapy. Those who are not at risk would be cleared for
immunotherapy. Those at risk would receive a different course
of treatment that would minimize or eliminate the risk by fixing
problems with AHR. Ideally, these folks would then be eligible for
immunotherapy.
AHR inhibitors — medications that interact with the AHR pathway
— already are being evaluated as possible treatments for other
cancers. Jang is hopeful that the team’s research might shed light
on how to best repurpose existing medications toward uses in a
wider range of cancers.
“We’re not there yet but we’re well on our way,” Jang said. “This
work would not be possible without the people who participate
in clinical trials, the outstanding physicians and health care
staff that treat them, and our incredible VAI–SU2C Epigenetics
Dream Team. Finding better treatment strategies for cancer
isn’t something a single person can do — it takes a dedicated
community, and we are so fortunate to have that here.”
Funding Acknowledgement
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. K99CA286742. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not
necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Research reported in Jang et al. was supported by a Stand Up To Cancer Catalyst © Research Team Award with support from Genentech (SU2C-AACR-CT08-17) and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health
under award no. P30CA006927 (Chernoff). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
References
1
Johns Hopkins inHealth. n.d. Immunotherapy: Precision medicine in action. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/inhealth/about-us/immunotherapy-precision-medicine-action-policy-brief.
2
ClinicalTrials.gov. 2024. Search: “cancer” and “immunotherapy”. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=cancer&intr=Immunotherapy.
3
Jang HJ, Hostetter G, Macfarlane AW, Madaj Z, Ross EA, Hinoue T, Kulchycki JR, Burgos RS, Tafseer M, Alpaugh RK, Schwebel CL, Kokate R, Geynisman DM, Zibelman MR, Ghatalia P, Nichols PW, Chung W, Madzo J, Hahn NM,
Quinn DI, Issa JPJ, Topper MJ, Baylin SB, Shen H, Campbell KS, Jones PA, Plimack ER. 2023. A phase II trial of guadecitabine plus atezolizumab in metastatic urothelial carcinoma progressing after initial immune checkpoint
inhibitor therapy. Clin Can Res 29(11):2052–2065.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 5

RESEARCH
Scientists identify ‘fingerprint’
that marks cells susceptible to
Parkinson’s
Dr. Michael Henderson and his lab are working to solve critical
questions about Parkinson’s disease.
Chief among them — why are some brain cells vulnerable to
Parkinson’s while others are resistant?
Using a new technique called spatial transcriptomics, Henderson
and his team compared brain cells with Lewy bodies to brain cells
without Lewy bodies. They found a pattern, much like a diseaserelated
fingerprint, that includes genes that regulate critical
processes required for brain health.
Thanks to a pioneering new approach, they may have an answer.
Henderson and his team discovered a molecular “fingerprint” that
marks at-risk cells. Their findings provide new insights into how
normal processes become disrupted in the brain — and offer
potential pathways for pursuing new treatment strategies.
“To better address Parkinson’s, we need a deep understanding of
why some brain cells are more susceptible to disease than others,”
Henderson said. “Our findings are an important starting point.
We’re excited to see what we find next.”
The team’s discovery centered on Lewy bodies, clumps of
misshapen proteins that disrupt healthy cellular function and
contribute to cell death in Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia and
other disorders. Loss of these vital cells contributes to disease
symptoms.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications
and represent a first look into the complex changes that occur in
cells with Lewy bodies. Going forward, Henderson plans to further
explore how Lewy bodies affect processes throughout the brain,
with the goal of finding mechanisms that protect at-risk cells.
“For a long time, we’ve known that Lewy bodies play a role in
Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, but we didn’t
know exactly how they affected cells,” Henderson said. “We now
have an important springboard for more deeply understanding
how cells respond to Lewy bodies, which has great potential for
informing new therapies.”
Funding Acknowledgement
Research reported in this publication was supported by Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s under award no.
ASAP-020616 (PI: Thomas Biederer, Ph.D., Yale University [subaward to Michael Henderson, Ph.D.]) and the
National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AG077573 (Henderson).
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the
National Institutes of Health or other funders.
Lewy bodies are clumps of misshapen proteins that are hallmarks of
Parkinson’s disease and some dementias. The image depicts brain cells
(yellow) with and without these problematic proteins (magenta).
Image courtesy of the Henderson Lab.
6 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

For some ovarian cancers,
timing is everything
For the past couple of years, Dr. Hui Shen and her collaborators
have sought to unravel a mystery: Why do a pair of ovarian
cancers that share a common origin behave so differently?
Both cancers are believed to begin in endometriosis-related cysts.
Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which the uterine lining
grows outside of the uterus, causing inflammation and scarring.
Thanks to extensive scientific detective work and outside-the-box
thinking, they have an answer.
“We found important molecular differences between these two
cancers that are linked to the timing of the menstrual cycle stage
during which the cancer begins,” Shen said. “Recognizing this
distinction could help doctors better tailor treatment and help
scientists develop more precise, effective therapies.”
The two cancers, clear cell ovarian carcinoma and endometrioid
ovarian carcinoma, arise from the same cells and have similar
genetic roots, but they differ in how quickly they progress and how
they respond to treatment.
Although considered rare on their own, together they account for
up to a quarter of ovarian cancers. Clear cell ovarian carcinoma is
resistant to chemotherapy while endometrioid ovarian carcinoma
better responds to therapy.
During the menstrual cycle, hormone levels and other cellular
communication signals fluctuate, pushing cells to experience
different states in response to their shifting environment. These
effects can be magnified in endometriosis.
Shen and her colleagues found that cancer cells retain the traits
of the state they were in when they became malignant. It’s these
cell states that likely tip the scale toward either clear cell ovarian
cancer or endometrioid ovarian cancer. The team also identified
the mechanism by which these cell state differences become
locked as cells replicate.
“Sometimes the smallest variation between cancers can make the
biggest difference for treatment,” Shen said. “These tiny nuances
are so important. I believe our new understanding will go a long
way toward more effective care.”
Funding Acknowledgement
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes
of Health under award no. R37CA230748 (Shen). Heinze was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft
(HE 8699/1–1). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the
official views of the National Institutes of Health or other funders.
Funding Acknowledgement
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes
of Health under award no. R37CA230748 (Shen). Heinze was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft
(HE 8699/1–1). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the
official views of the National Institutes of Health or other funders.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 7

RESEARCH
Speeding hope by slowing
Parkinson’s progression
Taking on Parkinson’s disease is a challenge that requires
teamwork.
That’s why Van Andel Institute and Cure Parkinson’s spearhead the
International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) program, a global effort
to evaluate novel drugs and medications that have already been
developed for other diseases as potential Parkinson’s treatments.
Now the largest drug repurposing program in the world for
Parkinson’s, iLCT is speeding progress toward a single, life-changing
goal: find treatments that slow or stop disease progression.
Earlier this year, one of these trials, a phase 2 clinical trial known as
the LixiPark study, found that a Type 2 diabetes medication called
lixisenatide may slow progression of movement-related symptoms in
Parkinson’s disease.
work would not be possible without collaboration and a shared
commitment to finding therapies that impede Parkinson’s and
improve quality of life. We are deeply grateful to our partners, the
trial investigators, and the trial participants and their families.”
The trial was conducted at 21 centers of the NS-Park Network across
France. It was sponsored by the Toulouse University Hospital and
co-funded by Cure Parkinson’s and VAI. Lixisenatide and the placebo
were provided by Sanofi.
Lixisenatide is the second diabetes medication of its kind to show
promise in Parkinson’s in recent years. An earlier VAI and Cure
Parkinson’s-supported trial of another diabetes drug, exenatide, also
appeared to slow symptom progression in a phase 2 trial. Exenatide
is being evaluated in a large-scale phase 3 trial, with results expected
in late 2024.
The LixiPark study involved 156 people who had been recently
diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The results of the randomized, doubleblinded
study showed that the progression of movement-related
symptoms in people who received lixisenatide treatment slowed,
while movement-related symptoms in people receiving the placebo
progressed. The trial’s findings were published in the prestigious
scientific journal, The New England Journal of Medicine.
“These results are a promising step forward in the search for
potential ways to slow or stop Parkinson’s progression,” said
Dr. Darren Moore, chair of VAI’s Department of Neurodegenerative
Science and a member of the iLCT Committee. “This important
But why diabetes medications? Although they appear vastly different,
diabetes and Parkinson’s share similarities below the surface. In
addition, people with Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing
Parkinson’s, while people with Parkinson’s are more likely to exhibit
insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.
“The power of the International Linked Clinical Trials program is
its ability to bring together scientists, physicians and people with
Parkinson’s to pursue innovative treatment approaches,” Moore said.
“Studying diabetes medications in Parkinson’s might sound odd at
first but these drugs have shown real promise as potential gamechanging
treatments.”
What’s on the horizon?
To date in 2024, VAI and Cure Parkinson’s have announced funding for two additional clinical trials to explore medications
that may have promise for slowing Parkinson’s progression.
Low-dose lithium
Lithium is a medication used to treat mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. Research suggests that low doses of lithium
may protect brain cells that are vulnerable to damage in Parkinson’s.
The early-stage phase 1b trial aims to determine if low-dose lithium should continue to be studied as a potential treatment
for Parkinson’s.
Dapansutrile
Dapansutrile is an anti-inflammatory medication that also is being studied as a treatment for gout and osteoarthritis.
Inflammation in the brain may contribute to Parkinson’s by damaging cells that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger
required for movement. The phase 2 trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of dapansutrile in Parkinson’s to determine
if it can reduce brain inflammation.
8 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Experts converge at
VAI to discuss all things
epigenetics
Hundreds of scientists gathered at Van Andel Institute to
explore the latest in epigenetics, a growing field with vast
implications for health and disease.
This year’s three-day VAI Epigenetics Symposium focused on
epigenetics and cancer. Esteemed experts from around the world
highlighted how epigenetics research can lead to powerful new
therapies, discussing topics from the formation of cancer cells to
harnessing the immune system to fight cancer. Speakers shared
insights into the latest breakthroughs and posed questions for
future research.
The annual event showcases VAI’s role as a global leader in
epigenetics. The Institute is home to a team of scientists dedicated
to understanding how epigenetic changes may protect or
predispose humans to complex diseases like cancer, diabetes and
others. By bringing together top-tier scientists from around the
world, the VAI Epigenetics Symposium fosters collaboration and
offers hope for a healthier future.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 9

RESEARCH
Exploring the brain’s intricate
neuronal network
Dr. Carlos Vivaldo likes to think of the brain as a computer. It’s
made up of cells called neurons, which are akin to microchips
and processors, forming networks that govern behavior, thought
and function. When diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and
frontotemporal dementia take root in the brain, they derail
neurons’ ability to do their jobs, which manifests in the hallmark
symptoms of these diseases. Vivaldo wants to understand how this
impacts the information neurons hold — much like how changes
in tiny microchips might affect a larger computer — and leverage
discoveries to find better treatments.
a particular experience after college, as a research assistant at
Columbia University, that ignited a passion to better understand
the brain.
“People with a late-stage neurodegenerative disease often are
extremely limited in their movement and body functions, but many
respond to sensory cues,” Vivaldo said. “If they hear a familiar voice
or their favorite song, they start reacting to it. I was fascinated by
it — somehow this tiny cue can trigger such a complex thought or
behavior.”
Vivaldo pursues these efforts as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of
VAI Assistant Professor Dr. Qiang Zhu. Every day can look different:
Some involve investigating brain activity, while others focus on
deploying complex computer algorithms to analyze data.
“I chose the Institute because it’s a place that values everyone’s
skillset. If you have knowledge or abilities that no one else does, the
teams and labs help you maximize your contributions to research,
and everyone gets to do what they’re best at,” Vivaldo said.
Earlier in his career, Vivaldo bounced around various fields and
interests. Geology, then philosophy, followed by a brief conviction
in becoming a chemist, all leading to a passion for neuroscience
and the tiny neuronal cells that affect our behavior. He recalls
He would then focus on learning the techniques to understand the
cellular computers that manage our thoughts and behaviors by
training as a systems neuroscientist at the University of Michigan-
Ann Arbor. His passion for understanding the brain led Vivaldo
to join VAI in January 2024 as an Inspire Fellow — a program
built to support postdoctoral fellows who identify as members
of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as defined by the
National Institutes of Health.
As a first-generation Mexican-American, he saw it as an exciting
opportunity, one that not only allows him to pursue research he is
passionate about, but to be a trailblazer.
“By definition, you don’t see a lot of first-generation Mexican-
Americans in science, and you wouldn’t really see them on the
forefront of technology,” Vivaldo said. “It’s a unique experience
where I can strive to be the best scientist I can be while also
working to be an inspiration for people like me who wonder what
kind of opportunities are out there — we can show the community
that these experiences exist, and you can use your knowledge to
push ahead.”
Vivaldo has a passion for being on the forefront of things,
working alongside scientists who are laying the groundwork with
leading-edge research. He wants to know more about how those
“microchip-like” parts of our brain work: If scientists can identify
early changes in the brain, they can accurately predict how a
disease may develop.
“The brain is all one big system, so if one part is damaged, others
will try to compensate and function differently, so you end up with
residual or collateral damage,” Vivaldo said. “At the end of the day,
everything is connected, and there are many more techniques
and approaches to discover — it’s inspiring to play a part in those
future developments.”
DR. CARLOS VIVALDO
10 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Early career scientists earn accolades
Earning a grant is a major milestone in any scientist’s career. These awards provide crucial funding to explore new ideas and launch potentially
paradigm-shifting projects. They also offer external validation of one’s ideas and approaches.
From January to June 2024, five of VAI’s postdoctoral fellows and graduate students were awarded highly competitive grants. These will support
their innovative research and lead to a better understanding of health and disease.
Mike Dahabieh, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Russell
Jones Lab
Canadian Institutes of Health
Research CIHR Fellowship
Project: Investigating new ways to
improve the body’s defense system
against cancer 1
Alysa Kasen
Van Andel Institute Graduate
School Ph.D. Candidate,
Henderson Lab
National Institute on Aging
Ruth L. Kirschstein National
Research Service Award Individual
Predoctoral Fellowship
Project: Investigating factors that
contribute to Alzheimer’s disease 4
Jinhong Hu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lü Lab
American Heart Association
Fellowship
Project: Exploring how temperature
affects the shape of molecules
that may serve as targets for new
medications 2
Riley Wedan
Van Andel Institute Graduate
School M.D./Ph.D. Candidate,
Nowinski Lab
National Institute of General Medical
Sciences Ruth L. Kirschstein
National Research Service Award
Individual Predoctoral Fellowship
Project: Exploring how
mitochondria produce energy to
support healthy function 5
Josh Jang, Ph.D.
VAI Fellow, Peter Jones Lab
National Cancer Institute Pathway
to Independence Award
Project: Finding ways to prevent
serious side effects and improve
immunotherapy for bladder cancer 3
Funding Acknowledgements
Research reported in this publication was supported by:
1
Canadian Institutes of Health (Dahabieh).
2
American Heart Association under award no. 24POST1196982 (Hu).
3
National Cancer Institute under award no. K99CA286742 (Jang).
4
The National Institute of Aging under award no. F31AG084199 (Kasen).
5
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences under award no. F30GM154476 (Wedan).
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the
funding organizations.
VAI Inspire Fellowship
Van Andel Institute’s Inspire Fellowship supports exceptional postdoctoral fellows by reducing barriers, fostering community, and
providing the resources and personalized mentorship needed for an outstanding training experience. We are committed to ensuring
fellows have a firm foundation from which to launch their independent research careers — and to make a world of difference. Visit
vai.org to learn more about the Inspire Fellowship and VAI’s Postdoctoral Programs.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 11

RESEARCH
A celebration of generosity
and discovery
VAI establishes new endowed chairs, names renowned scientists
as inaugural appointees
Van Andel Institute’s lifechanging discoveries today are rooted
in the generosity of our earliest supporters. Their steadfast
commitment to a better, healthier world helped create a
gravitational pull that has drawn some of the world’s leading
scientists to Grand Rapids.
In May, the Institute celebrated this visionary legacy by naming
Dr. Peter W. Laird as the Peter and Emajean Cook Endowed Chair
in Epigenetics, and Dr. Huilin Li as the Ralph and Grace Hauenstein
Endowed Chair in Structural Biology.
These prestigious appointments recognize and celebrate Laird
and Li’s extensive, pioneering scientific contributions and honor
the Cooks and the Hauensteins, who were among the Institute’s
first and most dedicated supporters.
“VAI’s success is built on the firm foundations that Ralph and
Grace Hauenstein and Peter and Emajean Cook helped create.
We are eternally grateful for their encouragement and support,”
said David Van Andel, VAI Chairman and CEO. “Endowed chairs
acknowledge scientists whose career-spanning discoveries place
them at the top of their fields. Drs. Laird and Li are visionary
pioneers. Their revolutionary research drives innovation and
impact here and around the world.”
Exploring crucial contributors to cancer
Laird joined VAI in 2014 and helped establish the Institute as a
world leader in cancer epigenetics.
His research explores the origins of epigenetic mistakes in cancer
and provides deep insight into how cancer arises. Epigenetics are
the processes that manage how and when the instructions in DNA
are carried out.
Thanks in part to Laird’s work, epigenetic mistakes are now wellknown
contributors to cancer. Laird has developed several cuttingedge
technologies, which he leverages to identify crucial epigenetic
alterations that convert otherwise healthy cells into cancer cells. He
is a principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute’s Genome
Data Analysis Network and served in a leadership role for The
Cancer Genome Atlas, a now-completed multi-institutional effort to
molecularly map 33 different types of cancer.
Investigating the building blocks of life
Li joined VAI in 2016 and was instrumental in the creation and
growth of the Institute’s state-of-the-art Cryo-EM Core and
David Van Andel Advanced Cryo-Electron Microscopy Suite.
12 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

As a structural biologist, Li leverages the Institute’s highpowered
cryo-electron microscopes to understand how the
instructions in DNA are copied, repaired and protected. This
process, called DNA replication, is fundamental to all life and
has widespread impacts on health and disease. Li has been
at the forefront of his field for more than 20 years, and his
contributions have revolutionized our understanding of DNA
replication.
His leading-edge research also explores how the bacteria
that cause tuberculosis and the parasite that causes malaria
become resistant to medication, key insights that may guide
the next generation of therapies.
The highest
recognition
Endowed chairs are the highest distinction and recognition
for our scientists. As the best and brightest in their fields,
these leaders pursue big ideas to advance research and
breakthroughs.
To recruit and retain top faculty, Van Andel Institute is seeking
to establish new endowed faculty positions. Endowed research
positions are magnetic, creating the catalyst to bring unique
talent to VAI, and honor those who are making significant
advances in their field of research with additional resources.
Imagine making a contribution to science that lasts forever. To
learn more about supporting an endowed chair, please contact
Kate Frillmann, Philanthropy Director, at 616.234.5515 or
kate.frillmann@vai.org.
(LEFT) DR. PETER W. LAIRD
(RIGHT) DR. HUILIN LI
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 13

RESEARCH
Combining a pair of medications
may offer a better way to fight
colorectal cancers
A pair of medications that make malignant
cells act as if they have a virus could hold
new promise for treating colorectal cancers
and other solid tumors, according to a
study by Van Andel Institute scientists and
collaborators.
The preclinical research determined how
low doses of a medication called a DNMT
inhibitor sensitize cancer cells to another
medication called an EZH2 inhibitor. The
result is a one-two punch that combats
cancer cells better than either drug alone.
These findings are the foundation for an
upcoming early-stage clinical trial to evaluate
this combination in people with colorectal
cancer or other solid tumors.
“DNMT inhibitors are approved to treat
blood cancer, while EZH2 inhibitors are
approved to treat blood cancer and a
rare type of sarcoma. To date, they’ve had
limited individual success in solid tumors
like colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Scott
Rothbart, professor in VAI’s Department of
Epigenetics and the study’s corresponding
author. “Our findings highlight the promise
of combination cancer therapies by revealing
how these two medications interact, with
the DNMT inhibitor priming cancer cells in
a way that makes the EZH2 inhibitor more
effective.”
DNMT and EZH2 inhibitors work by
controlling the epigenetic processes that
regulate how the instructions in our genes
are accessed and carried out. In cancer,
epigenetic errors enable malignant cells to
survive and proliferate — and offer critical
targets for treatment.
Previous studies show that DNMT inhibitors
cause cancer cells to behave as if infected
by a virus, which makes the cells more
susceptible to attack by one’s own immune
system. In their new study, Rothbart and
colleagues demonstrated that combining
DNMT and EZH2 inhibitors activate this viral
mimicry process more effectively than either
drug on its own. The upcoming trial will be
the first time these two medications will be
combined to enhance their activities in solid
tumors.
Colorectal cancers are the second leading
cause of cancer death globally, according to
the World Health Organization. More than
1.9 million cases were diagnosed in 2020,
with new annual cases expected to rise to
3.2 million by 2040. Although screening and
early detection have driven down colorectal
cancer rates among older people in the U.S.,
rates are rising in younger people.
“Although it is not clear why colorectal cancer
cases are rising among young people, it is
clear that we need more effective treatment
strategies,” Rothbart said. “Combining
medications may be a powerful way to
“Combining medications
may be a powerful way
to simultaneously target
multiple drivers of
cancer.”
— Dr. Scott Rothbart
simultaneously target multiple drivers of
cancer. In addition to revealing how DNMT
and EZH2 inhibitors work together, our
findings suggest epigenetic drugs may also
sensitize tumors to immunotherapy, which
offers another important opportunity to
enhance cancer treatment.”
The upcoming trial will be supported by the
Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ©
(SU2C) Epigenetics Dream Team, a multiinstitutional
collaboration that evaluates
promising potential combination therapies
for cancer, and a National Cancer Institute
Specialized Programs of Research Excellence
(SPORE) award, a prestigious five-year grant
that supports a team of scientists seeking to
improve epigenetic cancer therapies.
The findings were made possible in part by a
SPORE-supported subproject on DNMT and
EZH2 inhibitors led by Rothbart and
Dr. Stephen Baylin, of Johns Hopkins
University and Van Andel Institute. Baylin
also serves as co-leader of the VAI–SU2C
Epigenetics Dream Team and is a study
co-author. The study’s co-first authors are
Dr. Alison A. Chomiak and Dr. Rochelle L.
Tiedemann.
Funding Acknowledgement
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. P50CA254897 (Issa, Baylin and Jones; sub-project 7830, Rothbart) and F32CA225043
(Chomiak); and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM124736 (Rothbart). Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., was supported by a Research Scholar Grant (RSG-21-031-
01-DMC) from the American Cancer Society. Rochelle L. Tiedemann, Ph.D., was supported by the American Cancer Society–Michigan Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF-16-245-01-DMC). The content is solely the
responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or other funders.
14 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Graduate School welcomes
new students
Van Andel Institute Graduate School is home to students dedicated to becoming the scientific leaders of tomorrow. By combining rigorous
coursework with extensive laboratory experience under the mentorship of VAI’s expert faculty, the Graduate School prepares students for
productive careers in biomedical research and beyond.
We invite you to meet this year’s cohort, featuring 12 students from five different countries.
Braelyn Binkowski
Research interest:
Cancer prevention and early
detection
Yixiong (Kevin) Han
Research interest:
Structural biology and
immunology
Dahlya Kamarudin
Research interest:
Cancer biology and
translational research
Ashlin Slanger
Research interest:
Gene regulation and
epigenetics
Maxwell Frye
Research interest:
Neurodegenerative diseases
Renee Hoffman
Research interest:
Gene editing and epigenetics
Noah Lubben
M.D./Ph.D. Student
Research interest:
Neurodegenerative diseases
Hoang-Le Tran
Research interest:
Bioinformatics
Ali Gamal
Research interest:
Cancer biology, molecular
biology and genetics
Ava Jensen
Research interest:
Immunology
Vincent Sartori
Research interest:
Blood cancers
Anika Weekes
Research interest:
Neurodegenerative diseases
and cell signaling
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 15

RESEARCH
Immune cells swap snacks and
trade information to do their
jobs. Can we help them be more
effective?
Dr. Russell Jones spends a lot of time thinking about what our
cells eat.
And if so, can we translate this knowledge into tailored nutrition
strategies to better support treatments for disease?
As a scientist who studies the interaction between the immune
system and metabolism, his interest in cellular diet is more than
just an idle curiosity.
“Metabolism fuels every aspect of the body, including the immune
cells that fight disease and infection on our behalf,” Jones says.
“Understanding the interaction between these two critical systems
could help us develop new dietary strategies to supercharge
immune cells against cancer, infection and other threats.”
This goal is an important one. Nutrition deeply influences health
and disease risk but there still is a laundry list of unanswered
questions about the nuances of this relationship.
For Jones, two of these questions are particularly important:
Do certain cells prefer certain nutrients?
All about immunity
The immune system is the body’s defense against illness and injury.
It is made up of many different cells that work together to combat
threats, speed healing and keep us healthy.
To do this, immune cells “talk” to each other using chemical
messengers. But that’s not the only way they communicate — they
also share nutrients, which can be used to help the cells better do
their jobs.
“In many ways, our immune cells are like kids at the lunch table,”
Jones said. “They trade snacks, they share information, and they
get sluggish if they don’t get the right nutrients. We want to know
how they do this, if certain cells prefer particular nutrients and if
providing those nutrients help the cells work better.”
Now, a new initiative led by Jones and immunology expert Dr.
Connie Krawczyk is seeking answers. Their project focuses on two
16 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

types of immune cells: dendritic cells and T cells. Together, these
cells regulate our adaptive immunity — that is, the body’s ability to
identify, combat and remember new threats.
Here’s the thing, though: We know that these two critical cell types
interact, share nutrients and communicate, but we don’t know
exactly how they do it.
Part of the problem is technical. Immune cells are usually studied in
isolation, which offers an incomplete picture of how they do
their jobs.
So, Jones and Krawczyk did what scientists do best — come up with
an outside-of-the-box way to figure out how immune cells interact
and determine if nutrient sharing optimizes their function.
An innovative approach
Studying complex systems like immunity and metabolism is tough.
The cells and molecules that make up these systems do not act
alone — their function depends on interactions with each other,
often in ways that can be difficult to pinpoint and measure.
As we learn more and as technology improves, scientists like Jones
and Krawczyk can break down longstanding barriers and develop
new tools to help push the frontiers of knowledge.
And that’s exactly what their teams are working on, thanks to
inspiration from an unexpected place: biofuels.
Biofuels are exactly what their name implies: fuel sources that are
derived from biological materials, like corn. It’s not as simple as
shoving a corn cob or a handful of grass clippings into a gas tank
(and we beg you not to try). Instead, scientists and engineers have
developed processes to break down and refine plant matter
into fuels.
This process essentially mirrors how metabolism works in the body,
which enabled Jones, Krawczyk and their teams to design a similar
approach to study how immune cells communicate and share
resources like nutrients. The work was funded in part by a grant
from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as part of an effort to develop
new ways to measure and evaluate metabolism.
If successful, the new method will pave the way for fresh research
into metabolism and nutrition while also providing the data needed
to understand how immune cells communicate through swapping
nutrients.
“The possibilities are endless,” Jones said. “Pinpointing which
nutrients T cells, like and which ones dendritic cells like, and
identifying how they share those resources would be a
game-changer.”
Funding Acknowledgement
This project has been made possible in part by a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised
fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and
does not necessarily represent the official views of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF.
“In many ways, our immune cells are like kids at
the lunch table. They trade snacks, they share
information, and they get sluggish if they don’t
get the right nutrients. We want to know how
they do this, if certain cells prefer particular
nutrients and if providing those nutrients help
the cells work better.” — Dr. Russell Jones
(LEFT) DR. RUSSELL JONES
(RIGHT) DR. CONNIE KRAWCZYK
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 17

EDUCATION
Curiosity and creativity thrive
through community engagement
‘Disaster Detectives’ promote safety, preparedness
Natural disasters like blizzards, tsunamis, hurricanes and
wildfires have vast consequences for us and our environment.
Technological innovations can help us be prepared.
This was the focus of Van Andel Institute for Education’s “Disaster
Detectives” After-School Cohort, where fifth and sixth graders
researched problems created by natural disasters and explored
how innovation can improve preparedness and recovery.
To start, students researched past natural disasters and identified
emergencies that arose during them. For example, tsunamis
can contaminate farmland and inland groundwater sources with
saltwater. During blizzards, stranded motorists or pedestrians
need quick ways to get emergency assistance.
Students brainstormed theoretical technologies that might help
in such cases. Their ideas included devices to remove excess salt
from soil and groundwater and a push-button GPS locator for
people stranded during a natural disaster.
The students used common crafting materials to create prototype
devices. They then pitched the devices, and the evidence behind
them, to a panel of judges that included representatives from Kent
County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service
in Grand Rapids.
‘Species Explorers’ ponder habitat enhancements
In our “Species Explorers” cohort, fourth- and fifth-grade students
delved into animal survival techniques. Students visited John Ball
Zoo and learned about the expert care provided by zoo staff. The
cohort’s goal was to propose additional enrichment opportunities
for the zoo to implement in the animals’ habitats.
The students broke off into groups and selected animals at the
zoo, with a focus on endangered species. Ultimately, they chose to
study red pandas, snowy owls, Amur tigers, pancake tortoises and
pygmy hippos.
The students explored these animals’ needs, and learned how
adaptations like furry coats or hard shells help them survive. From
there, they analyzed their current habitats and created additional
enrichment strategies to help the animals thrive.
Each group presented their findings to a panel of judges, including
a representative from John Ball Zoo. The judges selected the
pancake tortoise group as the winner. Zoo staff will consider the
suggestions — which included more lighting and additional plants
— for possible future upgrades to the pancake tortoise exhibit.
To access resources listed here and learn more about VAI Education’s
K–12 programs, visit vaieducation.org.
The judges chose a device called the “Help Me Pro” as the winning
proposal. The device design included pre-programmed buttons to
automatically contact emergency responders and/or relatives in
the event of a natural disaster-related emergency.
By learning to think and act like scientists, these young scientiststo-be
gained creative and critical thinking skills required to address
real-world problems.
By learning to think and act like scientists, these young
scientists-to-be gained creative and critical thinking
skills required to address real-world problems.
18 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 19

PHILANTHROPY
20 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

At the crossroads of cancer,
research and family
For Sarah Vander Baan, giving is about connection. She’s
involved in a variety of positive, engaging and impactful
organizations, each touching various aspects of her personal
and charitable passions. When she learned of Van Andel
Institute, she realized instantly it was a perfect match: VAI
connected many previously separate passions — merging a
love of education, support for breast cancer research and the
opportunity to join a community that makes a difference.
Vander Baan first learned of VAI at the JBoard Member Mixer,
a laid-back gathering for supporters, friends and researchers
alike.
“I talked with JBoard members and postdoctoral fellows, slowly
learning about VAI until it just clicked,” Vander Baan said. “I
signed up, visited the Institute for a tour, and I just knew I
needed to be a part of the research and education efforts
taking place right here in our community.”
Vander Baan has been a JBoard Ambassador since 2019, and
she says the Institute has played a key role in her life. Her
mother faced breast cancer twice, and Vander Baan herself
is carefully exploring preventative treatment options knowing
she may be faced with her own diagnosis. In addition to
working with her medical team, she has found tremendous
value in hearing directly from VAI’s scientists.
“Learning about cancer, Parkinson’s and other scientific
research has really expanded my perspective on things — you
see, there’s a whole world of people out there working to
better understand these diseases, and with a lot of time and a bit of
luck, that can inform future treatment options,” Vander Baan said.
Additional connections to the Institute have formed over time, with
Vander Baan’s son attending Van Andel Institute for Education
summer camps and after-school events. She said it helped her
realize how science can be taught in a way that’s educational,
but also fun. Vander Baan believes it’s helpful to have a local
organization pushing for STEM opportunities in the region, as it
makes science accessible while improving the place where we live.
As her relationship with VAI progresses, Vander Baan finds it easy
to stay involved while also looking for ways to make more of an
impact. Having a personal link to the cause created the initial
connection, but she plans to strengthen that link through further
advocacy.
“There’s so much knowledge and passion at VAI, both in science
and education, that I just want to share it with everyone in the city,”
Vander Baan said. “When you hear about the work taking place —
the actual, real-world research that happens right here in Grand
Rapids — it makes you want to get involved right away. That’s
exactly what happened to me at that first JBoard mixer!”
Van Andel Institute JBoard Ambassadors are a network of early and
mid-career professionals who believe in a bright future fueled by
biomedical research and science education initiatives. To learn more
and to join, contact Allie Griffith at alexandra.griffith@vai.org.
“There’s so much knowledge and passion at VAI, both in
science and education, that I just want to share it with
everyone in the city.” — Sarah Vander Baan
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 21

PHILANTHROPY
It takes a family — A 10-year
journey with cancer
Braden Graham recalls gathering his three children — Ben, George
and Mallory — for a family meeting, the kind they usually held to
coordinate schedules, share school updates or simply catch up on
the latest happenings.
This time, though, something was different. His wife, Alison, wasn’t
there, taking time to process a devastating medical diagnosis that
he now had to share with their kids. Braden was scrambling for
the best approach, looking for the right words to help the children
understand just how their lives were about to change.
In the end, he kept it simple: Mom is sick. She has breast cancer.
After hearing the news, George, 7 at the time, had one question for
his dad: “Is mom going to die?”
The Grahams look back on that story with awkward laughter and
teary eyes. The harrowing tale is easy to recount thanks to Alison’s
presence. She is now cancer-free.
“We’re the lucky ones,” Braden said. “We get to celebrate
anniversaries and tell these stories, even if they’re hard to tell and
make us emotional.”
Storytelling is an everyday custom for Braden. For more than
five years, he was vice president of live events at Bluewater
Technologies Group, helping organize unique events and
experiences for various clients, including providing logistical and
technical support for VAI’s signature events. Working with the
Institute was special, Braden said, because it helped connect
research and the community, bringing people together for a shared
cause. It’s also a cause Bluewater believes in — the organization
received the Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award in 2022 for
their exceptional commitment to the Institute, and recently joined
the VAI Founders Society in recognition of more than $1 million
given in support of the Institute.
Seeing Bluewater and other organizations support VAI inspires
Alison, who relied on biomedical research as a source of
information throughout her journey with cancer.
“I’m not typically someone who follows the latest news in medicine,
but learning more about cancer research, treatment developments
and new drugs made everything easier to understand,” she said.
It was like homework for her: Learning about various kinds of
treatment options, the newest drugs on the market and the various
surgeries available. The family followed the recommendations
of medical professionals, but seeing the knowledge — and the
progress that research unlocked — brought calm.
“Once we had all the information, then I could relax,” Alison said.
“We met with the best doctors, and we dove into the research —
then I just had to focus on getting through it and getting better.”
Healing involved challenging treatment sessions. Even with the
confidence of copious research notes and a top-notch medical
team, no one can know exactly how they’ll respond to treatment.
For Alison, it often led to three, four or five days of mandatory rest.
“We often portray cancer as this individual battle, but
that’s just not how it works. It takes a family, a group
of friends, even a friendly neighbor to get through the
physical, spiritual and mental healing that you have to do.”
— Alison Graham
22 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

BEN, MALLORY, BRADEN, ALISON & GEORGE GRAHAM
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 23

PHILANTHROPY
Mallory, 5 at the time, recalls those days through tears.
“I just remember my mom being really sick, in a way none of us had
seen before, and it was just really, really hard,” she said.
During those challenging times, the family leaned on one another
to get through. It felt like a whirlwind, as things would swing back
to normal in between treatment sessions: Alison would attend Ben
and George’s hockey games, the family would go out for food, and
they even planned a “Frozen”-themed birthday party for Mallory.
“We wanted to enjoy being together and do our regular things as
much as we could,” George said. “I don’t think anyone ever ‘forgot’
mom was sick, but there were times when we could just focus
on family.”
The Grahams received additional support from their extended
family and friends. For the first few weeks after the diagnosis,
Braden said, the family didn’t even need to worry about food —
someone would always swing by to drop off some meals. Those
gestures provided additional stability in particularly grueling weeks.
And when things felt overwhelming, support would come from
unexpected sources.
During one of the hardest weeks, Braden recalls, he felt exhausted.
Alison was resting from treatment, and he had finally convinced
Mallory and George to get into their beds. Suddenly, he heard a
raucous commotion coming from downstairs.
“I think to myself, what on Earth is Ben, who was 9 at the time, doing
now?” he recalled.
Braden rushed down the steps and into the kitchen, where Ben is
standing at the sink, doing the dishes.
“I just thought you needed some help,” Braden recalled Ben saying.
Those acts of kindness were essential during treatment, Alison said,
and it made her believe you have to come together as a family to
get through a cancer diagnosis. Diving into research and learning
from medical professionals gave her confidence in the physical
healing process, but leaning on others was its own kind of medicine.
“We often portray cancer as this individual battle, but that’s just not
how it works,” Alison said. “It takes a family, a group of friends, even
a friendly neighbor to get through the physical, spiritual and mental
healing that you have to do.”
24 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

As treatment progressed, the Grahams were able to slowly let
go of an ever-present tension that had hung around since that
first family meeting. While vigilance never goes away, Braden said,
you start to see where you can celebrate victories along the way:
Weekly appointments became monthly, then every three months,
then every six months. But there’s always another appointment.
“Cancer impacted our family, and it’ll always be there — there are
emotional scars, there are physical scars — but Alison is with us,
and we can face those together,” Braden said.
2024 marked 10 years since Alison’s diagnosis, a landmark which
deserved additional celebration. Ben and George played in a
Hockey Fights Cancer fundraising game in support of VAI and in
honor of their mother.
“We wanted to make it special, so we just did as much as we could,”
Ben said. “Flowers, a special puck, a speech, and dad even set up all
the cool lights and turned the rink purple.”
Mallory is getting involved, too. She recently joined VAI’s Student
Ambassador Program, where high school students can gain
real-life experience as volunteers and event planners in the
nonprofit world.
“It’s an opportunity to plan events, learn more about research and
be part of that hope,” Mallory said.
For Alison, seeing her family take steps to support research that
may help others offers a sense of tranquility.
“Whether it’s the signature events, Purple Community or the
countless other initiatives in and around the area, people believe
we can make things better,” she said. “The best part is that it’s
happening right in our backyard, with breakthroughs that can
help science all over the world, and I’m just proud to say my family
played its own unique role in that story.”
It was a full-circle moment for Braden and Alison, seeing their
children working to support the kind of research that gave
them hope.
“Cancer impacted our family, and it’ll always be there
— there are emotional scars, there are physical scars —
but Alison is with us, and we can face those together.”
— Braden Graham
ALISON GRAHAM DROPS THE PUCK AT A PURPLE
COMMUNITY HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER GAME
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 25

EVENTS
Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence
Dinner & Award Presentation
Honoring those who make extraordinary efforts in support of
the Institute’s mission, the Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence
Award recognizes supporters who go above and beyond for
VAI. This year’s recipients were the Dennis and Barbara Adama
Family, John and Nancy Kennedy, the Peter C. and Emajean Cook
Foundation, the Eve Rogus and Paul Becker Family, and Southside
Ice Arena Hockey Fights Cancer.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DENNIS ADAMA & CAROL VAN ANDEL; CAROL VAN ANDEL & EVE ROGUS;
JOHN KENNEDY, NANCY KENNEDY & CAROL VAN ANDEL; DANIELLE BOZIO, CHRISTINE MALEPORT & CAROL VAN ANDEL;
CAROL VAN ANDEL, RYAN COOK & LAURA MATTENICH
26 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Board of Governors Annual Dinner
Bringing together individuals, organizations and businesses who
share an ardent passion for biomedical research and science
education. Held at Cascade Hills Country Club, the evening provided
an inside look at VAI operations, including the “State of the Institute”
from Institute Chairman and CEO David Van Andel. VAI scientists
Drs. Hui Shen, Evan Lien and Darren Moore provided research
updates, while Director and Education Officer Terra Tarango
detailed current and future K–12 programs.
Thank you to our Board of Governors Co-Chairs, Tim Long and
Vicky Ludema.
If you are interested in joining the Board of Governors, please contact
Sarah Rollman at 616.234.5712 or sarah.rollman@vai.org.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DAVID VAN ANDEL; CAROL VAN ANDEL; DR. EVAN LIEN;
DR. HUI SHEN; DR. DARREN MOORE; GUESTS ARRIVE AT CASCADE HILLS COUNTRY CLUB;
BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEMBERS GATHER FOR DINNER
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 27

EVENTS
Around the World
There’s only one way to properly kick off summer, and it’s
with wine, food and VAI supporters at Around the World.
Hosted by VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors, the celebration welcomed
VAI’s community for delectable food and beverages, along with
an interactive presentation from VAI Education.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Lake Michigan Credit Union.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) GUESTS VISIT FOOD TRUCKS; VAI EDUCATION PRESENTATION;
DAVID VAN ANDEL GREETS GUESTS; DAVID VAN ANDEL PARTICIPATES IN EDUCATION PRESENTATION; GUESTS INTERMINGLE
28 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Design & Discovery
Haworth and VAI partnered for a unique combination of
contemporary furniture design, modern fashion and biomedical
research. Held at the legendary Haworth headquarters and
showroom in Holland, the evening featured a seated dinner, music
by AB and a unique shopping experience. A one-of-a-kind fashion
presentation provided a stunning look at the 2024 Spring/Summer
collection from the luxury specialists at Leigh’s and a special fashion
show from world-renowned luxury Italian brand, Max Mara.
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors, Haworth, Leigh’s and Max Mara.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; MODEL WALKS THE RUNWAY; ANN HARTEN;
REBECCA WIERDA, CAROL VAN ANDEL & ALEXI GABRIDGE;
FRANCO BIANCHI
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 29

EVENTS
VAI Open Corporate Charity
Pickleball Event
The fast-paced, fast-growing sport returned to Grand Rapids
for a unique charity tournament. Participants gathered for a
lively dinner and silent auction at MDRD the evening before the
tournament. The competition was held atop the Amway Grand
Plaza Hotel, where novice and advanced players alike competed
for bragging rights in support of biomedical research and science
education.
Thank you to our Dinner Sponsors, Amway and Rockford
Construction, our Court Sponsor, Eenhoorn, and our Paddle
Sponsors, AHC Hospitality, Franco and Alessandra Bianchi, Kurt and
Jena Lacks, Tim and Kim Long, Pioneer Construction, and the David &
Carol Van Andel Family Foundation.
30 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

(STARTING AT TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL;
ROCKFORD CONSTRUCTION TEAMS GATHER BEFORE COMPETITION;
BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE BRACKET PODIUM;
ADVANCED BRACKET PODIUM; CJ HUISMAN & STEPHANIE HINO;
DAVID VAN ANDEL GREETS MIKE MRAZ;
PLAYERS FACE OFF ATOP AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL;
PLAYERS SHAKE HANDS AFTER A MATCH;
DAVID VAN ANDEL
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 31

EVENTS
JBoard Member Mixer
VAI’s network of early and mid-career professionals gathered
to celebrate science, discovery and summer weather. Designed
to recognize the work of VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors, the gathering
brings together community members for food and cocktails,
along with the opportunity to meet VAI postdoctoral fellows. This
year’s mixer was hosted by longtime VAI supporter
Jeffery Roberts.
Thank you to our JBoard Co-Chairs, Blake Crabb and Rachel Mraz.
If you are interested in becoming a JBoard Ambassador, please
contact Allie Griffith at 616.234.5110 or alexandra.griffith@vai.org.
(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) JBOARD CO-CHAIRS RACHEL MRAZ & BLAKE CRABB;
JBOARD AMBASSADORS & GUESTS GATHER; GUESTS VISIT LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS;
EVENT HOST JEFFERY ROBERTS GREETS VISITORS
32 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Thank you to our generous
event sponsors
To learn more about sponsoring an event, contact Sarah Rollman at sarah.rollman@vai.org.
Around the World
Alliance Beverage Distributing
Bluewater
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Blake Crabb
David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
Jeffrey & Kate DeLongchamp
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
DeVries Dental
Eileen DeVries Family Foundation
Element Four
Grand Valley State University
Matt & Sarah Jones
KM Online Marketing
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Leigh’s
Miller Johnson
NVINT
Smith Dental Team
Tripp & Katie VanderWal
The Vucelich Family — on behalf of the
children’s book “I’ll Never Forget”
West Michigan Woman
Wicked Pro Events
Greg & Meg Willit
Design & Discovery
John & Mary Amell
AnLaan Corporation
Authentica
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
Bluewater
Bondi Salon
The Currie Foundation
CWD Real Estate Investment
Davenport University
David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
Bob & Colette DeNooyer
Dominique & Julie DeNooyer
DeNooyer Chevrolet
Mike & Amy Devanney
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Eenhoorn, LLC
Jeff & Ann Harten
Haworth
The Hilldore Group — Baird
Dan & Kristin Hinkle
iHeart Media
INONTIME
Interphase Interiors
Patrick & Jasmine Irish
Jeffery Roberts Design
KNITit
Al & Linda Lanning
Leigh’s
Madith
Max Mara
Metal Flow Corporation
MJ Haverdink Family Foundation
Nicolai Diamant Group
PADNOS
Plastic Surgery Associates, PC
Priority Health
SIBSCO LLC
Studio M Interiors
THRIVE Consulting & Coaching
Vicky Weller
West Michigan Woman
VAI Open — Corporate Charity
Pickleball Event
20x44 Sports
AHC Hospitality
Amway
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
Eenhoorn, LLC
Kurt & Jena Lacks
Tim & Kim Long
MDRD
Pioneer Construction
Rockford Construction
Rooftop Pickleball
Studio M Interiors
University of Michigan Health-West
This list includes sponsors of signature events
between May and August 2024.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 33

TRIBUTES
IN MEMORY OF
Allan Arnoys
Joanne Arnoys
Jeanne Ashby Hall
David & Carol Van Andel
Family Foundation
Jana Hall
Nicole Beuschel
James & Sue Baar
Paulette Bohnsak
Jim & Kim Johnson
Carl Brinks
Harry & Mary Leeuw
Sallie Brinks
Anonymous
Jim & Sharon Apol
Daniel & Elaine Arsulowicz
Jeriel & Carol Beard
Mary Bell
Brent & Rachael Brinks
Chris Brinks
David Brinks
Jason & Jodi Brinks
Tyler Brinks
Jacob & Audrey Carpenter
Karen Casey
Norman Dykman & Marjorie Elling
Laura Emery
Douglas & Christine Evans
Catherine Farley
Friends of Grand Haven State Park
Russ & Cheri Geurink
Amy Guikema
Andrew & Emily Haan
Gary Harkins
Help at Home Senior Care, LLC
Dan & Jackie Hill
Scott Jones
Melissa Kropf
Lansing Sail & Power Squadron
Mary Mateer Melville
Mike & Judi Mazurek
Megan McCurdy
Dave & Jane Munn
Joan Panopoulos & Family
Ken & Jill Peirce
John Poloney & Denise
Bielecki-Poloney
Bob & Vicki Rehkopf
William & Kathleen Reynolds
Elaine Rongey
Chas & Marcia Schaner
Raymond & Barbara Slager
Rebecca Southwell
John & Carol Stuive
John & Mary Swanson
Ken & Sherry Thomasma
Milton & Pam Tignor
John & Sandra VerWys
Ralph Ziegler & Mary Ann Jensen
Mark Brossard
Gregory & Sandra Beck
Robert Beck
Crivello, Nichols & Hall
Carroll & Michele Janisch
Wendy Muller
Tom Roanhouse & Deb Barry
Gary & Connie Tilleros
Thomas & Patricia Victor
Susan Jean Burch
Jim & Pam Bird
Jim & Jean Hessler
Elaine Lober
Lynne Smith
Michael & Elizabeth Travis
Andrew Chow
Eric Chow
Marie Creger
David & Tamara Kroll
Elizabeth DeRogatis
Mike & Amy Devanney
Richard & Helen DeVos
Bob & Paulette Israels
Ann Marie Ferrante Wennerberg
Steve & Judi Buffington
Eric & Annette Cambiaso
Robin Capalbo
Jan Cynaumon
Manfred & Nicole Fabian
James & Myrna Hall
Chris & Lindsay Lawrence
Linda Lawrence
The Simone Family
Deborah Standiford
Tim & Jeanne Tays
Susan Tyjewski
Andrea Wennerberg
Julie Youngberg
Valarie Firestone
Avona Beckeman
Mary Fontaine
Deborah Morgan
Robert S. Foster
Ann Higley
Ellen Kilgore
Clifford D. Grannum
Sheryl Davis
Kirk Simmons
Patricia Jacobs
Aimee Brown
Mohammed “Mo” Jammal
Don & Lin Beenen
Dan & Carol Beimers
Tyler Bouma
Thomas & Kathleen Brackey
Hazel Christians
Marilyn DeJong
Michael & Deb Door
Sherwin & Ellen Doorn
Kevin Freund
Thomas Hollemans
Elias Jawish
Colleen Jensen
Edward & Nancy Kingma
Anne Kunnen
Ernie & Mary Leep
Lowell Women’s Club
Doug & Anne Maranda
Jackie Tousley
Paula Kelly
Eleanor Kelly
Mike & Peggy Kelly
Gail Kelly-Degennaro
Heather Nabozny
John E. Koehler
Shirley Koehler
Tena Irene Kooistra
Catherine Hazekamp
Charles & Karen Hazekamp
Norman & Nancy Jacobs
Kathryn Overley
Michael & Nancy Voltz
Lynn Westphal
Robert & Sharon Westra
Ross Wiersema
Eric & Lynnette Wirth
Nick & Christina Wright
Larry Landstra
John & Deb Flietstra
Dave & Nancy Kozminski
Richard & Eleanor Landstra
Mary Jane Udell
John E. Leese
Rick & Mary Bartling & Betsy
Bartling Wambaugh
Karl & Patti Betz
Mark & Tracy Brant
Todd & Jodi Brown
Tim & Beth Flory
We appreciate your trust in us to fight disease in memory or in honor of your family and friends — with hope for a healthier
tomorrow. To make a gift in memory or in honor of a loved one, please call 616.234.5392.
These lists represent gifts made between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2024. The accuracy of these lists is very important to us.
Please contact 616.234.5392 if an error has been made.
34 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

Coreen Jakosh
Laurie Konarska
Donald Kullgren
Macatawa Bank
Steve & Teresa Massie
Chip & Judy Perschbacher
Mary Remien
Frank & Annette Remsburg
Elaine Rongey
Smith & Company Inc.
Michael & Jenny Tepastte
Russ & Chris Visner
Floyd Lindholm
Carol Lindholm
Justo Lopez
Barb Pelak
Dr. Joseph Mather Sr.
Ed & Mary Anne Tucker
James Murray
Janet Murray
Sandy Nikodemski
Walter & Nina Gorak
E. Peter Nyenhuis
Joanne Arnoys
Giorgio Regini
Jamie Nieroda
Sarah Rijfkogel
Sam & Brenda Rijfkogel
Richard Rivette
Carrie Rivette
Richard P. Sheppard
Lakeshore Internal Medicine &
Pediatric Associates, PC
Jonathan Sullivan
Eugene Skamiera
Jeff & Kim Jenkins
Brian Smith
John Chrustowski
Emily A. Snavely
Anonymous
Richard Stiller
Jessie Benaharon
Cyndy Tubergen Napper
Betty Fogersong
Bill Van Regenmorter
Bill & Rosemary Stevenson
Jayne VanderMale
Ken & Sue Hasseler
Mark & Georgia Wilson
Cathy Winterhalter
Pat Vaughan
John Vaughan
Rebecca Vogelsang
Stephen & Jennifer Czech
Joyce Warschefsky
Todd & Denise Brown
Irene & Peter Weber
David & Rhonda Stump
Larry Whitfield
Daniel Young
Steve Steinbach
Joe & Kelley Young
Jill Marie Wiltzer
Col. Kenneth Foster
Kim Gilpin
Douglas & Melissa Haneline
Jim & Jera Laidlaw
Michael Janisse & Nancy Nortier
IN HONOR OF
Landon Battle
Sheila Mocarsky
David & Rhonda Stump
Carole Altman
Lisa Berber
Thomas Newhof
Patricia Bonnell
Greg & Barbara Marczak
Susan Bowers
Ron Rutkowski
Arlene Early & Paula, Cassandra, Rick & Karen Doubleday
Scott & Julie
George Sharpe Sr.
Wayne Brown Jr.
Jim & Cathy Brady
PTSportsPro, PLLC
Tom Shirilla
Emma, Annie & Martha
Patricia Bonnell
Hochreuther
Ulrich Rische & Family
James Young, M.D.
William & Tricia Dodds
Kerry Jackson
Tabitha Monet
Danny Ryan
Joseph & Mary Sedlecky
Timothy Sackett
Becky Laughlin Agency —
Farmers Insurance
Ellen Marie Westcott
Michael Coleman
Al & Judy Schmidt
Hazel O. Whitfield
John Sieb & Joe DiSturco
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 35

Leave a lasting legacy and
provide hope for generations to
come
VAI’s research is fueled by long-term hope, a focus on
building a future where we have greater understanding of
diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and metabolic disorders.
Together, scientists and educators are working to improve
human health and educate the next generation of scientific
leaders.
You can help make a brighter, healthier future a reality. A
growing number of individuals have remembered VAI in their
estate plans. These intentions greatly benefit the Institute’s
initiatives, providing resources that expand our ability to
advance science and education for decades to come.
When you include the Institute in your estate plans, you are
invited to the Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of Hope — an
honor that showcases your belief in research and education.
We welcome a conversation about estate giving
that makes the most sense for you. Please
contact Philanthropy Director Kate Frillmann
at 616.234.5515 or kate.frillmann@vai.org.
Additional information about estate giving can
be found at vai.giftlegacy.com.
Highlights of Hope is supported through Van Andel Institute operational
funds, ensuring 100% of donations go toward the Institute’s research and
educational efforts.