2024 VAI Annual Report

2024

ANNUAL REPORT

Van Andel Institute began with

a vision: improve human health.

The Institute is fueled by a community of bright minds who share a

relentless curiosity and deep commitment to make the world a better

place through groundbreaking biomedical research and inspired K–12

and graduate education.

At Van Andel Institute, we do more than dream about improving

human health. We strive to make it a reality.

Table of Contents

2 A letter from David Van Andel

4 Research

6 Research highlights: Epigenetics

8 Research highlights:

Neurodegenerative Science

10 Research highlights: Cell Biology

12 Research highlights: Structural Biology


Metabolism & Nutritional Programming


Core Technologies & Services

17 Clinical collaborations

18 VAI Principal Investigators

26 Van Andel Institute Graduate School

36 Events & Philanthropy

38 Event galleries

54 Signature event sponsors

56 Donor spotlight: Bee Brave

60 Donor spotlight: Dr. Karen Kamerschen

62 Donor spotlight: Graham family

64 Circle of Hope

64 VAI by the numbers

65 Institute leadership team

66 Board members

68 Board of Governors

69 JBoard Ambassadors

30 Education

32 Education highlights

COVER BACKGROUND IMAGE COURTESY OF DR. JOSH JANG

1

A letter from

David Van Andel

Dear friends and supporters,

As our 30th anniversary draws near, I’m pleased to share Van Andel Institute is stronger than ever. Our

commitment to creating better and more tomorrows through cutting-edge biomedical research and inspired

scientific education continues to shine as a guiding light of hope for millions around the world. We are always

looking forward, but we are incredibly proud to showcase our latest achievements throughout this report.

Bold ideas come from brilliant minds, and our world-class team of scientists, educators and support staff

continues to grow as swiftly as our advancements in scientific discovery. We’ve welcomed a host of new

faculty who bring unrivaled passion, exceptional abilities and grand ideas to our labs every day. I’m proud to

say we host more than 500 innovators from more than 30 countries, making Van Andel Institute a destination

that is as diverse and globally connected as it is groundbreaking.

Our passion for innovation reaches far beyond the walls of our labs, and we believe hope for tomorrow lives

in the students of today. Whether it be in a local classroom or in a research lab, we are shaping the scientific

leaders of tomorrow through problem-based learning experiences, collaborative mentorships and problembased

training. Van Andel Institute for Education continues to fuel young minds and inspire teachers, creating

K–12 classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive. For future pioneers preparing

for careers in biomedical research, our Graduate School uses problem-based learning to ensure a quality

education that prepares them for success.

None of the triumphs and educational opportunities outlined in this report would be possible without our

donors — organizations, businesses, sponsors, individuals, philanthropists and countless other supporters

just like you who share our vision of unleashing innovations that will improve health and enhance lives for

generations to come. As we’ve said since opening our doors, we cannot thank you enough for embodying

generosity and sharing our deep care for humankind.

We are eager to unfold the discoveries this next year holds and greatly look forward to many more

collaborations, breakthroughs and — most importantly — opportunities for providing hope.

Sincerely,

David Van Andel

Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO

2

“I’m proud to say the Institute

is becoming a premier

destination for scientists,

attracting the talent necessary

to create a thriving scientific

community.”

“Bold ideas come from

brilliant minds, and

our world-class team of

scientists, educators and

— David Van Andel

Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO

support staff continues

to grow as swiftly as

our advancements in

scientific discovery.”

— David Van Andel

3

Van Andel Institute

for Research

EVERY DAY, WE COLLABORATE AT THE FOREFRONT OF

FUNDAMENTAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE IN PURSUIT

OF BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR CANCER,

PARKINSON’S AND OTHER DISEASES.

OUR GRADUATE SCHOOL OFFERS A RIGOROUS, RESEARCH-

INTENSIVE PH.D. PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS LEADERS

IN MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY.

Department of Epigenetics

Virtually all 37.2 trillion cells in our bodies have the

same DNA, the spiraling molecule that contains the

genetic instructions required to make us who we

are. But if every cell works from the same playbook,

how and why does the human body have so many

different types of cells? Why do some become skin

cells while others become muscle cells, heart cells or

brain cells?

The answer is epigenetics — a complex set of processes

that determine when and to what extent genetic

instructions are carried out. Epigenetic processes are

vital for healthy cellular function and, when things go

awry, they can play major roles in disease.

By investigating the epigenetic processes that finetune

DNA, our scientists aim to pinpoint the origins of

complex diseases and determine how they are impacted

by our past and present, and how they influence future

generations.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Combining epigenetic cancer medications may

benefit colorectal cancers and other tumor types

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, reports a

study led by Dr. Scott Rothbart and published in Science

Advances. The preclinical research determined how

low doses of a DNMT inhibitor sensitize cancer cells to

an EZH2 inhibitor, resulting in a one-two punch that

combats cancer cells better than either drug alone. The

findings are the foundation for an upcoming Phase I

clinical trial to evaluate this combination in people with

colorectal cancer or other solid tumors. The trial will

be part of the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ®

Epigenetics Dream Team, and led by collaborators at

Johns Hopkins University. 1

For some endometriosis-related ovarian

cancers, timing is everything

Two types of endometriosis-related ovarian cancer arise

from the same cells but likely at different stages of the

menstrual cycle — a nuance that significantly influences

treatment response, reports a study led by Dr. Hui Shen

in collaboration with University of British Columbia

scientists. The findings, published in the journal Cancer

Research, have implications for better understanding

and treating a pair of cancer subtypes that together

account for up to nearly a quarter of ovarian cancer

cases. Clear cell ovarian carcinoma comprises 5%–12% of

ovarian cancer cases and is resistant to chemotherapy.

Endometrioid ovarian carcinoma comprises 5%–10% of

ovarian cancer cases and responds better to therapy. 2

New anti-cancer ‘degrader’ targets protein

essential to infant leukemia

A team led by VAI’s Dr. Hong Wen and Icahn School of

Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Dr. Jian Jin have developed a

potent anti-cancer compound that inhibits cancer cell

growth in a tough-to-treat type of infant leukemia. The

compound, MS-41, targets and destroys ENL, a protein

that is essential to the progression of MLL-rearranged

leukemia. Without ENL, leukemia cells lose the ability

to proliferate and spread. The findings were published

in the journal Science Advances and pave the way for

further study of MS-41 in other types of leukemia. 3

Study paves way to improved anti-cancer

immunotherapies

Disrupting the Asxl1 gene in certain immune cells

improved the effectiveness of an anti-cancer

immunotherapy called immune checkpoint blockade in

models of cancer. The findings were published in Science

by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists

and made possible in part by funding and clinical trial

samples from the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To

Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team. The collaborative

effort underscores the promise of combining epigenetic

drugs with immunotherapies. 4

Scientists pinpoint key cancer survival strategy

A study by VAI’s Dr. Scott Rothbart and colleagues

reveals how layers of epigenetic mechanisms work

together to support cancer cell survival. The findings

point toward potential new ways to overcome these

defenses and improve cancer therapies. One promising

approach involves combining cancer treatments such

as immunotherapies with medications that fix cancerrelated

epigenetic errors. The research was published in

Molecular Cell. 5

6

Dr. Josh Jang earns prestigious award to pursue improved

cancer immunotherapies

VAI Fellow Dr. Josh Jang earned a prestigious Pathway to Independence

Award from the National Cancer Institute, which will support

his efforts to determine why some cancers progress following

immunotherapy. Although rare, understanding how and why this

happens could lead to better screening strategies for people prior to

treatment. Jang’s research is part of the Van Andel Institute–Stand

Up To Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team, a multi-institutional clinical

trial collaboration that evaluates promising treatments for cancer

that combine epigenetic therapies with immunotherapies and other

approaches. 6

RESEARCH

Funding Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by:

1

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. P50CA254897 (Issa,

Baylin and Jones; subproject 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 (https://doi.org/10.53354/ACS.RSG-21-031-01-DMC.pc.gr.144230). Rochelle L. Tiedemann, Ph.D., was

supported by the American Cancer Society–Michigan Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship

(PF-16-245-01-DMC).

2

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).

3

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01CA260666

(Jin and Wen).

Wen is a Career Development Award Scholar of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (award no. 1387-23).

Wen also is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award

no. R01CA255506. Shi is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under

award no. R01CA268440. Chen is supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney

Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R41DK13305, the National Institute on Aging

of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R21AG071229 and the National Institutes of General

Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01GM133107.

This work used the NMR Spectrometer Systems at Mount Sinai acquired with funding from the National

Institutes of Health under Shared Instrument award nos. 1S10OD025132 and 1S10OD028504.

4

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award

no. R01AI114442 (Youngblood); the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award

nos. R01CA237311 (Youngblood), K08CA279926 (Zebley) and R35CA209859 (Jones); the National Comprehensive

Cancer Network Young Investigator Award; Alex’s Lemonade Stand Young Investigator Grant; Van Andel

Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team; ASSISI Foundation; Merck & Co.; and ALSAC, the

fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude.

5

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award

no. R35GM152184 (Rothbart); the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under

award nos. P50CA254897 (Issa, Jones and Baylin; sub-project 7830, Rothbart), R01CA283463 (Rothbart) and

F32CA260116 (Hrit); and the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team. Scott

Rothbart, Ph.D., was supported by an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant RSG-21-031-01-DMC

(https://doi.org/10.53354/ACS.RSG-21-031-01-DMC.pc.gr.144230).

6

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. K99CA286742 (Jang).

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 funding organizations.

7

Department of Neurodegenerative Science

Worldwide, 8 million to 10 million people have

Parkinson’s disease and more than 30 million

have dementia. Currently, there is no cure and no

effective way to slow or stop disease progression.

VAI scientists aim to change that by investigating the

complex factors that give rise to neurodegenerative and

psychiatric disorders, from genetics and epigenetics to

aging, inflammation and the structure of the brain itself

— even the roles of the gut and the immune system.

By leveraging discoveries made in VAI’s labs and

collaborating with researchers around the world, our

scientists are working to translate breakthroughs into

life-changing new treatments for Parkinson’s, dementias

and depression.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Scientists identify cell vulnerability ‘fingerprint’ related to Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia

A study from the lab of Dr. Michael Henderson offers a first look into the complex molecular changes that occur

in brain cells with Lewy bodies, which are key pathological hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body

dementia. The findings reveal that brain cells with Lewy bodies exhibit a specific gene expression pattern — akin

to a disease-related fingerprint — that affects many critical processes required for brain health, including cellular

communication, energy regulation, cellular trash removal and inflammation. Moving forward, the Henderson Lab

will explore pathways disrupted by Lewy bodies to identify mechanisms that may protect vulnerable cells. The study

was published in the journal Nature Communications. 1

Pregnancy-related depression may have roots in the placenta

Inflammation in the placenta may contribute to pregnancy-related depression, according to a first-of-its-kind study

conducted in West Michigan. The findings identify specific molecular changes in the placenta that are associated

with depression onset and severity. The study was published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, and led by

VAI’s Dr. Lena Brundin and colleagues at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and

Michigan State University. It included 120 women who received care at Corewell Health during their pregnancies. 2

VAI, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and Western Michigan

University join the National Network of Depression Centers

VAI, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and Western Michigan University have

joined the National Network of Depression Centers as joint members. The membership draws on WMed’s expertise

in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, WMU’s excellence in behavioral treatment approaches, and VAI’s expertise

in research into the next generation of depression diagnostics and therapeutics. It builds on a longstanding

collaboration between VAI’s Dr. Lena Brundin and WMed’s Dr. Eric Achtyes, who together have led numerous

federally funded clinical studies on depression.



1

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).

2

The National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01MH104622 (Brundin).

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 funding organizations.

8

Scientists honored for Parkinson’s

research contributions

VAI named pioneering scientist Dr. Anders

Björklund of Lund University as recipient of

the 2024 Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding

Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research. The

award was presented in September during the

Institute’s annual flagship Parkinson’s symposium,

Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease. As a

world leader in Parkinson’s research, Björklund’s

work focuses on finding ways to prevent and repair

cellular damage caused by the disease. Parkinson’s

symptoms arise after the loss of brain cells that

produce the chemical messenger dopamine,

resulting in the disease’s hallmark movementrelated

symptoms.

VAI and Cure Parkinson’s also recognized

Dr. Oliver Bandmann with the 2024 Tom Isaacs

Award, which honors researchers who significantly

impact the lives of people with Parkinson’s. The

award was presented virtually during the Rallying

to the Challenge meeting, which is held in tandem

with Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease.

Bandmann is a professor of movement disorders

neurology and co-director of the Cross-Faculty

Neuroscience Research Institute at University of

Sheffield, UK. His research focuses on discovering

new treatments with the potential to slow, stop or

reverse Parkinson’s.

Around

the

Institute

Study sheds

light on how

diet impacts

immune cell

function in the brain

Mice fed a short-term, high-fat diet experienced

improved immune cell function in the brain,

reported a study by VAI’s Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik in

collaboration with Dr. Russell Jones and Dr. Michael

Henderson. Although the effect was temporary, it

did contribute to brief enhancements in learning

and memory. The surprise discovery resulted from

an investigation into the reasons why high-fat diets

can trigger chronic problems with metabolism.

The findings reveal a new role for brain immune

cells, called microglia, as rapid-response sensors

of nutrient intake. The results also suggest that

microglia rapidly break down harmful fatty acids

and release carbon molecules that have a protective

effect on other brain cells.

Funding Acknowledgement

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Max Planck

Gesellschaft; Van Andel Institute; the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research

and Innovation Program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement

no. 675610 (Drougard); NeuroMac CRC/TRR167 (Pospisilik and Prinz); a Marie

Skłodowska-Curie Predoctoral Fellowship (EPOC–707123); and the National

Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health under

award nos. R21HG011964 (Pospisilik) and R01HG012444 (Pospisilik and Nadeau).

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 funding

organizations.

RESEARCH

9

Department of Cell Biology

Our health, and consequently our lives,

depend on the coordinated activities

of our individual cells. Scientists

in VAI’s Department of Cell Biology

investigate how these cells grow,

communicate, survive, assemble into

tissues, respond to the environment

and change with age.

Their transformative work aims to yield

new diagnostic and treatment strategies

to improve the quality of life for people

with cancer, bone diseases and rare

disorders.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Zebrafish reveal insights into

cancer-related process

Zebrafish and humans might seem

vastly different, but below the surface,

we share many similarities — it’s what

makes zebrafish important models for

studying health and disease. In 2024,

these tiny fish helped a team led by

Dr. Stephanie Grainger determine

how two important parts of a cellular

communication pathway called Wnt

work together. Problems with Wnt are

well-known contributors to cancer.

Better understanding how pieces of

this important pathway interact may

offer potential powerful new targets

for cancer treatment. The findings

were published in the journal Science

Signaling. 1

Study sheds light on common

genetic driver of breast cancer

Mutations to and deletions of the NF1

gene are among the most common

drivers of breast cancer. Now, findings

from the Steensma Lab and Lien Lab

have revealed the mechanisms by

which loss of NF1 function contributes

to breast cancer development and

progression. They discovered that

damage to this critical gene derails cells’

normal metabolic balance, allows cells

to proliferate unchecked and disrupts

important cellular communication

channels. The findings, published in

Molecular Metabolism, highlight NF1

and cancer cell metabolism as potential

targets for new cancer therapies. 2

Experimental blood test for

pancreatic cancer undergoing

clinical development and evaluation

An experimental blood test for pancreatic

cancer that was developed by VAI and

University of Pittsburgh scientists is being

evaluated by a commercial laboratory,

an important milestone toward making

the test available for patients. A doubleblinded,

peer-reviewed analysis published

in Cancer Letters revealed that the

experimental test correctly identified 71%

of pancreatic cancer samples in the lab

compared to only 44% correctly identified

by the current gold-standard test. Teams

led by VAI Professor Dr. Brian Haab and

Dr. Randall E. Brand, a physician-scientist

and professor of medicine at the University

of Pittsburgh, created the test.



1

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R00HL133458 (Grainger); the

National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM142779 (Grainger); the

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AI171984 (Triche,

Krawczyk and Prokop); the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, under

award no. DAF2022-249404 (Triche); and the Michelle Lunn Hope Foundation (Triche).

2

Van Andel Institute; NF Michigan; and Bee Brave.

3

Research reported in the Cancer Letters paper was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health

under award nos. U01CA200466 (Brand and Batra), U01CA200468 (Maitra), U01CA152653 (Haab, Allen and Brand), U01CA226158

(Haab and Brand) and U24CA086368 (Zheng, Etzioni and Feng); and the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Foundation (Maitra).

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 funding organizations.

Before the new test can be used by doctors

to diagnose cancer, it must undergo clinical

validation. During this process, a CLIAaccredited

diagnostics laboratory adapts

the experimental test into a version that

reliably works under the strict conditions

in a clinical lab. CLIA is a rigorous federal

standard that ensures lab quality. Clinical

validation of the test will be conducted by

ReligenDx, a CLIA-accredited diagnostics

lab based in Pennsylvania. The process is

expected to take two years. 3

10

VAI welcomes

8 new faculty

Van Andel Institute celebrated another

year of tremendous growth in 2024

with the recruitment of eight worldclass

scientists to our faculty. These

exceptional investigators and their labs

will expand our impact and contribute

to our ability to make breakthroughs

that improve health.

“Since I first stepped through Van Andel

Institute’s doors a decade ago, I’ve known

it is a remarkable place. Our continued

ability to attract the best of the best

reflects our growing reputation as a

world-class destination for outstanding

science,” said Dr. Peter A. Jones, VAI

president and chief scientific officer.

“We are overjoyed to welcome our new

faculty and their teams and look forward

to their future stellar 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 the 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.

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 far-reaching

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


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 leadingedge

imaging technologies to identify

vulnerabilities in the cytoskeleton

that can lead to novel diagnostic and

therapeutic targets.

Bang-An Wang,

Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of

Neurodegenerative

Science

Dr. Bang-An Wang develops new

technologies to explore the epigenetic

underpinnings of brain development

and neurodegenerative diseases. His

multifaceted research brings together

powerful techniques to illuminate

potential future treatment targets.

Yang Yang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor


Biology

Dr. Yang Yang employs

the latest 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


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.

RESEARCH

11

Department of Structural Biology

Imagine standing on the moon and having eyes so

powerful that you can clearly watch a tennis match

on Earth. Now imagine using that same visual

power to see down to the molecular level, and

you have structural biology — a field that allows

scientists to study the smallest components of life

in exquisite detail.

Determining the shape of these critical molecules is

vital for understanding their function in health and

disease. Scientists in Van Andel Institute’s Department

of Structural Biology harness state-of-the-art

techniques to visualize molecules that may serve as

treatment targets for cancer, neurological disorders,

metabolic diseases, infectious diseases and more.

They’re revealing groundbreaking new insights into

the most fundamental aspects of biology, from parsing

the ways cells sense and respond to the environment

to illuminating the intricacies of DNA replication.

They’re also laying the foundations for new therapies

by revealing how a drug molecule disables its target

protein.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

When it comes to DNA replication, humans and baker’s yeast are more alike than different

Humans and baker’s yeast have more in common than meets the eye, including an important mechanism that helps

ensure DNA is copied correctly, reported a pair of studies published in the journals Science and Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences. The findings visualize for the first time a molecular complex — called CTF18-RFC in

humans and Ctf18-RFC in yeast — that loads a “clamp” onto DNA to keep parts of the replication machinery from

falling off the DNA strand. The discovery from longtime collaborators Dr. Huilin Li of Van Andel Institute and

Dr. Michael O’Donnell of The Rockefeller University sheds light on the intricate mechanisms that enable the faithful

passage of genetic information from generation to generation of cells. 1

Blueprint of repair molecule could aid in fight against tuberculosis

Despite advances in treatment, tuberculosis (TB) still sickens more than 10 million people worldwide each year.

Using a high-powered cryo-electron microscope, Dr. Huilin Li and his collaborators visualized a molecular complex

called GrpE-DnaK, which helps tuberculosis-causing bacteria survive attacks by the human immune system. The

finding offers powerful new opportunities to design medications that combat TB bacteria by interfering with this

repair process. 2

Heating proteins to body temperature reveals new drug targets

Some proteins shift their shape when exposed to different temperatures, revealing previously unknown binding

sites for medications. The findings, published in the journal Nature, could revolutionize wide swathes of biology

by fundamentally changing how protein structure is studied and leveraged for drug design. Proteins are generally

investigated at low temperatures to ensure their stability. However, the study demonstrates that certain proteins

are highly sensitive to temperature and change their shape when heated to body temperature. The study was led by

former VAI associate professors Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü. 3



1

Van Andel Institute (Li); the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01GM148159 (O’Donnell) and R35GM131754

(Li); and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (O’Donnell).

2

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01AI070285 (Li) and R01AI138446 (Glickman).

3

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01HL153219 (Lü); the National Institute of Neurological Disorders

and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01NS112363 (Lü), R01NS111031 (Du) and R01NS129804 (Du); a Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in

Neuroscience (Du); an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (Du); a Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences from the Pew Charitable Trusts (Du); a McKnight Scholar

Award (Du); and the American Heart Association under award no. 24POST1196982 (Hu).

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 funding organizations.

12

Funding

As of December 2024, VAI

scientists had 97 active

awards totaling $165.8 million.

In 2024, VAI scientists earned

25 new awards totaling

$32.4 million.

RESEARCH

Publications

In 2024, VAI scientists

published 122 peer-reviewed

papers. Of these, 63 were in

high-impact journals.

Nature Index

The Nature Index, which

measures institutional

scientific output, ranks VAI

no. 19 in the Biological

Sciences category out of the

top 100 nongovernmental/

nonprofits.

Figures current as of December 2024.

IMAGE OF YEAST Ctf18-RFC COURTESY OF DR. HUILIN LI

13

Department of

Metabolism & Nutritional Programming

Every aspect of life is fueled by metabolism, a

constant cascade of chemical reactions that

ensure we have the energy to survive and thrive.

But sometimes things go wrong, depriving our cells

of the energy and resources required for healthy

function.

When energy production or distribution breaks down,

the results can be catastrophic — diseases such as

cancer, Parkinson’s and diabetes are all known to have

varying degrees of metabolic involvement.

Scientists in VAI’s Department of Metabolism and

Nutritional Programming explore the intricate

mechanics of cellular metabolism and their implications

for health and disease. Using cutting-edge techniques,

they’re investigating metabolism’s interaction with

other critical systems, such as the immune system, and

revealing how environmental exposures and metabolic

dysfunction contribute to diseases such as diabetes,

autoimmunity, cancer and neurodegeneration. They’re

also parsing the ripple effect that nutrition may have

through the generations, exploring how our diets could

lay the epigenetic foundations for the health of our

descendants.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Starving cancer cells of fat may improve cancer treatment

Cutting off cancer cells’ access to fat may help a specific type of cancer treatment work more effectively, reports a

study by VAI’s Dr. Evan Lien and collaborators. The findings, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, lay the

groundwork for developing tailored dietary strategies to help anti-cancer medications better kill malignant cells.

The study focused on ferroptosis, a type of cell death that occurs when fat molecules in cancer cells experience

damage. Using cell models, Lien and his team showed that blocking cancer cells’ access to fats makes them highly

sensitive to ferroptosis and, by extension, drugs that induce ferroptosis. 1

Immune cells have a metabolic backup plan for accessing their anti-cancer playbook

Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection

and cancer, according to a study led by VAI’s Dr. Russell Jones. The findings could help improve immunotherapies

by revealing how diet can boost immune cell function. Additionally, the study underscores the close relationship

between metabolism and epigenetics, which are processes that influence how the instructions in DNA are used

without changing the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic errors are well-known contributors to cancer and important

targets for potential new treatments. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2

Immune cells are what they eat

A team of scientists led by VAI’s Dr. Russell Jones and Salk Institute’s Dr. Susan Kaech have discovered that different

nutrients may help immune cells better fight cancer. The immune system relies on specialized “effector” T cells

to combat pathogens, but when fighting against cancer the perpetual activation of these T cells can make them

“exhausted” and unable to continue fighting. In their new study, the team discovered that a nutritional switch from

acetate to citrate plays a key role in determining T cells’ fates, shifting them from active effector cells to exhausted

cells. The findings highlight how metabolic changes influence T cell identity and open avenues for interventions to

sustain immune function against cancer. The findings were published in the journal Science. 3

Adapted from Salk Institute

14



RESEARCH

¹ The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes

of Health under award nos. R00CA255928 (Lien) and

T32CA251066 (P. Jones); and Van Andel Institute’s Metabolism

and Nutrition (MeNu) Program.

2

Van Andel Institute; the National Cancer Institute of the

National Institutes of Health under award no. T32CA251066

(Watson; PI: P. Jones); the Damon Runyon Cancer Research

Foundation under award no. DRG-#2495-23 (Watson); and

the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the

National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AI165722

(R. Jones).

Roy is supported by the Fonds de Recherche due Québec —

Santé (FRQS) and the Cancer Research Society under award

no. 192049. Krawczyk is supported by the National Institute of

Allergy and Infectious Diseases under award no. R21AI153997.

Ma is supported by a Cancer Research Institute Fellowship

and a Salk Pioneer Fund Postdoctoral Scholar Award. Kaech is

supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Disease of the National Institutes of Health under award nos.

R01AI066232 and R21AI151986. Jones also is supported by the

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group Distinguished Investigator

Program and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised

fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

3

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

of the National Institutes of Health under award

nos. R01AI066232 (Kaech), R21AI151986 (Kaech) and

R01AI165722 (Jones); the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse

and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health under

award no. R01AA029124 (Jang); the National Institute of

Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National

Institutes of Health under award no. R01EB029122 (Wang);

the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the

National Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM140929

(Wang); the National Cancer Institute of the National

Institutes of Health under award nos. K00CA222741 (Zhao),

P30CA01495 (Salk Institute Flow Cytometry Core Facility)

and T32CA009370 (Mann); the National Institutes of Health

Office of the Director under award nos. S10-OD023689 (Salk

Institute Flow Cytometry Core Facility) and S10OD034268

(Salk Institute Flow Cytometry Core Facility); the National

Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under

award no. P30AG068635 (Gage); Chapman Foundation

and the Helmsley Charitable Trust; an Allen Distinguished

Investigator Award, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised

grant of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Jones);

Van Andel Institute (Jones); American Association for

the Study of Liver Diseases Foundation (Jang); Edward

Mallinckrodt Jr. Foundation (Jang); Cancer Research Institute

(Mann and Ma); Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

(Mann); and a Salk Pioneer Fund Postdoctoral Scholar Award

(Ma).

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does

not necessarily represent the official views of the National


15

Core Technologies & Services

Van Andel Institute’s Core Technologies and

Services offer a comprehensive range of advanced

technologies and expertise to support and enhance

research at the Institute and at collaborating

organizations.

Staffed by highly qualified professionals with an

acute understanding of their respective fields, the

Core team is committed to providing superior service

and conducting exceptional science to further the

Institute’s goal of improving human health through

basic and translational research.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Study finds persistent proteins may influence

metabolomics results

VAI scientists have identified more than 1,000

previously undetected proteins in common metabolite

samples, which persist despite extraction methods

designed to weed them out. The findings have farreaching

implications for the design of metabolomics

experiments, which are widely used to study the

intricacies of metabolism and its roles in health and

disease. The findings, published in the journal Nature

Communications, give scientists new insights and tools

for improving future experiments, including a way to

remove problematic proteins. The study was led by the

Institute’s Mass Spectrometry Core and colleagues

in the Department of Metabolism and Nutritional

Programming and Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core.

Funding Acknowledgement

Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute’s Core

Technologies and Services (Mass Spectrometry Core and Bioinformatics and

Biostatistics Core); Van Andel Institute’s Metabolism and Nutrition (MeNu) Program;

and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award

no. T32CA251066 (P. Jones).

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily

represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

16

Around

the

Institute

VAI appoints renowned scientists to Endowed Chairs

VAI named Dr. Peter W. Laird as the Peter and Emajean Cook Endowed Chair in Epigenetics,

Dr. Huilin Li as the Ralph and Grace Hauenstein Endowed Chair in Structural Biology, and

Dr. Darren Moore as the Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Disease Research. The

prestigious appointments recognize and celebrate Laird’s, Li’s and Moore’s extensive pioneering

scientific contributions. They also honor the Cooks and the Hauensteins, who were among the

Institute’s earliest and most dedicated supporters, and Jay Van Andel, who co-founded the Institute

alongside his wife, Betty. Endowed chairs recognize scientists whose achievements and discoveries

place them at the top of their fields. The Peter and Emajean Cook Endowed Chair in Epigenetics and the Ralph and Grace

Hauenstein Endowed Chair in Structural Biology were established in 2024; the Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in

Parkinson’s Disease Research was established in 2005.

VAI President and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones

elected to National Academy of Medicine

VAI President and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Considered to be among the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health, election to the academy recognizes a

career-spanning record of outstanding achievement and service. Jones is a pioneer and world leader in epigenetics, a

growing field that explores how the instructions in DNA are regulated without changing the DNA sequence itself. Discoveries

by Jones and colleagues have demonstrated the central roles epigenetics play in health and diseases such as cancer.

Clinical collaborations

by the numbers

VAI-SU2C Epigenetics

Dream Team

2 clinical trials ongoing

(enrolling patients)

5 clinical trials in

correlative analyses

(enrollment closed)

8 clinical trials completed

over the life of the

program

RESEARCH

Harvey Prize recognizes epigenetics breakthroughs

A trio of esteemed scientists from Van Andel Institute and Johns Hopkins University were named winners of the Harvey

Prize for their groundbreaking discoveries in cancer epigenetics. VAI’s Dr. Peter A. Jones, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive

Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins and VAI’s Dr. Stephen B. Baylin, and Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Andrew P. Feinberg

share the prestigious award, which recognizes their individual and collaborative contributions to science and human

health. The Harvey Prize is widely considered to be a “Nobel predictor,” with more than 30% of recipients going on to

win the Nobel Prize. It has been awarded annually by Technion University since 1971. Jones, Baylin and Feinberg will

formally receive the award in June 2025.

2 VAI scientists named to elite Highly Cited Researchers list

Dr. Russell Jones and Dr. Peter W. Laird were included in the 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list, a distinction

marking them as leaders in their fields. The greatly anticipated annual list identifies researchers who demonstrated

significant and broad influence in their chosen area or areas of study through the publication of multiple highly

cited papers during the last decade. Citations, or references to a scientist’s published work by other researchers, are

universally considered to be a measure of influence and impact in the scientific community. Jones and Laird have

appeared on the list in previous years.

International Linked

Clinical Trials

10 clinical trials co-funded

by VAI and Cure

Parkinson’s

(out of 41 total iLCT

trials)

Figures current as of December 2024.

17

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators

Department of

Epigenetics

Virtually all 37.2 trillion cells in our bodies have the same

DNA, the spiraling molecule that contains the genetic

instructions required to make us who we are. But if every

cell works from the same playbook, how and why does the

human body have so many different types of cells? Why

do some become skin cells while others become muscle

cells, heart cells or brain cells?

The answer is epigenetics — a complex set of processes

that determine when and to what extent certain genetic

instructions are carried out. Epigenetic processes are

vital for healthy cellular function and, when things go

awry, they can play major roles in disease.

By investigating the epigenetic processes that finetune

DNA, our scientists aim to pinpoint the origins of

complex diseases and determine how they are impacted

by our past and present, and how they influence future

generations.

Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)

President and Chief Scientific Officer,

Van Andel Institute; President,

Van Andel Institute Graduate School;

Professor, Department of Epigenetics;

Co-leader, VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream

Team

Dr. Peter A. Jones is a pioneer in epigenetics, a growing

field that explores how genes are regulated and provides

new avenues for developing therapies for cancer and

other diseases. His discoveries have helped usher in an

entirely new class of drugs that have been approved to

treat blood cancer and are being investigated in other

tumor types. Dr. Jones is a past president of the American

Association for Cancer Research, a fellow of the AACR

Academy, a fellow of the American Association for the

Advancement of Science, a member of the National

Academy of Sciences, a member of the National Academy

of Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of

Arts & Sciences.

J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor

Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik seeks to

understand how we become whom

we become, and how our disease

susceptibility is defined from early

on in life, even before conception,

with the long-term goal of being able to predict lifelong

health outlook at birth.

Stephen B. Baylin, M.D.

Director’s Scholar and Professor;

Co-leader, VAI–SU2C Epigenetics

Dream Team

Dr. Stephen Baylin studies the

body’s genetic control systems —

called epigenetics — searching for

vulnerabilities in cancer. Dr. Baylin is a pioneer in this

field and was among the first to trace epigenetic causes

of cancer. His studies have led to new therapies for

breast, lung and colorectal cancers, among others. He is

co–leader of the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To

Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team, a Director’s Scholar

at VAI and the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for

Cancer Research at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive

Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf,

Ph.D.

Interim Chair, Department of Cell

Biology; Professor, Department of

Epigenetics

Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf

investigates how environmental

factors, such as toxicants, impact our genetic code

and contribute to cancer. Her research is illuminating

powerful new insights that could influence our

understanding of health and disease, providing a path

forward for new strategies for cancer prevention and

treatment.

Bios current as of December 2024.

18

Derek Janssens, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

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.

Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.

Professor; Peter and Emajean Cook

Endowed Chair in Epigenetics

Dr. Peter W. Laird explores the

origins of epigenetic mistakes in

cancer, which can provide insight

into how cancer arises. Dr. Laird

has developed several cutting-edge technologies that

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 nowcompleted

multi-institutional effort to molecularly map

33 different types of cancer.

Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Gerd Pfeifer studies how

the body switches genes on and

off, a biological process called

methylation that, when faulty, can

lead to cancer or other diseases.

His studies range from the effect of tobacco smoke on

genetic and epigenetic systems to how UVA and UVB

radiation cause mutations in melanoma.

Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Scott Rothbart studies

the ways in which cells pack

and unpack DNA. This elegant

process twists and coils roughly

two meters of unwound DNA into

a space less than one-tenth the width of a human hair.

Although this process is impressive, it is also subject to

errors that can cause cancer and other disorders.

Dr. Rothbart seeks new targets for drug development in

this process.

Hui Shen, Ph.D.

Professor

An expert in bioinformatics and

computational biology, Dr. Hui

Shen develops new approaches

for cancer prevention, detection

and treatment by studying the

interaction between genes and their control systems,

called epigenetics. Her multi-faceted research has led

to breakthroughs in ovarian cancers and enhanced

understanding of the mechanisms that give rise to many

other cancer types.

Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Xiaobing Shi investigates the

mechanisms that regulate DNA

and gene expression to better

understand how they impact

cancer development. His research

has led to the discovery of several new “readers” of

epigenetic marks that may serve as targets for cancer

treatment.

Piroska Szabó, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Piroska Szabó studies the

flow of epigenetic information

from parents to their offspring,

with a focus on how epigenetic

markers are remodeled during

egg and sperm production, and how these markers

are rewritten after fertilization. These processes

have profound implications on fertility and embryo

development.

Timothy J. Triche, Jr., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

As a statistician and

computational biologist with an

interest in clonal evolution and

cancers of the blood, the work

of Dr. Tim Triche, Jr., focuses

on wedding data-intensive molecular phenotyping to

adaptive clinical trial designs in an effort to accelerate

the pace of drug targeting and development in rare or

refractory diseases.

Hong Wen, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Hong Wen investigates

the molecular underpinnings

of pediatric cancers, with

a focus on how epigenetic

dysregulation impacts gene

expression and drives malignancy. Her work holds

great promise for developing new, improved therapies

for these devastating diseases.

RESEARCH

19


Department of

Neurodegenerative

Science

Between 8 million and 10 million people have Parkinson’s

disease, a progressive neurological condition marked

by tremor, rigidity and the gradual loss of voluntary

movement, along with a host of other symptoms such

as loss of sense of smell, cognitive issues, constipation,

trouble sleeping and pain. Additionally, more than

30 million people have Alzheimer’s disease and

related dementias.

Currently, there are no cures and no effective ways

to slow or stop disease progression in Parkinson’s

and Alzheimer’s. Our scientists aim to change that

by investigating the complex factors that give rise to

neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, from

genetics and epigenetics to aging, inflammation and the

structure of the brain itself — even the role of the gut and

the immune system.

By leveraging discoveries made in VAI’s labs and

collaborating with researchers around the world, our

scientists are working to translate breakthroughs into

life-changing new treatments.

Darren Moore, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor; Jay Van Andel

Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Disease

Research

Dr. Darren Moore seeks new

diagnostic and treatment

approaches for Parkinson’s by

investigating the inherited form of the disease, which

comprises 5% to 10% of cases. He aims to translate the

understanding of these genetic mutations into better

treatments and new diagnostic tools for Parkinson’s,

both inherited and non-inherited. Discoveries from

Dr. Moore’s lab routinely elucidate the faulty molecular

interactions that transform healthy, functioning neurons

into diseased ones.

Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor

As a psychiatrist and a scientist,

Dr. Lena Brundin seeks ways to

diagnose and treat depression

and suicidality by studying

inflammation of the nervous

system. Her findings may lead to earlier interventions for

depressive patients and to development of a new class

of antidepressants that targets the immune system. She

also investigates how inflammatory mechanisms can

damage nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease.

Gerhard (Gerry) Coetzee, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Throughout his exceptional

career, Dr. Gerhard (Gerry)

Coetzee searched the human

genome for minuscule changes

that contribute to the onset,

progression and drug resistance of many diseases,

including cancer and Parkinson’s. His team deployed

genome sequencing technologies and high-powered

computational arrays to tease out patterns and

interactions of markers and treatment targets from

among the human genome’s more than 3 billion DNA

base pairs. Although retired from research, Dr. Coetzee

continues to teach at Van Andel Institute Graduate

School.

Michael Henderson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Michael Henderson

investigates the causes of

neurodegenerative diseases like

Parkinson’s and dementia with

Lewy bodies, and the factors

that control disease progression. He hopes to translate

his findings into new therapies that slow or stop this

progression.

20

Melissa Hoyer, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

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.

RESEARCH

Laurent Roybon, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Studying complex diseases requires equally

sophisticated tools. Dr. Laurent Roybon’s team

develops robust cell-based models to enable

breakthroughs in Parkinson’s and other agerelated

neurodegenerative diseases.

Bang-An Wang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Bang-An Wang develops new technologies

to explore the epigenetic underpinnings of

brain development and neurodegenerative

diseases. His multi-faceted research brings

together powerful techniques to illuminate

potential future treatment targets.

Qiang Zhu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Qiang Zhu investigates the genetic,

epigenetic and cellular factors that lead to

neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS

and frontotemporal dementia. To date, his

work has revealed the complex mechanisms

underlying the most common genetic cause for both these diseases

— an insight that has provided novel targets for the development of

new therapies.

21


Department of Cell

Biology

Our health, and consequently our lives, depend on the

coordinated activities of our individual cells; diseases

arise when the activities of these individual cells become

derailed.

Through our combined expertise in different cell types

and communication mechanisms and using state-ofthe-art

approaches, scientists in VAI’s Department of

Cell Biology pursue fundamental research to understand

how our cells grow, communicate, survive, assemble into

tissues and organs, respond to the environment, and

change with age.

This transformative work will yield new diagnostic and

treatment strategies to improve the quality of life for

people with cancer, bone diseases and rare disorders.

22

Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf,

Ph.D.

Interim Chair, Department of Cell

Biology; Professor, Department of

Epigenetics

Dr. Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf

investigates how environmental

factors, such as toxicants, impact our genetic code

and contribute to cancer. Her research is illuminating

powerful new insights that could influence our

understanding of health and disease, providing a path

forward for new strategies for cancer prevention and

treatment.

Clifford Cho, M.D.

Professor

Dr. Clifford Cho is a surgeonscientist

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

the University of Michigan.

Stephanie Grainger, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Stem cells give rise to every cell

type in the human body and play

important roles in health and

disease. Dr. Stephanie Grainger

seeks to understand how these

special cells develop, how they are maintained and how

they can become cancerous, with the goal of developing

new strategies for combating cancer.

Brian Haab, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Brian Haab searches for new

ways to diagnose and stratify

pancreatic cancers based on

the sugars, or glycans, on the

outside of cancer cells. Part of

the problem Dr. Haab aims to solve is that cancers often

look and behave normally — until after they’ve started

making people sick. Dr. Haab is sleuthing out clues to

build a library of diagnostic tools that will help providers

diagnose tumors earlier and optimize treatment.

Matt Steensma, M.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Matt Steensma studies the

genetic and molecular factors

that cause benign tumors to

become cancers, in search of

vulnerabilities that may be

targeted for treatment. As a scientist at VAI and practicing

surgeon at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s

Hospital, he is committed to translating scientific

discoveries into treatments that improve patients’ lives.

Bart Williams, Ph.D.

Director, Core Technologies and Services;

Professor, Department of Cell Biology

Dr. Bart Williams studies the

building blocks of bone growth

on behalf of the millions suffering

from diseases such as osteoporosis.

He seeks new ways to alter cell signaling pathways to

encourage healthy bone development and deter cancer

spread to the skeleton. Dr. Williams also serves as

director of VAI’s Core Technologies and Services, which

provide technology and specialized expertise to Institute

scientists and collaborators.

RESEARCH

Tao Yang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Tao Yang studies the signaling

systems that govern skeletal stem

cells and the role they play in

diseases such as osteoarthritis

and osteoporosis. Bones are the

body’s largest producer of adult stem cells, which mature

into cartilage, fat or bone tissue — a process that falters

with age. Dr. Yang seeks a better understanding of these

systems in search of new treatments for degenerative

bone disorders and other skeletal aging.

23


Department of

Structural Biology

Imagine standing on the moon and having eyes so

powerful that you can clearly watch a tennis match on

Earth. Now imagine using that same visual power to see

down to the molecular level, and you have structural

biology — a field that allows scientists to study the

smallest components of life in exquisite detail.

Determining the shape of these critical molecules is

vital for understanding their function in health and

disease. Scientists in Van Andel Institute’s Department of

Structural Biology harness state-of-the-art techniques to

visualize molecules that may serve as treatment targets

for cancer, neurological disorders, metabolic diseases,

infectious diseases and more.

They’re revealing groundbreaking new insights into the

most fundamental aspects of biology, from parsing the

ways cells sense and respond to the environment to

illuminating the intricacies of DNA replication. They’re

also laying the foundations for new therapies by revealing

how a drug molecule disables its target protein.

24

Huilin Li, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor; Ralph and Grace

Hauenstein Endowed Chair in

Structural Biology

Dr. Huilin Li uses cryo-electron

microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal

the most basic building blocks of

DNA replication and other systems vital for life. He has

been at the vanguard of cryo-EM for more than

20 years, and his research has implications for some

of the world’s most critical public health concerns,

including tuberculosis, cancer, mental illness and more.

Hong Li, Ph.D.

Professor

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 far-reaching 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

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 leading-edge imaging technologies to identify

vulnerabilities in the cytoskeleton that can lead to novel

diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Evan Worden, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Evan Worden leverages VAI’s

powerful suite of cryo-electron

microscopes to explore the

complex molecular interactions

that give rise to cancer. To date,

his research has revealed novel insights into poorly

understood regulatory elements in the genetic code

and illuminated how aberrations in these processes can

transform healthy cells into malignant ones.

Yang Yang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Yang Yang employs the

latest 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

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.

Department

of Metabolism

and Nutritional

Programming

Every aspect of life is fueled by metabolism, a constant

cascade of chemical reactions that ensure we have the

energy to survive and thrive. But sometimes things go

wrong, depriving our cells of the energy and resources

required for healthy function.

When energy production or distribution breaks down, the

results can be catastrophic — diseases such as cancer,

Parkinson’s and diabetes are all known to have varying

degrees of metabolic involvement.

Scientists in VAI’s Department of Metabolism and

Nutritional Programming explore the intricate mechanics

of cellular metabolism and their implications for health

and in disease. Using cutting-edge techniques, they’re

investigating metabolism’s interaction with other critical

systems, such as the immune system, and revealing how

environmental exposures and metabolic dysfunction

contribute to diseases such as diabetes, autoimmunity,

cancer and neurodegeneration. They’re also parsing

the ripple effect that nutrition may have through the

generations, exploring how our diets could lay the

epigenetic foundations for the health of our descendants.

Russell Jones, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor

Dr. Russell Jones investigates

metabolism at the cellular level

to understand how it affects

cell behavior and health, with a

specific eye on cancer and the

immune system. By revealing how cancer cells use

metabolic processes to fuel their growth and spread, he

hopes to develop new treatments that help patients by

changing the standard of care for cancer.

Nick Burton, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Nick Burton explores how our

environment, especially microbes,

can impact our health and the

health of our offspring — even

before they are born. His research

has extensive implications for understanding how

epigenetics contributes to human disease and how the

environment we are exposed to today affects not only

our own health, but also our children’s.

Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Connie Krawczyk investigates

the links between metabolism,

epigenetics and the immune

system, with the goal of

understanding how they work

together to keep us healthy and, when things go wrong,

to promote disease.

Adelheid Lempradl, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Adelheid Lempradl

investigates how the dietary

choices of parents may impact

the health of their offspring

in the hopes of translating her

findings into new ways to prevent disease and create

a healthier future.

Evan Lien, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Cancer cells have voracious

appetites for nutrients and

energy, which they use to

grow and spread. Dr. Evan

Lien searches for ways to

deprive tumors of their fuel sources by exploring the

molecular and biochemical interactions between diet,

metabolism and cancer with the goal of developing

breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies.

Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sara Nowinski investigates

how cells determine the

amount of energy needed

for everyday life and how

they adjust to meet those

requirements. Her research has uncovered new

insights into the intricate balance between nutrient

availability and cellular respiration — both critical

components to maintaining health.

RESEARCH

25

Graduate School

Van Andel Institute Graduate School’s Ph.D. in

molecular and cellular biology is a researchintensive,

interdisciplinary program that

prepares students for exceptional careers as

independent investigators.

The Graduate School combines extensive practical

experience and rigorous scientific training with

in-depth academic coursework and professional

development — a powerful pairing that gives our

students a springboard for success. By the end of

their studies, students graduate not only with a

Ph.D., but also with the tools required to build a

strong career as a biomedical scientist and research

leader.

Van Andel Institute Graduate School

earns re-accreditation

The Graduate School completed its 10-year Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation reaffirmation review

in March 2024. Reaffirmation of accreditation is a formal recognition that an institution continues to meet defined

standards of academic quality and excellence. This recognition is important because it provides assurance that

students are receiving a credible degree from an institution that is committed to continuous improvement and

accountability.

Graduate School by the numbers

59 Students enrolled

47 Students graduated (43 Ph.D.; 4 M.S.)

1:1.5 Student:faculty ratio

5.4 Years on average time to degree

84% Cumulative graduation rate

Numbers current as of December 2024.

26

RESEARCH

27

Graduate School

Graduate School welcomes new students


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.

In 2024, VAI welcomed 12 new students

from five countries, with interests

that span the breadth of VAI’s research

expertise.

Braelyn Binkowski

Research interest:

Cancer prevention and

early detection

Maxwell Frye

Research interest:

Neurodegenerative

diseases

Renee Hoffman

Research interest:

Gene editing and

epigenetics

Ava Jensen

Research interest:

Immunology

Vincent Sartori

Research interest:

Blood cancers

Ashlin Slanger

Research interest:

Gene regulation and

epigenetics

Ali Gamal

Research interest:

Cancer biology, molecular

biology and genetics

Dahlya

Kamarudin

Research interest:

Cancer biology and

translational research

Hoang-Le Tran

Research interest:

Bioinformatics

Yixiong (Kevin)

Han

Research interest:

Structural biology and

immunology

Noah Lubben

Research interest:

Neurodegenerative

diseases

Anika Weekes

Research interest:

Neurodegenerative

diseases and cell

signaling

28

VAI celebrates 3 newly minted

Ph.D.s at commencement

In 2024, Van Andel Institute Graduate School conferred Ph.D.s to three students:

Alix Booms, Ph.D.

Mentor: Gerry Coetzee, Ph.D.

Shelby Compton, Ph.D.

Mentor: Russell Jones, Ph.D.

Rachel (Rae) House, Ph.D.

Mentor: Matt Steensma, M.D.

These three exceptional scientists have elected to complete postdoctoral fellowships

in VAI labs.

From its first cohort of three pioneering students in 2007, the Graduate School

has grown to a student body of 59 scholars from 17 countries. Including this year’s

graduates, 43 students have earned Ph.D. degrees and four have earned master’s

degrees. Graduate School alumni are making an impact by pursuing positions

in academia, research and industry, carrying forward VAI’s values of curiosity,

collaboration and urgency to improve the health and enhance the lives of current

and future generations.

Students earn recognition

for their work

As of December 2024, Graduate School students held eight competitive

external fellowships, three of which were awarded in 2024. These awards

provide crucial funding to explore new ideas and launch potentially

paradigm-shifting projects. The 2024 awardees are:

Lauren Harmon

Van Andel Institute Graduate School Ph.D. Student, Triche Lab

National Cancer Institute Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award

Project: Investigating genetic risk factors for pediatric leukemia 1

Alysa Kasen

Van Andel Institute Graduate School Ph.D. Student, 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 2

Riley Wedan

Van Andel Institute Graduate School M.D./Ph.D. Student, 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 3

RESEARCH



¹ The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. F99CA294248 (Harmon).

2

The National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award no. F31AG084199 (Kasen).

3

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. F30GM154476

(Wedan).

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National

Institutes of Health.

29

Van Andel Institute

for Education

WE BELIEVE THAT HOPE FOR TOMORROW LIVES IN THE STUDENTS OF

TODAY. BY BRINGING THE SPIRIT OF RESEARCH INTO EDUCATION

WE CAN BUILD CLASSROOMS WHERE CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY

AND CRITICAL THINKING THRIVE.

K-12 Education

Van Andel Institute for Education brings the spirit

of research into classrooms, building spaces where

curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive.

Through the development of inquiry-based approaches,

VAI educators help teachers, administrators and

parents elevate the next generation of problem solvers.

Programs are designed to engage students at an

intrinsic level while delivering innovative strategies for

teachers, with a shared goal of promoting high-quality

education for all. Students participate in authentic

learning experiences that allow them to think critically

and challenge themselves, all while having a healthy

dose of fun. Our educators are committed to making

the classroom a place where students and teachers

want to be.

Students explore renewable energy

Van Andel Institute for Education collaborated with

teachers from Evergreen Campus of Grand Rapids

Christian to present “Empowering Sustainability

Superstars: Green Energy Explorers.” This program

immerses students in the fascinating world of

renewable energy through interactive activities and

engaging lessons. Students explored the wonders of

solar, wind and hydro power, gaining a comprehensive

understanding of how their actions can contribute to a

more sustainable future for our planet.

Their learning journey ended in a community

presentation, where students shared their visions

for the future of sustainability in urban areas. They

constructed three-dimensional models of cities that

are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally

powered, using their creations to illustrate their ideas

for the cities of the future.

This program aims to inspire and educate, providing

students with the tools they need to become advocates

for sustainability and innovation.

Served 6,614 students: An increase of 17%

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

After-School Cohort empowers students

over the previous school year.

Served 3,325 teachers across 15 states.

Van Andel Institute for Education’s After-School Cohort

program fosters student curiosity, creativity and

critical thinking. The cohort inspires students to think

and act like scientists and engineers, providing unique

opportunities to conduct hands-on investigations, ask

questions and discover answers through scientific tools

and resources.

Students engaged in two opportunities. In “Disaster

Detectives,” fifth and sixth grade students learned

about cause-and-effect relationships, natural disasters

and how innovation can impact the outcome of

disasters. Students’ final presentations challenged

them to focus on innovations that could help save

lives before, during or after catastrophic events. By

researching case studies and creating a prototype of

their designs, students were able to experience real

engineering challenges at their own pace.

Fourth and fifth grade students participated in

“Species Explorers,” a program focused on the needs of

organisms and explored how animals adapt to survive

and thrive in their environments. For their final project,

students focused on John Ball Zoo and enhancements

to the habitats and expert care already provided by the

zoo. Students selected and researched animals found at

the zoo, with an eye on endangered species. From that

list, they chose to focus on the red panda, snowy owl,

Amur tiger, pancake tortoise and pygmy hippo for their

projects. Throughout the project, students developed

research skills, learning about the unique adaptability

of certain animals, coupled with the various resources

it takes to build quality zoo habitats.

32

K–12 EDUCATION

33

K-12 Education

Science on the Grand returns with new immersive experiences

Science on the Grand: A STEAM Conference for K–8 Inquiry-based Educators

returned for another exceptional year, offering a space where teachers felt

celebrated, honored and fulfilled. With 158 participants from more than 20 states

and multiple countries, the conference provided sessions that inspired educators to

create classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive. Attendees

left with practical takeaways, fresh insights to rejuvenate their teaching, advanced

strategies for today’s educational challenges and innovative resources to boost

classroom engagement. They also reconnected with their passion for teaching and

built valuable relationships with fellow educators.

This year saw the introduction of Immersive Field Experiences, which engaged

educators in hands-on, inquiry-based STEM investigations in Van Andel Institute

for Education’s labs — just like the Institute’s field trip students. VAI Education’s

Director and Education Officer Terra Tarango sees these experiences as “more than

just an hour-long session where you get inspired and learn a few things, you actually

get to think and act like a scientist, just like your students will.”

Experiences like “Learn Science by Doing Science” and “Teaching Students to Think

and Act Like Engineers” provided teachers with strategies they can directly apply in

their classrooms. An educator who participated in one of the immersive experiences

said, “It’s super helpful to be the student, but also get a lot of different tips on how to

guide your students along in their learning.”

Check out the Science on the Grand highlight video for a

glimpse of the excitement!

Summer camps offer expanded science, engineering and robotics

opportunities

VAI Education had a thrilling year of summer camps, serving 621 students in

engaging one-day and four-day programs focused on science, engineering and

robotics. 2024 saw expanded summer camp offerings, which added new and

innovative experiences while building and enhancing key partnerships.

In response to high demand, VAI Education introduced more camps for K–2

students, like the engaging “Save the Bees” program, which captivated young

minds with hands-on learning about the role bees play in our environment,

including how they can plant seeds and build beehouses to help bee populations.

VAI’s all-girls camp launched “Girls in STEM,” celebrating the accomplishments

of women in science and empowering young girls to reach for the stars in STEM

fields. Additionally, “Building a Zoo” brought a fresh twist by uniting students

from morning and afternoon sessions to construct a collaborative

model zoo, which they then transformed into an immersive virtual

experience. See their virtual zoo by scanning the QR code.

A partnership with the Grand Rapids Public Museum led to the launch of

“Futureville,” a brand-new camp where students designed sustainable cities and

explored renewable energy. For high schoolers, we deepened collaborations with

VAI scientists to co-design a camp that gave students a glimpse into real-world

scientific research.

These new offerings highlight VAI’s commitment to providing diverse, hands-on

learning opportunities while strengthening partnerships that inspire the next

generation of scientists and innovators.

34

K–12 EDUCATION

35

Events &

Philanthropy

THROUGH DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS AND A SHARED

PASSION FOR THE FUTURE, VAI’S COMMUNITY

OF SUPPORTERS RAISES MILLIONS TO FUEL A

BETTER TOMORROW.

Winterfest Celebration

The warm, cheerful Winterfest Celebration

returned to Cascade Hills Country Club for

its 19th year. The bright evening brought

together businesses, community members,

philanthropists and scientists to share the

latest news in Parkinson’s disease research.

Guests enjoyed food and cocktails while

bidding on amazing auction packages — all

in support of VAI’s Parkinson’s research.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Buist.

(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT,

GOING CLOCKWISE)

DAVID VAN ANDEL;

GEORGE SHARPE JR.;

CAROL VAN ANDEL GREETS

DR. JIM & MARTIE BULTMAN;

GUESTS GATHER AT CASCADE HILLS

COUNTRY CLUB

38

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.

EVENTS & PHILANTHROPY


GOING CLOCKWISE)

CAROL VAN ANDEL;

DENNIS ADAMA &

CAROL VAN ANDEL;

EVE ROGUS & CAROL VAN ANDEL;

CAROL VAN ANDEL, RYAN COOK

& LAURA MATONICH;

CAROL VAN ANDEL, JOHN &

NANCY KENNEDY;

CHRISTINE MALEPORT, DANIELLE

BOZIO & CAROL VAN ANDEL

39

Board of Governors Annual Dinner

This annual dinner brings 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 Dr. Hui Shen, Dr. Evan

Lien and Dr. 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 Philanthropy Director Sarah Rollman at

616.234.5712 or sarah.rollman@vai.org.

(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)

CAROL VAN ANDEL; DAVID VAN ANDEL; DR. DARREN MOORE;

GUESTS GATHER FOR DINNER; DR. HUI SHEN;

DR. EVAN LIEN; GUESTS ARRIVE

40

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 Van Andel

Institute for Education.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor,

Lake Michigan Credit Union.


(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR

LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)

ATTENDEES VISIT LOCAL

FOOD TRUCKS; GUESTS VIEW

ARTISAN WINE OFFERINGS;

VAI EDUCATION PRESENTATION;

DAVID VAN ANDEL GREETS

GUESTS; DAVID VAN ANDEL

PARTICIPATES IN VAI

EDUCATION PRESENTATION

41

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.

42


(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT, GOING

CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL; ANN HARTEN;

REBECCA WIERDA; MODELS WALK THE RUNWAY;

CAROL & DAVID VAN ANDEL VIEW FASHION

PRESENTATION; DAVID VAN ANDEL GREETS GUESTS;

ATTENDEES GATHER FOR DINNER OUTSIDE

HAWORTH HEADQUARTERS;

FRANCO BIANCHI

43

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 games.

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.

44



CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL;

DAVID VAN ANDEL; ROCKFORD CONSTRUCTION

TEAMS GATHER BEFORE COMPETITON;

ADVANCED BRACKET PODIUM;

PLAYERS FACE OFF ATOP AMWAY GRAND PLAZA

HOTEL; BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE BRACKET

PODIUM; PLAYERS SHAKE HANDS AFTER A MATCH

45

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

Philanthropy Director Sarah Rollman at

616.234.5712 or sarah.rollman@vai.org.


CLOCKWISE) JBOARD CO-CHAIRS

RACHEL MRAZ & BLAKE CRABB;

EVENT HOST JEFFERY ROBERTS GREETS

VISITORS; VAI POSTDOC DR. JACOB

LONGENECKER; GUESTS VISIT

LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS

46

Van Andel

Institute

Golf Outing

Community members, businesses and

local organizations met at the picturesque

Wuskowhan Players Club for an afternoon

of golf and science. In between tournament

swings, the afternoon featured a dronedrop

raffle, silent auction, and dinner, along

with remarks from Shannon Smith and

Pam Pike, organizers of the Railside Ladies

Golf Outing.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, the Timothy

Long and William Mackay Group of Merrill

Lynch.



GOING CLOCKWISE)

DAVID VAN ANDEL; PLAYERS

TEE OFF; GOLFERS WALK THE

COURSE; BETH VANPORTFLIET

CELEBRATES CLOSEST TO THE PIN

CONTEST WIN; CAROL VAN ANDEL

GREETS GUEST

47

Couture for a Cure

Fashion, splendor and philanthropy came back to Grand

Rapids for the 19th annual Couture for a Cure. Co-hosts

Carol Van Andel and Rebecca Wierda showcased the latest

trends from the luxury specialists at Leigh’s while welcoming

this year’s featured designer, A.L.C., and its founder Andrea

Lieberman. After runway presentations, guests took to the

dance floor, visited the Artistry beauty bar and perused a

silent auction.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Amway, and our Presenting

Sponsors, Leigh’s and A.L.C.

48



GOING CLOCKWISE)

GUESTS ARRIVE; MODEL WALKS THE

RUNWAY; MODEL SHOWS OFF LATEST

FASHION; CAROL VAN ANDEL; GUEST

DESIGNER ANDREA LIEBERMAN;

GUESTS HIT THE DANCE FLOOR;

SCOTT & REBECCA WIERDA, CAROL &

DAVID VAN ANDEL;

GUESTS VIEW SILENT AUCTION;

KYLE VAN ANDEL

49

Hope on the Hill Gala — The Driving Force

Van Andel Institute’s signature gala returned for its

24th year, held for the first time at the Amway Hangar

at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The new

location featured delectable drinks and exquisite food,

along with a unique showroom showcasing vintage,

historic, exotic and powerful cars. Two iconic vehicles

were available for auction: A 1962 Ford Thunderbird in

a gorgeous light-blue and a 1972 Buick Riviera sporting

an eye-catching green look along with its iconic boat

tail. In addition, guests heard from racing legend Johnny

O’Connell, who delved into the passion, dedication and

intricate knowledge it takes to succeed in motorsports

— and how the same things are needed in biomedical

research.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Fifth Third Private Bank.

50


(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) GUEST TRIES VIRTUAL

REALITY DRIVING SIMULATOR; GUESTS VIEW SILENT AUCTION;

GUESTS GATHER IN AMWAY HANGAR; CAROL VAN ANDEL;

AMWAY HANGAR; GUESTS BID DURING PADDLE RAISE;

DAVID VAN ANDEL

51

Hope on the Hill Gala — The Driving Force

52

A Conversation About Cancer and Nutrition

Hosted by Carol Van Andel

Although there is no shortage of purported

“anti-cancer” diets in popular culture,

there still are many unknowns about the

relationship between nutrition and cancer.

Carol Van Andel was joined by Maranda

and Dr. Evan Lien to dive into what we

know about nutrition’s impact on cancer

while discussing how new breakthroughs

could inform tailored dietary strategies.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Howard

Miller Company.


(STARTING AT THE TOP FAR

LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)

CAROL VAN ANDEL; GUESTS

VIEW LECTURE; DR. EVAN LIEN,

CAROL & DAVID VAN ANDEL;

DR. EVAN LIEN DELIVERS

REMARKS

(LEFT) VINTAGE, HISTORIC

& EXOTIC VEHICLES ON

DISPLAY AT HOPE ON THE

HILL — THE DRIVING FORCE

53

Signature special event sponsors

We are grateful to have extraordinarily dedicated signature event sponsors. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting

our mission throughout the year.

Winterfest Celebration

Rob & Dawn Arnoys

Steven & Amanda Barbour

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Bluewater

Derek & Paige Boer

BrandHaven

Buist

Calamos Investments

Jerry & Suzanne Callahan

Mimi Cummings

Custer

Deloitte

Brian & Barbara DeVries

Doubleday Family Trust

Edge Natural Resources LLC

Fiduciary Financial Advisors

The George & Dorothy

Vande Woude Foundation

Jana Hall

Harvey Automotive

King Street Capital Management

Lake Michigan Credit Union

Landscape Design Services

Macatawa Bank

McShane & Bowie, PLC

Michael & Sally Murdock

Owen-Ames-Kimball

Pioneer Construction

PL Capital Advisors, LLC

PTSportsPro, PLLC

Rockford Construction

Rycenga Building Center

S. Abraham & Sons, Inc.

SavATree

SHARPE

Straight Line Design Kitchen

& Bath Studio

University of Michigan

Health-West

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

West Michigan Woman

William Grant & Sons

Robert & Karen Wiltz

Around the World

Alliance Beverage Distributing

Bluewater


Blake Crabb

David & Carol Van Andel

Family Foundation

Jeffrey & Kate DeLongchamp

DeVries Dental


Eileen DeVries Family

Foundation

Element Four

Grand Valley State University

Matt & Sarah Jones

KM Online Marketing


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


Family Foundation

DeNooyer Chevrolet

Bob & Colette DeNooyer

Dominique & Julie DeNooyer

Mike & Amy Devanney


Eenhoorn, LLC

Jeff & Ann Harten

Haworth

Dan & Kristin Hinkle

iHeart Media

The Hilldore Group — Baird

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

Priority Health

SIBSCO LLC

Studio M Interiors

THRIVE Consulting & Coaching

Vicky Weller

West Michigan Woman

VAI Open

20x44 Sports

AHC Hospitality

Amway

Franco & Alessandra Bianchi


Family Foundation

Eenhoorn, LLC

Kurt & Jena Lacks

Tim & Kim Long

MDRD



Rooftop Pickleball

Studio M Interiors


Health-West

VAI Golf Outing

Dennis & Barbara Adama

Applied Innovation

Bluewater

Bouma Corporation

Custer


Family Foundation

Erhardt Construction

First National Bank of Michigan

Gallagher

Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Ben & Molly Hunting

Life EMS Ambulance

Loomis, Sayles & Company

M.D. Sass

Macatawa Bank

McAlvey Merchant & Associates

Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long

& William Mackay

Midwest Capital Advisors

Pine Rest Christian Mental

Health Services

Priority Health


John & Therese Rowerdink

Secrest Wardle

SHARPE

Standard Supply & Lumber/

Zeeland Lumber & Supply

Tom & Mary Stuit

Summit Point Roofing

U.S. Bank

54


Health-West

Dave & Beth VanPortfliet

Wells Fargo

West Michigan Woman

Windemuller Electric, Inc.

Couture for a Cure

A.L.C.

Acrisure

AHC Hospitality

Amway

Andy J. Egan Co., Inc.

Bengtson Center for Aesthetics

& Plastic Surgery

Bluewater

Chuck & Christine Boelkins

Dan & Sherry Bowen

Cheeky Strut

CWD Real Estate Investment


Family Foundation


Doug & Maria DeVos


Eileen DeVries Family

Foundation

First National Bank of Michigan

Robert & Karri Gabridge

Gallagher


Patti Griswold

Kurt & Madelon Hassberger

Paul & Sheryl Haverkate

Dave & Donna Hockstra

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga

Bill & Starr Humphries

Jandernoa Foundation

Jeffery Roberts Design

Veronica & Peter Jones

Kolehouse Strategies

Kool Auto Group


Leigh’s


The Parlour at CityFlatsHotel

Pediatric Dental Specialists of

West Michigan

Jenny Peterson

Scott & Janet Spoelhof

Foundation

Scott Group Studio

The Skoog Family

The Steve & Amy Van Andel

Foundation

Studio M Interiors

Urban You

Mike & Gayle VanGessel

Vicky Weller

West Michigan Woman

Greg & Meg Willit

XYZ Motors

Hope on the Hill Gala —

The Driving Force

Advantage Commercial

Real Estate

AHC Hospitality

Al & Robin Koop Foundation

Amway

Aon

Apogee Air

Autocam Medical

Bill & Amy Bennett

Betz Industries

BHS Insurance

Dave & Jill Bielema

Blue Cross Blue Shield

of Michigan

Bluewater

Chuck & Christine Boelkins

Dan & Sherry Bowen

Brigade Fire Protection

Buist


Cascade Rental Center

Ryan & Jessica Cook

Corewell Health

Mimi Cummings

Tom & Tracy Curran

Custer


Family Foundation



Eenhoorn, LLC

Michael & Lynette Ellis

Pete & LeAnn Engles

Erhardt Construction

Eurest

Eve Rogus & Paul Becker

Foundation

Ferris State University

Fifth Third Bank

Julie A. Fox Family

Gallagher

Dan & Magee Gordon


Martin & Peggy Greydanus

Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Co.

Hope College

Howard Miller Company

Huizenga Group

The Ice Guru

ICN Foundation

iHeart Media

Jandernoa Foundation

John Ball Zoo

Matt & Sarah Jones


Craig & Debra Kinney

Blake & Mary Krueger


Ray & Jeannine Lanning

Life EMS Ambulance

Gary & Vicky Ludema

Grant Ludema

Macatawa Bank


Meijer

The Meijer Foundation

Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long

& William Mackay

Michigan State University

College of Human Medicine

Miller Johnson

Tim & Denise Myers

New Holland Brewing Co.

NPF Investment Advisors

Owen-Ames-Kimball

Pageworks

Peter C. & Emajean Cook

Foundation

Pine Rest Christian Mental

Health Services


Pitsch Companies

Plastic Surgery Associates

Priority Health

Quality Air Service, Inc.


Rowerdink, Inc.

S.A. Morman & Co.

Tony & Dawn Semple

SHARPE

David & Linda Spencer

Rob & Susan Stafford

Stephen Klotz Family Foundation

The Steve & Amy Van Andel

Foundation

Taconic Charitable Foundation

Trillium Investments

U.S. Bank


Health-West

Urban You

Van Eerden Foodservice

Bob & Grace Van Timmeren

Mike & Bonnie Walters

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Wells Fargo

West Michigan Woman

Williams Family

Dr. Bart & Wendy Williams

Greg & Meg Willit

Jim & Jane Zwiers

A Conversation About

Cancer and Nutrition

Hosted by Carol Van Andel

Amway

Gallagher

Howard Miller Company

iHeart Media

Kent County Medical Society

Alliance

Leigh’s

Meijer

Paul & Anne Nemschoff

Truscott Rossman

West Michigan Woman

Western Theological

Seminary


55

Hope in action:

How Bee Brave fuels breast cancer breakthroughs at VAI

Each year, more than 300,000 women in the U.S. receive the same harrowing news:

You have breast cancer.

These four words become etched in time, their sharp edges carving themselves into

painful memories. A single sentence represents a turning point, a clear line separating

“before” and “after” their diagnosis.

For members of Bee Brave, a local group of passionate advocates who raise funds for

breast cancer research at Van Andel Institute, the words are a call to action.

“The Bee Brave team is incredible,” Graveel said. “The funds they raise help us get

important work off the ground, which in turn reveals insights that may help us better

prevent, detect and treat breast cancer.”

A powerful combination

Pat Ringnalda had enough.

After supporting a dear friend through a breast cancer diagnosis and a subsequent

relapse, she knew she had to do something. Too many women were experiencing the

mental and physical toll wrought by breast cancer. Ringnalda wanted to help.

PAT RINGNALDA

“Our Bee Brave community is comprised of people who have been directly impacted

by this insidious disease, as well as their friends and family,” said Bee Brave Race

Director Chris Bartnick. “To them, and to us, this is personal.”

Bee Brave is a powerhouse of hope in action. Since 2016, this grassroots team has

raised nearly $900,000 to fuel breast cancer research at VAI led by Dr. Matt Steensma

and Dr. Carrie Graveel. These funds supercharge science by enabling the Steensma

Lab to tackle big questions in breast cancer, secure state-of-the-art equipment and

support the expert staff required to take on projects.

56

This determination to make a difference gave rise to Bee Brave, which was founded

in 2008 with a national focus and shifted to supporting local research seven years

ago. Ringnalda teamed up with her friend Chris Bartnick to assemble a community of

people, each one touched in some way by breast cancer. Little did they know at the

time that they were creating more than a way to raise funds to support research —

they were creating a movement.

“Making the switch to partner with Van Andel Institute was a no-brainer,” Ringnalda

said. “Not only does their research impact us locally, but they also use 100% of the

funds we raise for research!”

Bee Brave now hosts several events throughout the year, with their annual 5K in

October drawing the biggest crowd. In 2024, more than 680 people ran, jogged and

walked toward a better future. They brought in more than $158,000 through their

events last year, elevating the total amount raised to support research at VAI to

$858,000.

Bee Brave’s relationship with VAI began seven years ago after Ringnalda and Bartnick

reached out to VAI’s grassroots fundraising team, Purple Community. They wanted to

know if anyone at VAI was researching breast cancer.

The answer was yes.

The first meeting between Ringnalda, Bartnick, Steensma and Graveel was the start

of a close-knit relationship, one that would grow over the years.

“When we first met, we realized we were basically neighbors. My son and Chris

Bartnick’s son were in the same robotics program,” Graveel recalled. “We all are

connected in so many ways. While we focused on research, Bee Brave created a

home for people who survived breast cancer. They collectively empowered people.”

Over the years, Bee Brave’s support has enabled the Steensma Lab to address

important questions and gather the critical early data required to earn additional

grant funding to scale up projects. The funds also have supported vital equipment

purchases, such as a specialized microscope, and funded early career scientists in

the lab.

In turn, Steensma Lab members are a fixture at Bee Brave events such as the

Bee Brave 5K and Bee Brave Puzzle Competition. Bee Brave members also visit the

Institute each year to hear about the latest advances directly from Steensma,

Graveel and the scientists in their lab.

“From the beginning, we knew we wanted our money to go directly to breast cancer

research. Partnering with Matt and Carrie has been such a huge blessing for us —

it isn’t just about where we send our money, we are honored to call them friends,”

Ringnalda said. “Every single day is another step toward a new discovery, thanks to

the research done in the Steensma Lab.”

Asking the big questions

When Dr. Rae House joined the Steensma Lab as a graduate student in 2019, she

wanted to tackle a specific problem: How do cancer cells hijack metabolism to fuel

their growth?

It’s a big question, one with far-reaching implications for understanding — and

better treating — a key hallmark of cancer. Cancer cells steal resources from

healthy cells to feed their endless appetites for energy. What isn’t clear, however, is

exactly how malignant cells bypass the body’s immune system and built-in quality

control processes.

The Steensma Lab was a perfect fit for House, in part because of its focus on a gene

called NF1. Known as a tumor suppressor gene, NF1 stops cells from growing or

replicating too quickly — a defining feature of cancer.

Because this gene regulates cell growth, errors in NF1 can have devastating and

wide-ranging effects. In some people, NF1 mutations cause a rare disease called

neurofibromatosis type 1, which causes benign tumors to grow on the nerves

and skin. People with neurofibromatosis have a significantly increased risk for

developing breast cancer.


57

Hope in action:

How Bee Brave fuels breast cancer breakthroughs at VAI

(cont.)

Other mutations in NF1 switch off critical safeguards that allow cancer cells to grow

and spread. In fact, errors in and deletions of NF1 are among the most common genetic

contributors to breast cancer.

“Most people have heard of the BRCA gene and how it affects breast cancer risk, but

far fewer people are aware of the NF1 gene,” House said. “We know that NF1 influences

cancer development, but the ways NF1 does so are less clear. Based on previous

research, I hypothesized that metabolism could be playing an important role.”

Thanks to funding from Bee Brave, House got to work conducting experiments to

illuminate the relationship between NF1 and cell metabolism in breast cancer. The

Steensma Lab would go on to team up with the lab of Dr. Evan Lien, an assistant

professor at VAI and an expert in cancer metabolism. Together, they found that

damage to NF1 derails the normal metabolic balance in breast cancer cells, allowing

NF1-altered cells to proliferate faster. 1,3 Problems with NF1 also disrupt important

cellular communication channels, which are vital for healthy function.

The findings were published in spring 2024 and highlight NF1 and cancer cell

metabolism as potential targets for new cancer therapies. Now graduated with her

Ph.D., House is continuing her research as a Cancer Epigenetics Training Program

postdoctoral fellow in Lien’s lab. 3

“Bee Brave’s support enabled me to ask big questions, dig deeper and be creative. They

absolutely made this discovery possible,” House said. “As a scientist, being able to meet

with Bee Brave members and hear their stories is both inspiring and encouraging.

Every conversation with them is an important reminder of what is at stake.”

breast cancer, which occurs when cancer cells become resistant to hormone-based

treatments.

About 75% of women with breast cancer have estrogen receptor positive breast

cancer and are eligible for endocrine treatment. Unfortunately, one-third will go on to

become resistant to these important front-line therapies. 2 Tovar is working to figure

out why this resistance happens with the goal of predicting and preventing it.

But that’s not all. Bee Brave funds enabled the Steensma Lab to develop a powerful

new hereditary model of breast cancer that faithfully recreates how certain breast

cancers arise and progress. Modeling cancer is a crucial part of studying all the

factors that affect risk and treatment response. Abigail Godec, a Michigan State

University College of Human Medicine and Van Andel Institute Graduate School M.D./

Ph.D. student doing her thesis research in the Steensma Lab, uses this model to study

how genetics and environmental factors impact breast cancer risk in young women

who have had children.

In addition, the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research

Programs funded two research grants related to early research projects supported

by Bee Brave. The first grant bolsters research into the role NF1 plays in breast tissue

development, cancer risk and endocrine resistance. The second grant investigates the

interaction of NF1 and RAS, a cellular communication network that often is disrupted

in cancer. 4

Understanding how and why errors in these important genes and pathways occur is a

major focus for scientists. If you fix the mutation or address the problems they cause,

you can in theory treat the underlying cause of the cancer.

Champions for a cure

When asked to summarize how Bee Brave’s support has fueled breakthroughs,

Graveel smiled.

“It’s a long list,” she said. “The funds they raised have seeded so many projects.”

In addition to House’s research, Bee Brave supports work by Dr. Elizabeth Tovar,

a research scientist in the Steensma Lab. Tovar studies endocrine resistance in

“We’re so fortunate to have the support of such a wonderful, dedicated and

determined group,” Steensma said. “For more than seven years, Bee Brave has

partnered with us to take on breast cancer. We are immeasurably grateful.”

Bee Brave’s impact is poised to grow. The group has an ambitious plan to host more

events, raise more funds in support of research and bring together more people

committed to a brighter future. Through it all, their commitment and inspiration

remain the same.

58

“The face of breast cancer is not abstract

to me — it’s a well-defined image of

friends I’ve watched battle and those

that I’ve sat with as they’ve received the

heart-wrenching diagnosis. I’ve seen

the long-term damage it causes and

the trauma it leaves behind,” Bartnick

said. “I’ve also seen beautiful souls living

and thriving for years despite a stage

4 breast cancer diagnosis, and I know

that is only possible because of new

treatments that have been developed.

Research gives them hope and time until

we finally find the cures.”

“We’re so fortunate to have the support of such a wonderful,

dedicated and determined group. For more than seven years,

Bee Brave has partnered with us to take on breast cancer.

We are immeasurably grateful.” — Dr. Matt Steensma


References

¹ House RJ, Tovar EA, Redlon LN, Essenburg CJ, Dischinger

PS, Ellis AE, Beddows I, Sheldon RD, Lien EC, Graveel

CR, Steensma MR. 2024. NF1 deficiency drives metabolic

reprogramming in ER+ breast cancer. Mol Metab 80:101876.

2

Pan H, Gray R, Braybrooke J, Davis C, Taylor C, McGale P, Peto

R, Pritchard KI, Bergh J, Dowsett M, Hayes DF. 2017. 20-year

risks of breast-cancer recurrence after stopping endocrine

therapy at 5 years. New Eng J Med 377:1836–1846.



3

Dr. House’s study was supported by Van Andel Institute; NF

Michigan; and Bee Brave. As part of the Cancer Epigenetics

Training Program, House is supported by the National Cancer

Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no.

T32CA251066 (P. Jones).

4

The work was supported by the Assistant Secretary of Defense

for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense, in

the amount of ($1,187,500), through the (NFRP) under Award

No. (W81XWH-21-1-0224 and W81XWH-21-1-0759). Opinions,

interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those

of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Assistant

Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs or the Department of

Defense.

This content solely is the responsibility of the authors and does

not necessarily represent the official views of the National


(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) DR. MATT STEENSMA, JODI SIKMA, SHARON REARICK, CHRIS BARTNICK,

DR. RAE HOUSE, PAT RINGNALDA, DR. CARRIE GRAVEEL & DR. EVAN LIEN

59

Building a future to believe in

60

Dr. Karen Kamerschen values taking care of those in need.

She wants to ensure everyone has food to eat and a safe

place to sleep, but also extends her focus to the future.

One where science and medicine have evolved to the next

level, creating new diagnosis and treatment tools that make

devastating diseases a thing of the past. She’s championed

these values from her hometown of Laurium in Michigan’s

Upper Peninsula, through her private clinical psychology

practice in Houston, and now settled in Grand Rapids, where

she gives to various organizations across West Michigan.

“We live in a unique place, a region where, if you want to get involved,

there are quality professionals everywhere,” Kamerschen said.

“Education, food banks, health, science, community outreach — there

are great organizations all over, and I do my best to get involved where

I can make an impact.”

Kamerschen has been a Van Andel Institute supporter for more than

17 years, a relationship that began from reading the Institute’s name

in the newspaper and seeing the building atop Medical Mile. She

gave along with her husband, Dr. Robert Pearson, a psychiatrist who

shared a belief in the transformational power of science. For them,

Kamerschen said, it was an opportunity to be a part of the future, of

making things better, and driving future opportunities for diagnostic

tools and lifechanging treatments.

“We didn’t really care if we got recognition, a certificate, or our names on

a plaque — we dreamed about the impact science could have,” she said.

When Pearson died in 2013, Kamerschen carried on their collective

mission of giving. While legacy was not top of mind when supporting

community organizations, it became clear that their support could

leave a lasting impact through planned giving.

“I started to think of the places I give to regularly, and I realized an

organization like VAI needed to be part of my estate plan,” Kamerschen

said. “Everyone hopes they’ll see breakthroughs and discoveries in their

lifetime, but it’s our support of the long-term work that can really make a

difference.”

Foundational research takes time, but Kamerschen is fueled by the

Institute’s focus. She’s a regular reader of VAI’s Highlights of Hope, and

attends VAI’s scientific events when able.

“If you’re paying attention, there are actually a lot of developments,”

she said. “Even if they feel small now, they can be part of powerful

breakthroughs in the future.”

Showcasing these developments is part of the fun, too. In addition to

reading Institute news, Kamerschen shares it with family and friends,

showcasing the work happening in her own backyard. It’s a point of pride,

she said, to be able to highlight discoveries, but also to encourage others

to get involved. People are always looking for places where their money

can make an impact, and Kamerschen asks her friends to find places like

VAI, where every cent goes toward the cause.

“I don’t have the energy and flexibility I once had, so my involvement

is now toward donating instead of volunteering, pounding nails and

painting,” Kamerschen said. “For me, it’s about the cause — finding one you

believe in, making long-term commitments and knowing you’re playing

your role in shaping a better future.”

The Jay and Betty Van Andel

Circle of Hope

VAI’s research is fueled by long-term hope and

a focus on building a future where we have

new diagnosis, preventative and treatment

options for 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 by remembering VAI in your estate plan.

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.


To learn more, please contact Philanthropy

Director Kate Frillmann at 616.234.5515 or

kate.frillmann@vai.org.

61

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 VAl’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 VAl Founders Society

in recognition of more than $1 million given in support of the Institute.

“We’re the lucky ones, we get to celebrate

anniversaries and tell these stories, even if

they’re hard to tell and make us emotional.”

— Braden Graham

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) BEN, MALLORY, BRADEN, ALISON & GEORGE GRAHAM

Seeing Bluewater and other organizations support VAl 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

62

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.

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.

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 was 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.”

2024 marked 10 years since Alison’s diagnosis, a

landmark that deserved additional celebration.

Ben and George played in a Hockey Fights Cancer

fundraising game in support of VAl 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.”

It was a full-circle moment for Braden and Alison,

seeing their children working to support the kind

of research that gave them hope.

Mallory is getting involved, too. She recently joined

VAl’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.


“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.

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.

“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.”

63

Philanthropy

Circle of Hope Anonymous (6)

The Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of Hope

recognizes those who have included

Van Andel Institute in their will, trust or other

estate plans. Through our acknowledgment of

and gratitude to these exceptional people, we

hope that their generosity will inspire others.

(Members as of December 2024.)

By the numbers

VAI VAI Operating Revenues

64%

2%

4%

30%

$77,000K

$36,000K

$4,500K

$1,900K

Investment return

utilized

Grant Other & contract revenues

revenue

Contributions Investment return utilized

Other Grant revenues & contract revenue

Gasper Amodeo*

Dawn Anderson*

Vivian Anderson*

Stanley* & Blanche* Ash

Kevin & Michelle Bassett

Philip* & Shirley Battershall

John* & Nancy Batts

Frederick* & Julie* Bogaert

John* & Sharon* Bouma

Dr. Jim & Martie Bultman


William & Marilyn

Crawford

33%

Dr. Glenn & Patrice Deibert

Barbara Erhards

J. Scott Grill*

Jana Hall

Joan Hammersmith*

Terry & Jacklyn Hickman

Arthur J. Jabury*

Maryanna Johnson

Karen S. Kamerschen, Ph.D.

& Robert E. Pearson, M.D.*

Dennis* & Joanne* Kozarek

Reneé Kuipers*

B. Kenneth Larm*

Timothy & Kimberly Long

Operating VAI Operating Expenses Expenses

5%

62%

$77,000K

Research

Education

Management,

$41,000K

general & other

Management, general & other

$5,600K

Education

Research

Donald* & Kathleen Maine

Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols

LG* & Helen* Myers

Robert* & Lorraine* Nyhoff

Steven & Melissa Ozinga

Jill & Ken Peirce

Jone Phillips*

Donna Rosa

Alan Ryan*

Tom & Barb Shaw

Ralph Siegel*

George Sietsema*

Eva Sonneville*

Alvin* & Hylda* Tuuk

John J. Visser*

Robert* & Greta*

Wellington

Carol Winton*

John Wisneski*

*Indicates deceased

Circle of Hope member

Designated Gifts | $4,391K Total

Unrestricted

59%

13%

5%

2%

12%

9%

$399.8K

Other

$2,596.8K Unrestricted

Neurodegenerative

$562.5KInternship Cancer Program

$535.3KEducation

Neurodegenerative

Other

Cancer

$200K Internship program

Contributions

$96.6K

Education

64

Institute Leadership Team

David Van Andel

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

David Van Andel is Chairman and CEO of Van Andel Institute in Grand

Rapids. In addition to his leadership at the Institute, Van Andel is also an

entrepreneur involved in several other business interests. He currently

serves on Amway’s Board of Directors, where he is a member of the

Executive, Governance and Audit committees.

A dedicated community leader, Van Andel is active in numerous business,

cultural and community organizations including The Right Place Economic

Development Agency and The Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

Van Andel played a prominent role in bringing professional hockey back

to Grand Rapids in 1996. He is the co-owner and chairman of the Grand

Rapids Griffins, a two-time Calder Cup champion team, and co-owner

and chairman of West Michigan Soccer, the city’s newest professional

soccer team.


President & Chief Scientific Officer;

President, Van Andel Institute Graduate

School

Thomas R. Curran, Jr., J.D.

General Counsel

Timothy Myers, MBA, CPA

Vice President, Chief Administrative

Officer & Chief Financial Officer

Sam Pinto

Vice President & Chief Facilities Officer

Craig Reynolds

Vice President for Research Protections

Terra Tarango

Director & Education Officer,

Van Andel Institute for Education

Eric C. Swindell, Ph.D.

Dean & Chief Academic Officer,


Linda Zarzecki

Vice President of Human Resources

LEADERSHIP

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Van Andel is a graduate of Hope College

in Holland, Michigan. He and his wife, Carol, are proud parents of four

children and five grandchildren.

65

Van Andel Institute Board Members

Van Andel Institute

Trustees

David Van Andel

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,

Van Andel Institute

Connie Chang, MBA

Chief Operating Officer, ONL Therapeutics

John Kennedy, MBA

President & Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical

Mark Meijer

President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance

Kyle Van Andel (Board Observer)

Associate Director & Outreach Director,

David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation;

VAI Ambassador

Van Andel Research

Institute Trustees

David Van Andel


Van Andel Institute

Connie Chang, MBA

Chief Operating Officer, ONL Therapeutics

John Kennedy, MBA

President & Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical

Mark Meijer

President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance




VAI Ambassador

Van Andel Education

Institute Trustees

David Van Andel


Van Andel Institute

James E. Bultman, Ed.D.

President Emeritus, Hope College

Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.

President Emeritus, Aquinas College




VAI Ambassador

Teresa Weatherall Neal, Ed.D. (hon)

Former Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Christine Willig

Independent Board Member, (retired) CEO,

Illuminate Education

66

Van Andel Institute Graduate

School Board of Directors

Maria Cimitile, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy, Frederik Meijer Honors

College, Grand Valley State University

James B. Fahner, M.D.

Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology,

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Peggy Farnham, Ph.D.

William M. Keck Professor of Biochemistry & Chair,

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine,

Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern

California; Vice Dean for Health & Biomedical Science

Education, Keck School of Medicine, University of

Southern California


President & Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Institute

President, Van Andel Institute Graduate School

Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D. (Chair)

President Emeritus, Aquinas College

Mary O’Riordan, Ph.D. (Vice Chair)

Associate Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies,

University of Michigan Medical School; Frederick C.

Neidhardt Collegiate Professor of Microbiology &

Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School

Candace T. Smith-King, M.D.

Vice President, Corewell Health Academic Affairs,

Corewell Health; Pediatric Specialist, Helen DeVos

Children’s Hospital

Van Andel Research Institute

External Scientific Advisory Board

Sharon Y.R. Dent, Ph.D. (ESAB Chair)

Professor Emerita, Department of Epigenetics &

Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular

Carcinogenesis, Division of Basic Sciences, The

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.

Leonard & Madlyn Abramson Professor in

Neurodegenerative Diseases; Director, Institute for Cell

Engineering; Professor, Departments of Neurology;

Neuroscience & Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences,

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Joseph Ecker, Ph.D.

Professor, Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology

Laboratory, Salk Institute; Director, Genomic Analysis

Laboratory, Salk Institute; Howard Hughes Medical

Institute Investigator, Salk Institute; Salk International

Council Chair in Genetics, Salk Institute

Theresa Guise, M.D.

Professor & Bone & Mineral Disorders Section Chief,

Department of Endocrine Neoplasia & Hormonal

Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson

Cancer Center; Co-Director, Rolanette & Berdon

Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas, The

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center;

Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)

Scholar, The University of Texas MD Anderson

Cancer Center

Tony Hunter, Ph.D.

Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory,

Salk Institute; American Cancer Society Professor;

Renato Dulbecco Chair

Mitchell Lazar, M.D., Ph.D.

Willard & Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes &

Metabolic Diseases, University of Pennsylvania;

Director, Penn Diabetes Research Center, University

of Pennsylvania; Director, Cox Institute for Medical

Research, University of Pennsylvania; Chair,

Center & Institute Directors Forum, Perelman

School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania;

Founding Director, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity &

Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania

Thomas Montine, M.D., Ph.D.

Stanford Medicine Endowed Professor & Chair,

Department of Pathology, Stanford University;

Member, Bio-X, Stanford University; Member, Wu

Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University;

Founding Director, Pacific Udall Center, Stanford

University

Max S. Wicha, M.D.

Madeline & Sidney Forbes Professor of Oncology,

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center —

Michigan Medicine

BOARDS

67

Van Andel Institute Board of Governors

Members listed by Individuals

and Organizations separately.

Co-Chairs

Timothy Long

Vicky Ludema

Individuals

Dennis & Barbara Adama

Dr. Marguerite Aitken

John & Mary Amell

Dawn Anderson

Rosemary Anderson

Roy Aneed

Robert Antonini

Kurt Arvidson

Jeffrey & Cheryl Baker

James & Shirley Balk

Martin & Melissa Balk

Jeffrey Battershall

Priscilla Becker

Jessie Belote

Bradley Bengtson

Gregory & Rajene Betz

Dr. David & Jill Bielema

Judy Bode

Theodore & Betsy Boelema

Chuck & Chris Boelkins

Dave & Carrie Boer

Brian Bonnell

Donald Botting

Jeremy Bouwhuis

Daniel & Sherry Bowen

Brent & Rachael Brinks

Leonard Brucato

Dr. Jim & Martie Bultman

Beau Burnett

Jennifer Bustard

William & Jackie Bylenga

Carol Bylsma


Scott & Heidi Campbell

Tyler & Colleen Carll

Steven & Diane Colvin

Matthew Cook

Ryan & Jessica Cook

Charles & Laura Cox

Bill & Marilyn Crawford

Mimi Cummings

Tom & Tracy Curran

David & Karen Custer

Michael & Debra Damstra

Peter D’Arienzo

Deb DeGraaf

Doug & Sandy Dekock


Nora DeMots

Gina DeSantis

Kim DeSantis

Dick & Betsy DeVos

Doug & Maria DeVos


John Dykema & Michele Maly-

Dykema

Dr. Mark Eastburg

C. Andrew Edwards

Michael & Lynette Ellis

Henry Emrich

Mickie Fox

Christina Freese Decker

Colleen Gargiulo

Dan & Cinda Geelhoed

Hannah Geelhoed

Mark Giura

Henry Goldberg

Dan & Deb Goris

Dr. Martin & Peggy Greydanus

Dr. Ronald Grifka

Patti Griswold

Jefra Groendyk

Ronald Haan

Jana Hall

Thomas Hammer

Kurt & Madelon Hassberger

Paul & Sheryl Haverkate

Jacob Heglund

Mike Hemmingsen

Paul & Rose Heule

Dave & Donna Hockstra

Matt Hoeksema

Philip & Sharon Hoekstra

Christopher Hufnagel

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga

Bill & Starr Humphries

Carl & Kelly Jandernoa

Mike & Sue Jandernoa

Sidney & Cate Jansma

Andy Jasper

Lynn Jekkals

Matt & Sarah Jones


Dr. Joseph & Elizabeth Junewick

John & Deb Kailunas

David & Nancy Kammeraad

John & Nancy Kennedy

Dr. Craig & Debra Kinney

Jennifer Kirchgessner

Dr. Stephanie Kloostra

Steve Klotz

Jerry Kooiman

Dr. Joshua & Connie Kooistra

Matt & Danielle Kool

Al & Robin Koop

Blake & Mary Krueger

John & Katie Kuiper

Kurt & Jena Lacks

Raymond & Jeannine Lanning

Arlyn & Marcia Lanting

John & Mary Leese

Michael & Andrea Leestma

Timothy & Kimberly Long

Steve & Mary Longstreet

Gary & Vicky Ludema

Michael & Suzanne Lunn

Steve MacMillan

Phillip Maddox

Philomena Mantella

Dawn McCotter

Mark & Kelly McCumby

Tom McGovern

Michael & Lucy McGraw

Deborah Meijer

Hendrik Meijer

Mark & Mary Beth Meijer

Rusty Merchant

Dan Meyering

Buzz & Lisa Miller

Jack H. Miller

Mike & Rachel Mraz

David & Angela Muilenberg

Gordon J. Muir

Ramon Nayar & Katya Sidelnik

Michael Nelson

Jack Nichols

Dr. Juan & Mary Olivarez

Dr. Richard Pappas

Ken Pasternak

Jeff Peel

Pam Pike

Lewis Pitsch

Rich Postma

Jay & Sara Preston

Drs. Suresh & Sarla Puri

Jacquelyn Rawlings

Todd Rempe

Thank you, Board of Governors.

As members of the Van Andel Institute Board of Governors, you serve as ambassadors who help advance the Institute’s mission and vision in the local community.

Thank you for being our partners and contributing significantly to our success.

68

Dr. John Renucci

Pat Ringnalda

Jeffery Roberts

Melinda Rodriguez

Eve Rogus & Paul Becker Family

Dr. Jack Romence

Robert & Marcy Roth

John & Therese Rowerdink

Alanna Rynders

Gideon Sanders

Mark Satkoski

Michael & Cynthia Schaap

Timothy & Barbara Schowalter

Mary Schregardus

Matthew Scogin

Deborah Sears

Tony & Dawn Semple

George & Linda Sharpe

George & Missy Sharpe

Dr. Thomas & Barbara Shaw

Mark Sherwood & Saralyn Coupe

Jack & Lori Skoog

Mike Slobodnik

Michael Smith

Shannon E. Smith

David & Linda Spencer

John & Judy Spoelhof

Scott & Jan Spoelhof

Robert & Susan Stafford

Peter Stamos & Soonmee

Cha-Stamos

Frank Stanek

Robert R. Stead

Thomas & Mary Stuit

Duke & Karen Suwyn

Dr. Kathryn Swanson

Emily TerHaar

Praveen Thadani

Steve & Cheryl Timyan

Jerry & Marcia Tubergen

David & Sandy Turner


Steve & Amy Van Andel

Sharon Van Dellen

Michael & Michelle Van Dyke

Daniel & Ann Marie Van Eerden

Ronald & Helen Van Farowe

Donna Van Haren

Maria K. Van Til

Bob & Grace Van Timmeren

John Van Wylen

Allen & Nancy Vander Laan

Dr. Douglas Vander Woude

Michael & Gayle VanGessel

David & Beth VanPortfliet

Dr. Christian & Kara VerMeulen

Chad Versluis

Peter Versluis

Vince Versluis

Chris & Dana Vinton

Phil & Kathy Vogelsang

Jim Vurpillat

Dr. Taryn Weil

Craig & Mary Welch

Jane Welch

Tom Welch

John & Vicky Weller

Rebecca Wheeler

Ben Wickstrom

Chris Wierda

Scott & Rebecca Wierda

Julie Wiersema

Greg Williams

James & Sue Williams

Tonya Williamson

Greg & Meg Willit

Aaron Winkle

Rick Winn

John & Kathy Workman

Mary Workman

Van Andel Institute JBoard Ambassadors

Co-Chairs

Blake Crabb

Rachel Mraz

Members

Rueben Antonio

Brad & Holly Cook

Blake Crabb

Jordan Custer

Aaron & Afton DeVos

Ben Eastburg

James Frieling

Meghan Gartman

Nate & Nichole Gillespie

Nate Harris

Organizations

BHS Insurance

The H.T. Hackney Co.

Quality Air Service, Inc.

The Sarah J. Rijfkogel Foundation

Mike & Jacob Hemmingsen

Matt Hoffman

Jason & Brandi Huyser

Matt & Sarah Jones

Andrew Kapanowski

Margaret Kennedy

Michael & Andrea Leestma

Rob & Kati Missman

Mike & Rachel Mraz

Jon & Elle Oberdick

John O’Neill

Greg Paplawsky

Lee & Alexandra Perez

Justin Pinto

Sara Ross

This list includes members active any time between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.

Stand Up for the Cure

Wells Fargo

Windemuller Electric, Inc.

This list reflects gifts received between Jan. 1 and Dec 31, 2023.

Olivia Shute

Allison Sleight

Dr. Josh & Mollie Smith

Melissa Stewart

Mark Stuit

Sarah Tibbe

Aaron & Hailey Van Andel

Chris Van Andel

Jesse & Heather Van Andel

Kyle Van Andel

Sarah Vander Baan

Tripp & Katie VanderWal

Samuel & Sydney Vucelich

Cameron Young

Megan Zubrickas

BOARD OF GOVERNORS & JBOARD AMBASSADORS

Thank you, JBoard Ambassadors.

As JBoard Ambassadors, you are leaders who exhibit the power of early and mid-career professionals to make a difference. We appreciate the energy and dedication

you bring to the Institute. Thank you for your vision and your friendship in our efforts to improve the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations.

69

333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | 616.234.5000 | vai.org

2024 VAI Annual Report

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?