2025 HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

HIGHLIGHTS OF

HOPE

FALL/WINTER ’25 ISSUE

2 Key index ranks Van Andel Institute among top nonprofit research

organizations for biological sciences 3 VAI continues growth with 3 new

faculty 4 Releasing a molecular ‘brake’ may help immune cells better fight

cancer 6 Pinpointing weaknesses in cancer’s armor 8 Could silencing old

viruses help treat osteoarthritis? 9 VAI faculty recognized with prestigious

accolades 10 Finding a home in biomedical research 12 Cellular mix-ups can

set the stage for kidney disease 13 Cryo-EM reveals never-before-seen look

at the ‘proofreading’ proteins that safeguard DNA 14 VAI highlights the latest

research through science events 15 Early-career scientists earn accolades

16 ‘Sugar’ signatures help identify & classify pancreatic cancer cell subtypes

17 Are age-related cellular changes at the root of Parkinson’s disease?

18 Education highlights 20 Donor spotlight: Birgit Klohs

22 Donor spotlight: Nate & Nichole Gillespie 24 Purple Community

28 Events 33 Event sponsors 34 Tributes

RESEARCH

Key index ranks Van Andel

Institute among top nonprofit

research organizations for

biological sciences

Van Andel Institute is among the top nonprofit research organizations in biological sciences, according to the Nature Index.

In North America, VAI ranks 5th in the biological sciences category for nonprofit/non-governmental organizations. Globally,

the Institute ranks 17th.

The Nature Index is a comprehensive, open database that measures institutional scientific output based on research published in

145 natural science and health science journals. VAI’s rankings are part of the Index’s 2025 Research Leaders table, which bases its

results on data gathered from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.

“A top-five ranking by the Nature Index is a remarkable achievement for an institution of our size and age,” said VAI

Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones. “I am immensely proud of the life-changing work underway in our labs

and deeply grateful to our community for its deep, enduring support.”

Since its founding in 1996, VAI has grown into a premier research and education organization that

supports the work of more than 500 scientists, educators and staff. The Institute’s

researchers are at the forefront of fields including cancer, epigenetics, neurodegenerative

diseases, cell biology, metabolism and structural biology.

Learn more about discoveries from VAI at vai.org/news.

VAI continues growth with

3 new faculty

Since January, VAI has welcomed three new faculty, an achievement that strengthens our research capabilities and expands

our impact in Grand Rapids and beyond. These remarkable scientists bring cutting-edge techniques and deep expertise that drive

innovation and discovery.

Dr. H. Josh Jang

Assistant Professor

Department of Cell Biology

Dr. H. Josh Jang pursues new cancer treatments by studying the interactions between

genetics, epigenetics and metabolism in tumors and their surroundings. His research

aims to improve cancer immunotherapies so they are effective for more people.

Dr. Maulik Patel

Associate Professor

Department of Metabolism and

Nutritional Programming

Dr. Maulik Patel studies how cells handle, store and expend energy, with a focus on

how this intricate process, connected with metabolism and nutrition, interacts with

other systems to influence health, disease and aging. His research centers on cellular

“powerhouses” called mitochondria, which support day-to-day function and, when

faulty, contribute to rare, devastating diseases in children and common degenerative

conditions in aging adults.

Dr. Bang–An Wang

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.

2 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 3

RESEARCH

Releasing a molecular ‘brake’ may

help immune cells better fight cancer

Van Andel Institute scientists and collaborators have discovered a potential

treatment target that may re-energize dysfunctional or “exhausted”

immune cells in their fight against cancer.

Funding Acknowledgement

Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute; Van Andel Institute Metabolism

and Nutrition (MeNu) Program Pathway to Independence Awards (Dahabieh and Longo); the National Institute

of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. DP2AI154450 (Yao)

and R01AI158294 (Wu); the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas under award no. RR210035

(Yao); the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AG056524

(Wu); a V Scholar Award (Wu); an American Federation for Aging Grant for Junior Faculty (Wu); a Clinic &

Laboratory Integration Program Grant (Cancer Research Institute) (Wu); startup funds from University of Texas

Southwestern (Yao and Wu); and startup funds from University of Colorado (Wu). 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.

The target is an immune checkpoint called PTGIR, which regulates the

number and cancer-fighting powers of T cells, the soldiers of the immune

system. Too much PTGIR puts a brake on T cells and reduces their ability to

release cancer-killing molecules.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Immunology, could help improve

cancer immunotherapies by paving the way for new immune checkpoint

inhibitors or engineered T cell therapies that block PTGIR signaling and

reinvigorate T cells.

Dr. Michael Dahabieh

“Immunotherapies are game changers for cancer treatment, but they don’t

work for everyone or for all cancers,” said Dr. Michael Dahabieh, the study’s

first author and a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Russell Jones at VAI.

“Blocking PTGIR offers another opportunity to develop more targeted

treatments that help the immune system fight disease.”

Immune checkpoints are molecules that pepper the outside of T cells and

some cancer cells. In immune cells, checkpoints help the immune system

do its job without accidentally attacking healthy cells. In cancer, checkpoints

allow malignant cells to evade immune attacks. Medications that block

checkpoints, called immune checkpoint inhibitors, have become powerful

tools for treating cancer.

Most known immune checkpoints rely on interactions between proteins,

which can limit treatment options. The new checkpoint is based on a protein

(PTGIR) and a lipid (prostacyclin), which creates new prospects for leveraging

the checkpoint to fight cancer. To date, only a few similar protein-lipid

interactions have been described in T cells.

In many ways, T cells are like race cars. They require fuel to do their jobs and,

when active for too long, can run out of energy. New findings from VAI

scientists and collaborators found a potential treatment target to

reinvigorate dysfunctional or exhausted cells. Called PTGIR, this

specialized molecule regulates T cell numbers and

cancer-fighting powers. Too much PTGIR slams the

brakes, limiting cells’ ability to combat cancer.

Medications that block PTGIR may offer new

opportunities to reenergize T cells and get them

back in the race.

IMAGE BY GABRIELLE EISMA

Prostacyclin is found in and around tumors and contributes to T cell

exhaustion by interacting with PTGIR. The amount and availability of PTGIR is

regulated by another protein called NRF2. More NRF2 means more PTGIR —

which results in widespread T cell exhaustion.

Dr. Russell Jones

“The more PTGIR, the more opportunities there are for it to interact with

prostacyclin,” Jones said. “This increased activity slams the brakes on T cell

activity and makes it more difficult for them to continue fighting cancer cells.

Shutting down this interaction offers an opportunity to bolster the immune

system and treat cancer.”


RESEARCH

Pinpointing weaknesses in

cancer’s armor

For scientists like Dr. Scott Rothbart, the same strategies that

cancer cells use to survive also are powerful opportunities for

developing new treatments.

But first, scientists need to understand the many ways cancer

protects itself — and how those defensive layers interact.

“Designing new cancer strategies is like that old arcade game,

Whac-A-Mole,” Rothbart explains. “For each vulnerability we identify,

cancer has another trick up its sleeve to dodge detection and resist

treatment. Our goal is to find ways to treat multiple targets at once

so that cancer doesn’t have a chance to rally and

try again.”

To find answers, Rothbart and his team are exploring epigenetics,

which are biological mechanisms that help ensure the right genetic

instructions are used at the right time. Epigenetic errors are widely

recognized as key contributors to cancer, alongside more familiar

genetic causes such as gene mutations.

Unlike mutations that permanently change the DNA sequence

itself, epigenetic alterations can, in theory, be reversed, making

them promising targets for treatment.

Dr. Scott Rothbart

Yanqing Liu, Ph.D. student

“Epigenetic cancer therapies hold immense promise, particularly

when combined with other treatments like immunotherapies,”

Rothbart said. “Fixing the epigenetic errors that contribute to cancer

cell survival removes some of their defenses while also making sick

cells more susceptible to other cancer medications.”

Finding a weak spot in cancer’s armor

Every cell in the body contains DNA, the genetic manual that

comprises the instructions for life. Epigenetic mechanisms ensure

that the right instructions are used at the right time. For example,

when a cell is damaged beyond repair, epigenetic mechanisms

switch on genes that shut it down.

Cancer hijacks this epigenetic system to promote its own survival.

It keeps anti-cancer genes silent while allowing genes that support

unchecked cell growth to stay active. Cancers often harbor multiple

epigenetic errors, reinforcing each other in a way that makes it

difficult to reactivate tumor-fighting genes.

When one epigenetic safeguard fails, another takes its place to

compensate, ensuring that cancer’s protective layers remain intact.

IMAGE BY GABRIELLE EISMA

Now, a study published in Molecular Cell by Rothbart and his

team sheds light on how these interwoven epigenetic layers work

together to sustain cancer cell survival. Their findings reveal a

potential weak spot that could be leveraged to improve treatment.

“Our findings are exciting because they reveal how these layers

work together,” said Yanqing Liu, a Ph.D. student in Rothbart’s lab

and the first author of the study. “Our work also suggests new ways

to break the cycle, overcome these defenses and improve cancer

therapies.”

In healthy cells, two proteins — UHRF1 and DNMT1 — work

together to maintain epigenetic marks that keep certain genes

switched off. These marks, known as DNA methylation, act like

sticky notes that tell the cell which genes should stay silent. In

cancer, DNA methylation patterns become scrambled, silencing

tumor suppressor genes while leaving harmful pathways active.

Enter DNMT inhibitors, a type of epigenetic drug that treats

cancer by targeting DNMT1 and removing incorrectly placed DNA

methylation. This enables silenced tumor suppressor genes to turn

back on.

But here’s the challenge: When DNMT1 is blocked, UHRF1 steps in

to take its place. But instead of working with DNMT1, UHRF1 now

works with another protein, SUV39H1, to activate an alternative

pathway of protection.

And when both DNMT1 and UHRF1 are blocked? You guessed it.

Cancer cells adapt again, this time by activating a third layer of

defense helmed by a protein complex called PRC2.

Although cancer’s ability to switch between these protective layers

makes it particularly resilient, no system is perfect. Rothbart’s team

has discovered a way to disrupt critical communication between

epigenetic mechanisms, a discovery that could lead to more

effective treatment strategies.

Interrupting cancer cells’ communication to improve

treatment

Like other cells in the body, cancer cells communicate to survive.

They use chemical and molecular messengers to adjust to

environmental changes, evade threats and gather resources like

nutrients. These interactions, known as crosstalk, allow different

parts of the cell to coordinate their responses.

“Crosstalk is how our cells and their components communicate

with each other,” Rothbart explains. “This cellular chatter holds

the answers to a lot of our questions. The more we decipher the

language of communication, the better we can understand how it

works, how things go wrong and how we might fix problems.”

Rothbart’s team reasoned that interrupting crosstalk could disrupt

cancer cells’ epigenetic defenses. Results of their study support

this idea.

They identified a specific type of crosstalk between two epigenetic

marks that helps cancer cells compensate when DNMT1 is blocked.

Interfering with this communication pathway could help DNMT

inhibitors work more effectively by exploiting a hidden vulnerability

in cancer’s multilayered defense system.

“It’s incredibly exciting to know that disrupting this crosstalk

significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of DNMT inhibitors,”

Liu said. “By reactivating genes that suppress cancer, we can boost

the antiproliferative effects of these important medications. This

discovery validates the fundamental molecular mechanism we

uncovered and highlights its biological and translational relevance,

paving the way for improved cancer therapies.”

Improving DNMT inhibitors also presents new opportunities for

combining these drugs with other cancer treatments such as

immunotherapies. Work by Rothbart and others has showed that

DNMT inhibitors prime cancer cells in ways that make them more

susceptible to immune surveillance and immunotherapies, which

harness the body’s built-in cancer-fighting abilities.

A phase 1 clinical trial based on their earlier work is being planned.

The trial will combine low doses of a DNMT inhibitor with another

drug called an EZH2 inhibitor, which fight cancer better together

than either drug alone, according to a May 2024 study by Rothbart

and collaborators.

“Cancers have a sophisticated set of protection mechanisms but

the more complex the system, the more opportunities there are for

vulnerabilities,” Rothbart said. “We’re immensely hopeful that this

work will help us develop more effective treatment strategies that

target multiple weak spots in cancer’s armor.”

“Our goal is to find ways to treat multiple

targets at once so that cancer doesn’t

have a chance to rally and try again.”

— Dr. Scott Rothbart

Funding Acknowledgements

Research reported in the Molecular Cell study was supported by 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). The content is solely

the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or other funders.

Research reported in the May 2024 Science Advances study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. P50CA254897 (Issa, Baylin and Jones; sub-project 7830, Rothbart)

and F32CA225043 (Chomiak); and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM124736 (Rothbart). Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., was supported by 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). Rochelle L. Tiedemann, Ph.D., was supported by the American Cancer Society–Michigan Cancer Research

Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF-16-245-01-DMC). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or other funders.


RESEARCH

Could silencing old viruses

help treat osteoarthritis?

ERVs are remnants of ancestral viruses that long ago became part of

our DNA. Many ERVs are “silenced” by epigenetic marks, which are

chemical tags that keep parts of our DNA dormant. Loss of these

marks can cause the ERVs to become active and, in some cases,

contribute to disease.

To understand the role of ERVs in osteoarthritis, Yang and his lab

compared damaged and healthy cartilage samples. Their in-depth

analysis revealed a striking pattern: increased ERV activation in

damaged cartilage.

VAI faculty recognized with

prestigious accolades

VAI is home to exceptional scientists whose achievements have deep impact on our understanding of health and disease. Since

January, several investigators have earned prestigious accolades that celebrate and support their important research.

Dr. Nick Burton

Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences

The Pew Charitable Trusts named Dr. Nick Burton as a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. This

four-year award supports exceptional early-career scientists who seek answers to pressing questions

about health and disease. Burton is one of only 22 researchers included in the 2025 class. He studies

how our environment, especially exposure to stress and microbes, can influence our health and the

health of our children — even before birth.

Dr. Tao Yang

Osteoarthritis is a common disorder that typically affects older

people. It occurs when the cartilage in joints break down, causing

pain and stiffness that worsens over time.

“There is no cure for osteoarthritis, and we don’t have many

treatment options besides pain management and joint replacement,

which is expensive and invasive,” said Van Andel Institute’s

Dr. Tao Yang. “There is a critical need to understand how and why

osteoarthritis develops and how aging influences that process.”

As a scientist who studies bone biology, Yang is keen to understand

how osteoarthritis arises and progresses.

Unlike bone, cartilage cannot repair itself. That means Yang must

seek out other opportunities to slow osteoarthritis progression and

fix damaged tissue.

In a study published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Yang

and his team describe for the first time a mechanism that may

explain how aging promotes osteoarthritis development — and it

involves old viruses called endogenous retroviruses (ERVs).

“As we age, we lose the mechanisms that keep these old viruses

silenced,” Yang explained. “This stimulates an immune response,

which causes inflammation that makes osteoarthritis progress.”

The study marks the first direct link between aging, osteoarthritis

development and ERV activation. It suggests that re-silencing

ERVs may suppress inflammation and slow down osteoarthritis

progression.

But the idea of investigating ERVs did not come out of the blue.

Initially, Yang was inspired by other VAI research on ERVs in different

disease settings. The study resulted from a collaboration with

VAI’s Dr. H. Josh Jang, who studies ERVs in cancer. A growing body

of research has implicated ERVs as players in inflammation and

aging but, until Yang’s study, there was little known about ERVs in

osteoarthritis.

“Our next step is to look at how to silence ERVs,” Yang said. “If there

is a way we can quiet down inflammation, it may help slow down

joint aging and osteoarthritis progression.”


Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes

of Health under award nos. R01AG083568 (Yang and Wang) and R01AG061086 (Yang). The content is solely

the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes

of Health.

Dr. Derek Janssens

American Society of Hematology Scholar Award

The American Society of Hematology named Dr. Derek Janssens a recipient of its Scholar Award,

which recognizes exceptional early-career investigators in the field of hematology research. The

$125,000 fellowship will support Janssens as he continues to develop an epigenetic roadmap of

human blood cancers, which could illuminate powerful new insights that lead to improved

treatment strategies.

Dr. Hui Shen

American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows

Dr. Hui Shen was elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)

College of Fellows, a prestigious appointment that represents the top 2% of medical and biological

engineers. An expert in bioinformatics and computational biology, 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 of that give rise to many other cancer types.

Dr. Travis Walton

Sloan Research Fellowship

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation named Dr. Travis Walton to its 2025 class of Sloan Research Fellows in

recognition of his exemplary neuroscience research. Sloan Research Fellowships honor exceptional

early-career researchers in the U.S. and Canada who are rising stars in their areas of study. The twoyear,

$75,000 fellowship will support Walton as he explores the molecular mechanisms of the cellular

cytoskeleton in health and disease.

8 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 9

RESEARCH

Finding a home in biomedical

research

Dr. Agot Aleer

Dr. Agot Aleer didn’t originally envision a future in science.

Medical school, a later passion of hers, was not a thought in her

mind during formative education. Then she was presented with

a unique opportunity: acting as a translator for doctors visiting her

home country, South Sudan.

“I was working random jobs, and I told them I’d have no way of

translating medical terminology or fancy terms,” Aleer said. Simple

translations were exactly what was warranted, as the medical teams

needed to quickly and efficiently communicate with patients.

The environment felt oddly natural: Aleer talked with patients

and decoded complex topics with ease. It earned praise from

collaborators, who asked her if she ever considered being a doctor.

“No, of course not,” she would answer, unaware she had just started

her scientific career.

Aleer would arrive in the United States in December 2000. She was

part of the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, a group of unaccompanied

minors from a refugee camp. Today, she is a postdoctoral fellow in

Dr. Lena Brundin’s lab at Van Andel Institute, where she explores the

mental health of immigrants and refugees.

The path to biomedical research required constant adaptation. First,

Aleer pursued medical school, following the basic knowledge gained

as a translator. During rotations, fellow students and preceptors

asked her about her future. The answer was simple: neuroscience and

mental health.

She followed this passion, and it nurtured a craving for knowledge. It’s

difficult to develop an interest in something you know so little about,

she said. Being able to not just learn about science, but get immersed

in a world of learning, helped unlock a desire for more. She sought

to go beyond what was offered in class, looking to dive into deep

questions and unresolved answers.

“I learned I didn’t just want to be a resident doctor,” Aleer said, “I

wanted to play a role in the lab, in the research that can shape the

future of medicine.”

Aleer realized she needed to deepen her expertise and would pursue

postdoctoral opportunities and jobs that could get her closer to the

lab. She filled out applications, sent out resumes and emailed countless

organizations. Some opportunities were promising at first, but the result

was often demoralizing.

“I heard it all … you don’t fit in here, you don’t have the right experience,

this is not a place for you,” Aleer said. “The words bounce around in your

head and you almost start to believe them, but you have to keep trying.”

In 2024, during another bout of emails and applications, Aleer learned of

Van Andel Institute’s Inspire Fellowship. She reached out, thinking it was

one of those “shots at the moon” that never go anywhere.

“I was shocked when I got a response from VAI, and even more surprised

when I was able to sit down with a person and have an actual thoughtful

conversation about my passions, research and where we could work

together,” Aleer said.

This initial connection planted a seed. Aleer pursued a bioethics summer

program elsewhere, but after completion, she applied to the Inspire

Fellowship and began exploring the work of the Institute’s faculty. When it

came time to visit the Institute, she expected the same denials of the past

— the feeling of not fitting in.

Instead, Aleer said she found the opposite. “We focused on growth,

adaptability, how I can play a role in the Institute while also gaining new

skills as a researcher.”

Aleer joined Dr. Brundin’s lab in November 2024. Her current focus is on

technical growth, learning the basics of lab work, proposal writing and

everything she gets a chance to participate in. It’s an opportunity to get

immersed in everything she dreamed about, Aleer said, stepping beyond

comfort zones and elevating her skillset.

“When I leave the Institute, I’ll know I didn’t leave any opportunity

untouched — I spoke to everyone I could, I learned everything there was to

learn and I was able to push myself further than ever before,” Aleer said.

Inspire Fellowship —

Supporting the next

generation of research

leaders through

rigorous, personalized

postdoctoral training

Van Andel Institute’s Inspire Fellowship

supports exceptional postdoctoral

fellows by reducing barriers, fostering

community and providing the resources

and personalized mentorship needed for

an outstanding training experience. We

are committed to ensuring fellows have a

firm foundation from which to launch their

independent research careers — and to

make a world of difference. To learn more,

visit vai.org/inspirevai.



RESEARCH

Cellular mix-ups can set the stage

for kidney disease

Our kidneys perform many important jobs.

They filter our blood to remove waste, regulate blood pressure by

eliminating excess fluid and ensure our electrolytes are balanced,

which helps keep systems throughout the body up and running.

All these vital functions depend on our kidneys having the right

mix of cells. Too much of one cell type or too little of another can

disrupt that balance and set the stage for disease.

“Our genes contain the blueprints for building healthy kidneys but

sometimes, genes can be damaged or the instructions in genes

can be misread,” said VAI’s Dr. Hong Wen. “When this happens,

the kidneys may not develop properly. We want to understand the

factors that affect kidney development so we can better address —

and hopefully even fix — these problems.”

Some of these issues are linked to epigenetics, a complex set of

mechanisms that determine how and when the instructions in our

genes are used without changing the gene itself. Unlike genetic

changes, epigenetic changes are reversible, making them an

increasingly popular target for potential new treatments.

A study by Wen and her collaborators revealed how an epigenetic

regulator called ENL influences cell fate and kidney development.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Cell fate is the process by which a cell becomes committed to a

particular function or role in the body. For instance, some cells

provide supportive tissues (stromal cells), while others form the

functional units of the kidney (nephron cells).

This decision, however, is not up to the cells themselves.

“As an epigenetic regulator, ENL is in charge of deciding what role

each cell is going to take on,” Wen explained. “When changes to

ENL occur, it can have devastating consequences for the kidney

over time.”

Certain variations in ENL can contribute to Wilms tumor, a type of

kidney cancer that primarily affects children. Wen and her team

investigate how these changes can lead normal kidney cells down

the wrong path.

Using a cutting-edge method called spatial transcriptomics, they

found that changes to ENL can cause the cells that form kidneys

to become mixed up, impairing kidney development. Spatial

transcriptomics is a technique that helps scientists to map the

activity of genes within tissues to better identify cell type and

location.

The findings offer new insights that pave the way toward identifying

potential ways to treat kidney disease.

“Better understanding these important early processes may

provide new opportunities for fixing ENL and treating kidney

disease,” Wen said. “We may even be able to create specifically

designed tools that can target and break down harmful proteins

and improve disease treatments.”


Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute; the National Cancer Institute of

the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01CA260666 (Wen and Jin), R01CA255506 (Wen) and

R01CA268440 (Shi). Wen is a Career Development Award Scholar of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (award

no. 1387-23). 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.

Cryo-EM reveals never-beforeseen

look at the ‘proofreading’

proteins that safeguard DNA

Much like an editor combing through an article for mistakes, our DNA relies on

proofreading to ensure the accurate passage of information from one generation

of cells to the next.

This process, called DNA replication, occurs trillions of times each day in the human

body. It requires a carefully orchestrated team of molecular workers to unzip DNA’s

ladder-like helix and build new strands that mirror the original. Along the way, these

workers must avoid introducing new mistakes and correct them if they do occur.

The stakes are high: At least 40 diseases, including many cancers and rare disorders,

are linked to problems with DNA replication.

“A typo in a book or a homework assignment may be embarrassing, but a typo in our

DNA can be devastating,” said VAI’s Dr. Huilin Li, a structural biologist who has studied

DNA replication for more than two decades. “The proofreading process is essential for

understanding health and developing new ways to prevent and treat disease.”

Thanks to new findings published in PNAS by Li and his longtime collaborator

Dr. Michael O’Donnell of The Rockefeller University, we now have a clearer

understanding of how proofreading works — and how it can go awry.

During replication, the two strands of the DNA helix are pulled apart to create a Y

shape. Molecular construction workers called polymerases then use the single strands

as templates to assemble the missing half of each strand, turning one DNA helix

into two.

As this is happening, a special polymerase called Polε carefully checks for and corrects

mistakes. If it fails to fix an error, the result can be a mutation that gives rise to cancer

or another disease.

Dr. Huilin Li

“Our genes contain the blueprints for building

healthy kidneys but sometimes, genes can be

damaged or the instructions in genes can be

misread . . . We want to understand the factors that

affect kidney development so we can better address

— and hopefully even fix — these problems.”

— Dr. Hong Wen

Polε doesn’t do this important work alone. It teams up with PCNA, a ring-shaped

protein “clamp” that prevents polymerases from falling off the DNA strand.

Using the Institute’s high-powered cryo-electron microscopes (cryo-EM), Li, O’Donnell

and their teams demonstrated for the first time that PCNA and Polε remain tightly

linked throughout the proofreading process.

They also found that Polε–PCNA complex uses a three-step process to fix problems that

occur during replication. First, the damaged DNA is moved out of the construction zone

to a triage area, or exo site. Polε then unspools a bit more DNA and, finally, cuts out

the error.

“DNA replication mistakes are the root of so many diseases,” Li said. “A detailed

understanding of these complex processes is a critical step toward potential new

therapies.”

THE IMAGE ABOVE DEPICTS THE POLYMERASE

POLε IN LIGHT BLUE, THE PCNA CLAMP IN

ORANGE, & DNA IN GREEN (TEMPLATE STRAND)

& MAGENTA (PRIMER STRAND). THE TOP REGION

OF THE PURPLE PRIMER DNA STRAND IS THE

MISMATCHED BASE, BEING PROOFREAD BY POLε.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE HUILIN LI LAB.


Research reported in this publication was supported by the National

Institute of General Medical Sciences under award nos. R35GM148159

(O’Donnell) and R35GM131754 (Li); Van Andel Institute (Li); and Howard

Hughes Medical Institute (O’Donnell). 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

VAI highlights the latest research

through science events

Van Andel Institute fosters scientific collaboration yearround

through a series of events that bring together students,

researchers and experts across biomedical research to drive

innovation and discovery.

Winter Neurodegeneration Summit

For the second year, postdoctoral fellows and graduate

students from VAI and Michigan State University hosted the

Winter Neurodegeneration Summit. This event is an outstanding

opportunity for early-career scientists at both institutions

to discuss their research into diseases like Parkinson’s and

Alzheimer’s, network with others in the field, and practice their

presentation skills.

Midwest C. elegans Meeting

In April, scientists gathered at VAI for the annual Midwest C. elegans

Meeting. This event highlights the importance of C. elegans, a tiny

roundworm widely used to study genetics, development and other

key biological processes. The program featured a keynote lecture

by Dr. Frank C. Shroeder of Cornell University, presentations from

leading researchers in the field and a poster session showcasing

the latest breakthroughs in C. elegans research.

VAI Epigenetics Symposium

This year’s one-day VAI Epigenetics Symposium brought a hundred

scientists to the Institute to explore the intersection of two highimpact

fields: epigenetics and structural biology. Epigenetics

encompass a vast set of processes that regulate how and when

the instructions in our DNA are used. Structural biology leverages

powerful technologies to determine the shape and function of

molecules that play critical roles in health and disease.

Esteemed experts highlighted how combining these two fields can

reveal new insights into health and disease, and drive innovation in

the pursuit of new therapies.

Epigenomics Workshop

Following the Epigenetics Symposium, VAI hosted our annual

Epigenomics Workshop, a three-day, hands-on, problem-based

experience that immerses Ph.D. students in the latest epigenomic

research and techniques. Taught by leaders in their fields,

students gained valuable insight in experimental design, analysis

pipelines and cutting-edge approaches. 1


1

Funding for the workshop was made possible (in part) by R25HG011020 from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The views expressed in written conference materials or

publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the NIH; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) DR. XIAOBING SHI, DR. EVAN WORDEN, DR. DEREK JANSSENS,

DR. J. ANDREW POSPISILIK & DR. HUILIN LI

Early-career

scientists

earn accolades

Earning a grant is a major milestone in any scientist’s career.

These awards provide crucial funding to explore new ideas and

launch potentially paradigm-shifting projects. They also offer

external validation of one’s ideas and approaches.

From January to June 2025, two of VAI’s graduate students were

awarded highly competitive grants. These awards will support

their innovative research and lead to a better understanding of

health and disease.

Thomas Goralski

Van Andel Institute Graduate

School Ph.D. Student,

Henderson Lab

National Institute of

Neurological Disorders and

Stroke of the National Institutes

of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein

National Research Service

Award Individual Predoctoral

Fellowship

Project: Exploring brain cell

vulnerability in Parkinson’s

disease 1

Lia Hooker

Van Andel Institute Graduate

School Ph.D. Student, Triche Lab

American Society of

Hematology 2025 Hematology

Inclusion Pathway (HIP)

Graduate Student Award

Project: The roles of ancestry,

genetics and metabolism in

multiple myeloma treatment 2

Funding Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by:

1

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award

no. F31NS139616.

2

The American Society of Hematology.

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

‘Sugar’ signatures help identify

and classify pancreatic cancer

cell subtypes

Sugar is almost always on Dr. Brian Haab’s mind.

Are age-related cellular changes at

the root of Parkinson’s disease?

Although there are many unknowns when it comes to Parkinson’s, one thing is

clear: aging is the most important risk factor for developing the disease.

For now, that’s where much of the clarity fizzles out — but that may soon change.

Dr. Brian Haab

SCIENTISTS LIKE DR. BRIAN HAAB & HIS COLLABORATORS

USE TISSUE FROM PANCREATIC TUMORS, PICTURED ABOVE,

TO IDENTIFY GLYCAN SIGNATURES RELATED TO CANCER.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE HAAB LAB.

Not the kind that you sprinkle on cereal or use to sweeten your morning coffee,

but the kind found on the outside of pancreatic cancer cells.

Called glycans, these specialized sugars help cancer cells recognize and

communicate with each other. They also can be used by scientists like Haab to

better understand — and better detect — cancer.

Earlier this year, Haab and his collaborators published a study in Science

Advances detailing a powerful new approach that combines specialized software

and imaging techniques to pinpoint the exact mix of pancreatic cancer cells that

comprise tumors.

The team used their method, called multiplexed glycan immunofluorescence, to

identify glycan “signatures” for several subtypes of pancreatic cancer cells, each

possessing a different composition of glycans.

“Our new method allows us to go one step beyond cancer diagnosis by

revealing which subtypes of pancreatic cancer cells make up a tumor. The

more we know about which cells are present, the better physicians can tailor

treatments for each patient,” Haab said.

Pancreatic cancer often does not cause noticeable symptoms in its early

stages. As a result, only 15% of pancreatic cancers are found in time to allow

for surgical removal. To make things more complicated, pancreatic tumors

can include many different subtypes of malignant cells, each of which respond

differently to treatment.

The glycan signatures were identified by analyzing tumor tissue. The research

team then refined their approach to detect glycans secreted into the blood by

cancer cells. This is important, Haab said, because blood tests are easier on

patients — they are far quicker, cheaper and less invasive than surgery.

The method is not yet available for use in clinical labs, but Haab is hopeful that

in the next few years, it could become a standard step in pancreatic cancer

diagnosis. In the meantime, the team continues to validate their method and

search for signatures of rarer cell types. They’re also exploring if it can be used

to better detect and characterize other gastrointestinal cancers.

A collaborative team of scientists from Van Andel Institute and University of

Minnesota have earned a two-year, $5.8 million grant to continue studying how an

age-related process called cellular senescence influences Parkinson’s onset and

development. The funds are part of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP)

initiative in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Senescence is a built-in cellular safety mechanism that prevents replication of

cells that are damaged or at the end of their normal lifespan. Senescent cells are

effectively done with their normal jobs: they no longer divide to create new cells and

they shift their behavior in ways that affect their surroundings. Because of these

changes, a buildup of senescent cells as we age can interfere with tissue repair or

trigger damaging inflammation.

“Senescence is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it prevents cancer and other

diseases by stopping damaged and sick cells from replicating. On the other, it’s likely

that problems with senescence contribute to Parkinson’s and other age-related

diseases,” said Dr. Darren Moore, the Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s

Disease Research at VAI and a co-investigator on the project.

An earlier grant from ASAP kicked off the project in 2020. The new funding will

expand the study to a new phase focused on:

• Identifying senescence-related molecular changes that may contribute to

Parkinson’s.

• Using genetic tools to define cause-and-effect relationships between Parkinson’s

and senescence.

• Determining disease-related molecular pathways in models of senescence.

“Aging, senescence and Parkinson’s are woven together in a complicated web. By

exploring how they are connected, we learn how to find new ways to slow or stop

disease progression and improve quality of life,” said Dr. Michael Henderson, a VAI

associate professor and co-investigator on the team. “We are grateful to ASAP for

their ongoing support and look forward to continuing this critical work.”

In addition to Moore and Henderson, the team includes project lead Dr. Michael

Lee and Dr. Laura Niedernhofer, both of University of Minnesota Medical School.

The team is part of ASAP’s Collaborative Research Network, an international,

multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional network of collaborating investigators who

are working to accelerate the pace of discovery for Parkinson’s disease and drive new

ideas into the research and development pipeline.

Dr. Michael Henderson

Dr. Darren Moore


Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award

nos. U01CA226158 (Haab and Brand), U01CA152653 (Haab, Brand and Allen), and U01CA200466 (Brand and Batra). The content is

solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.



EDUCATION

Igniting a love of learning and a

passion for teaching, near and far

Curiosity on Wheels rolls through Michigan, bringing

science to life!

Learning is hitting the road — and it’s anything but ordinary.

Van Andel Institute for Education is thrilled to bring Curiosity on

Wheels to communities across Michigan.

Curiosity on Wheels events are community-based opportunities

that deliver hands-on, inquiry-based STEM experiences designed

to inspire kids to think and act like real scientists. Each event is

customized to fit the needs of the group and includes engaging

investigations, necessary supplies, quality staffing and a serious

love for science. Whether we’re supporting classroom learning,

enriching a theme or just having fun, Curiosity on Wheels brings

science to life.

Thanks to new, exciting partnerships with the YMCA and True

North Community Services, about 1,000 participants across 36

events — including 800–900 YMCA youth (ages 5–12) and 150

True North participants (ages 5–9) — experience hands-on science

adventures that spark wonder, creativity and real discovery.

These young scientists explore, experiment and uncover the

mysteries of the natural world. They engineer wild contraptions,

test bold ideas and build their problem-solving superpowers, all

while having a blast and gaining confidence in their ability to think

critically and creatively.

Grand Rapids Christian Evergreen Campus explores

sustainable transportation

Grand Rapids Christian Evergreen Campus breaks from

the traditional educational mold by emphasizing a multiage

environment where students are encouraged to collaborate and

build relationships across grade levels. The model is driven by

inquiry-based instruction, which made for a natural partnership

with VAI Education and our emphasis on hands-on experiences

that foster curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.

This year, Evergreen students tackled the challenge: How can we

make transportation more sustainable and efficient? To explore

this question, they investigated real-world magnetic levitation

(maglev) technology and experimented with their own maglev

track. Through their investigations, students learned about key

factors that influence the efficiency and sustainability of different

modes of transportation.

Thinking and acting like engineers, students designed and tested

their own mini maglev vehicles. They analyzed how variables like

weight, speed and friction impact performance. Their journey

blended innovation, problem-solving and teamwork — preparing

them to think critically about the future of transportation.

VAI Education supports teachers and school leaders

across the nation

At VAI Education, we believe that great teaching changes lives and

that every educator deserves a vibrant, supportive community to

help them thrive. That’s why we’ve developed a suite of engaging,

powerful, collaboration-centered programs designed to uplift both

teachers and administrators.

This year, our Affinity Networks connected educators through online

communities tailored to their passions and career stages. Newer

teachers found encouragement and camaraderie through the

New Teacher Network, while curious minds joined the Network

of Eccentric Educators to explore bold ideas with a joyful spirit.

Meanwhile, the EdTech Explorers Network brought tech-savvy

teachers together to share tools and reimagine what classrooms

can be.

Our support doesn’t stop at teachers. Through Better Together,

our free virtual workshop for K–12 administrators, school leaders

gather to explore emerging challenges — from artificial intelligence

to building stronger school cultures — and come away with

actionable strategies and a renewed sense of purpose.

Together, Affinity Networks and Better Together form a powerful

system of support where passionate professionals at every level

feel seen, inspired and equipped for the road ahead.

“It was an excellent

course. I’ve already

started sharing these

ideas with my team!”

— Affinity Networks participant



PHILANTHROPY

Building a grand vision

Birgit Klohs recalls July 1996 with the vibrant

imagery one holds for their favorite memories.

She was in her office at The Right Place, her

professional home since 1987, an organization

dedicated to retaining, creating, and attracting

businesses and investment to West Michigan.

The workday was interrupted by a call from board

member David Van Andel, who had news to share:

His family was opening a new biomedical research

facility in Michigan, and it would call Grand Rapids

home.

“In that moment I knew a new industry was about

to ignite,” Klohs said. “We had a lot of work ahead

of us, but this was a tremendous opportunity

for economic development and to diversify the

region’s business base.”

Thirty years later, the once-nascent Van Andel

Institute sits at the core of a continuously growing

Medical Mile — Grand Rapids’ hub of medicine,

research and education. Klohs is immensely proud

of the Institute’s success, with particular fondness

for the effort and passion required to build it.

In the early days, nearly everyone who heard

about VAI said it could not work. The doubters

were relentless: There was no medical school and

no scientific community. At this point, not even a

building existed. And Grand Rapids? That’s

flyover country.

“We had to punch above our weight, get people’s attention,” Klohs said.

The persistence paid off. Once people got to Grand Rapids, they began

to share in the positive vision for the region’s future. Scientists heard

what was happening, and the opportunities at VAI drew world-class

professionals to the community. A new business sector was being

developed in the city.

Klohs retired from The Right Place in 2021, after 33 years of building

on the vision for economic development created by Jay Van Andel and

the first Board of the Right Place. During her time, the organization

collaborated with state, local and business leaders to create more than

$5 billion in economic investment in the region and generate more

than 47,000 jobs. She believes more growth is possible, supporting and

donating to various opportunities and organizations throughout the

region, including VAI.

“There is immense global talent that comes to Grand Rapids now, to

the Institute and the other institutions on the Medical Mile,” Klohs said.

“We are no longer flyover territory.”

Klohs is constantly looking for ways to give back. As a longtime

supporter of the Institute, she sees her gifts in support of biomedical

research and science education as an investment in the future. She

is particularly keen on Alzheimer’s research at the Institute. Her mom

suffered from the illness for more than 10 years. She’s recently begun

giving through her IRA and encourages everyone to support VAI and

other causes in Grand Rapids to continue elevating the city.

“This is a great place to live,” Klohs said. “We love it here. All the things

we enjoy doing are right here, and I continue to do everything I can to

make sure people know how wonderful this city truly is.”

Support VAI

through

your IRA

Did you know that gifting your IRA

minimum distribution allows you to

donate the full amount, tax-free?

People 70 1/2 or older may gift directly

from their IRA to VAI without having to

pay income tax on the money.

“It’s really a simple way to donate, and I

see it as an investment in the future of

better health,” Klohs said.

To learn more about supporting VAI

through your IRA, contact Philanthropy

Director Kate Frillmann at 616.234.5515,

kate.frillmann@vai.org or visit our

website at vai.giftlegacy.com.

“It felt like everyone, and I mean everyone, thought

the Institute and our hopes for the region were

crazy dreams,” Klohs said. “Of course, that didn’t

stop Jay and Betty Van Andel: They were from

Grand Rapids, they believed in the region and they

were set on making things happen right here.”

This was a familiar refrain to Klohs. While leading

The Right Place, she heard similar doubts about

West Michigan. Economic development and

bringing fresh talent to the region was a challenge,

but that’s what made it worthwhile.

BIRGIT KLOHS



PHILANTHROPY

Connecting community and science

When looking for the best place to

establish their roots, Nate and Nichole

Gillespie carefully considered their options.

Both Michigan natives, they were intimately

familiar with the state, and they have visited

major cities in the U.S. and abroad. Those

experiences shaped their goals, simplifying

their search for a home into one word:

community.

“Over the last few years, we realized we

want to be someplace that can nurture our

personal and professional lives, while also

allowing us to invest in the people and world

around us — and West Michigan is that

place,” Nate said.

The couple settled in Ada, just a short drive

from their former residence in downtown

Grand Rapids. Nate owns and manages a

community relations firm called Patchwork

and serves as executive director of the

Anchor Institute, while Nichole owns

and operates On This Day Events, a fullservice

event design and planning team.

Living nearby allows them to deepen their

connection with the region, Nichole said,

while also enabling new and continuing

partnership opportunities. Both are involved

with a variety of organizations, including

supporting Van Andel Institute.

As JBoard Ambassadors, Nate and Nichole

are part of VAI’s network of early- and midcareer

professionals. They joined to support

biomedical research, but their relationship

with the Institute has since grown.

“For us, it’s now an opportunity to showcase

the scientific progress underway here, in

our own backyard,” Nichole said. “Once you

learn what’s happening, you don’t just want

to get involved — you want to share it with

everyone you know.”

Highlighting the Institute’s work comes

easy, Nate said, as there are many different

opportunities to get involved: events,

donations, lectures and more. Talking

to scientists and educators unlocks new

perspectives, he said. “It brings people like

us closer to the science in ways that allow

us to interact, engage and learn.”

As someone with Type 1 diabetes, Nate

often spends time reading about new

advances. His life with the disease is another

inspiration to give to research at VAI.

Many don’t think about the importance of

research until they see themselves or their

loved ones affected by cancer, Parkinson’s,

or other diseases, Nate said. “That’s what

makes this kind of fundamental science

so important — it’s the building blocks for

so many possible developments down the

line, and it can unlock new treatments or

diagnosis tools for diseases that maybe

weren’t the initial focus.”

The couple proudly bears the Ambassador

title of their JBoard membership, inviting

friends, family and coworkers to learn more

about VAI and its science and education

efforts. It’s an opportunity to be proud

of the region, while also building on the

collaborative spirit West Michigan is known

for. Nate and Nichole are involved in

shaping the future of JBoard itself; they work

alongside other Ambassadors to develop

new engagement opportunities. They

hope to recruit new members while also

building relationships with other passionate

community members looking to make a

difference.

“So much of what we enjoy in Grand Rapids

are the results of seeds planted long ago,”

Nichole said. “We now have a place like VAI

right in our home, and it’s our responsibility

as a community to make sure it’s able to

thrive and bring more opportunities for

future generations.”

“We now have a place like VAI right in our home, and

it’s our responsibility as a community to make sure

it’s able to thrive and bring more opportunities for

future generations.” — Nichole Gillespie

JBoard Ambassadors — A network of passionate early- and mid-career professionals

VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors bring fresh, forward-thinking perspectives to the Institute community. They believe biomedical research

can change the world for the better, championing the message across Grand Rapids and beyond.

Access exclusive, invite-only events

Attend some of the most sought-after

events in the city, including Around the

World, Grand Rapids’ kickoff to summer;

JBoard CoLaboratory, a one-of-a-kind

mixer of JBoard Ambassadors and VAI

postdoctoral fellows; the invitation-only

Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Dinner

& Award Presentation; and more!

Supercharge your impact

Play your part in VAI’s mission of discovery

and hope. Learn about fundamental and

translational science and how progress

fuels treatments for cancer, Parkinson’s,

metabolic disorders and other diseases.

Do you manage or work somewhere with a

Corporate Social Responsibility program?

JBoard can be the perfect partner for your

CSR program, with unique pathways for

membership that align your organization’s

values with VAI’s mission to improve

human health.

Broaden your network

Connect with professionals at unique

and celebrated events. Meet others who

share a drive to improve human health,

modernize K–12 education and change

tomorrow for the better.

To learn more about JBoard Ambassadors,

contact Philanthropy Director Sarah

Rollman at 616.234.5712 or

sarah.rollman@vai.org.



VAI PURPLE COMMUNITY

Grassroots efforts for

a global impact

Art for a Cure

Duncan Lake Dodges Cancer

Bee Brave WERQ Your Rack

VAI Purple Community brings together schools,

organizations, businesses and community leaders,

all dedicated to raising funds for VAI through various

events. Here are a few highlights from 2025:

• VAI Student Ambassadors hosted the second Art for a

Cure, a silent auction art show hosted at VAI. The

Student Ambassadors are a group of dedicated high

school students who are passionate about improving

human health.

• Southside Hockey Fights Cancer celebrated a milestone

fundraising record.

• The Grand Rapids Griffins Purple Community Game

featured a ceremonial puck drop by the Colvin Family,

hosts of Cars Against Cancer.

• Standup for the Cure was held at Ross Park, raising

funds for breast cancer research.

• Duncan Lake Middle School has partnered with Purple

Community for 15 years through a cancer walk. 2025

saw the launch of a new event, Duncan Lake Dodges

Cancer, a dodgeball tournament in support of cancer

research.

• West Ottawa Purple Power hosted eight sporting

events to fundraise for cancer research.

• Bee Brave hosted four events: a Puzzle Competition, the

inaugural Pickleball Tournament, WERQ Your Rack and

the Golf Scramble.

• The Wiersema Family hosted the annual David

Wiersema Memorial Golf Outing at Winding Creek Golf

Club. The event honors David, who passed away from

brain cancer in 2010.

Southside Hockey Fights Cancer

West Ottawa Purple Power Boys Basketball

Bee Brave Pickleball Tournament

Bee Brave Golf Scramble

David Wiersema Memorial Golf Outing

Standup for the Cure

Grand Rapids Griffins Purple Community Game



VAI PURPLE COMMUNITY

MINI on the Mack

This unique gathering invited MINI Cooper

owners to the Mackinac Bridge for an eyecatching

parade. As the bridge and nearby

cities were taken over by colorful, exotic,

unique, comedic and gorgeous liveries, the

community came together to raise funds for

biomedical research and science education

at VAI. This unique event was turbo-charged

through a unique partnership between SHARPE

and VAI Purple Community. SHARPE has an

extensive history supporting communities —

organizing, hosting and sponsoring charity

opportunities across Michigan.


EVENTS

Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence

Dinner & Award Presentation

Honoring those who make extraordinary efforts in support of

the Institute’s mission, the Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence

Award recognized supporters who go above and beyond for VAI.

This year’s recipients were Buist, Brian and Barbara DeVries,

J.C. and Tammy Huizenga, Lake Michigan Credit Union, and the

David and Julie Wiersema Family.

Board of Governors Annual Dinner

The annual dinner welcomed an insightful gathering of the most

passionate individuals, organizations and businesses, all sharing

in their commitment to VAI’s mission. Returning to Cascade

Hills Country Club, the program featured research updates from

President and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones, a deep dive

into education from Director and Education Officer Terra Tarango,

and the “State of the Institute” from Chairman and CEO David

Van Andel.

Thank you to Board of Governors co-chairs Tim Long & Vicky Ludema.

If you are interested in joining the Board of Governors, please

contact Philanthropy Director Sarah Rollman at 616.234.5712 or


(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) STEVE LONGSTREET, CAROL VAN ANDEL & BRENT BRINKS;

BRIAN & BARBARA DEVRIES & CAROL VAN ANDEL; SHELBY WIERSEMA, LYDIA WIERSEMA-RHOADES, JULIE WIERSEMA & CAROL VAN ANDEL;

MATT COOK, JULIE LEONARD & CAROL VAN ANDEL; J.C. & TAMMY HUIZENGA & CAROL VAN ANDEL


(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DAVID VAN ANDEL; DR. PETER A. JONES; TERRA TARANGO;

VICKY LUDEMA; KYLE VAN ANDEL GREETS GUESTS; DAVID VAN ANDEL DELIVERS REMARKS; TIM LONG; CAROL VAN ANDEL


EVENTS

Around the World

VAI’s JBoard Ambassadors held a party to kick-start summer

with great food, delicious wine and charming company.

The evening welcomed the VAI community to an interactive

presentation from VAI for Education, offering a unique view into

the science education programs underway at the Institute.

The event’s proceeds benefited K–12 programs at VAI Education.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Lake Michigan Credit Union.

VAI Pickleball Open

Fast-paced competition returned to the rooftop of the Amway

Grand Plaza Hotel for this unique charity tournament. The two-day

event featured a dinner and silent auction at MDRD the evening

before the tournament. Featuring brackets for novice and advanced

players alike, everyone got to showcase their skills and engage

in friendly competition — all while raising funds in support of

biomedical research and education.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors, MDRD, 20x44 Sports, and Rooftop

Pickleball, and our Drop Shot Sponsor, Amway.

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL GREETS GUESTS; VAI EDUCATION PRESENTATION;

GUESTS VIEW WINE OFFERINGS; VAI EDUCATION DEMOS FUN SCIENCE ACTIVITIES ; GUESTS VISIT FOOD TRUCKS

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) KYLE VAN ANDEL GREETS GUEST; BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE BRACKET WINNERS;

ADVANCED BRACKET WINNERS; CAROL & DAVID VAN ANDEL WELCOME GUESTS; PLAYERS WARM UP BEFORE TOURNAMENT



EVENTS

JBoard CoLaboratory

The inagural CoLaboratory brought together scientists,

educators and JBoard Ambassadors for a peek into the future

of research and education at VAI. Formerly known as the JBoard

Member Mixer, this reinvented event was a nexus for community

and collaboration, featuring food, cocktails, and a Q&A with VAI

postdoctoral fellows and educators. Attendees also enjoyed

exclusive access to the latest sports simulator games at

Gimme’s Par & Grill.

JBoard can be the perfect partner for Corporate Social Responsibility

programs, with unique pathways for membership that align your

organization’s values with VAI’s mission to improve human health.

For more information, or to become a JBoard Ambassador, contact

Philanthropy Director Sarah Rollman at 616.234.5712 or


Thank you to our generous

event sponsors

Around the World

Title Sponsor: Lake Michigan Credit Union

97 LAV-FM Classic Rock

ADAC Automotive

Alliance Beverage Distributing

Bluewater

Jerry & Suzanne Callahan

Brad & Holly Cook

Blake Crabb

Mimi Cummings

David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation

Jeffrey & Kate DeLongchamp

DeVries Dental

Brian & Barbara DeVries

Eileen DeVries Family Foundation

Element Four

Gun Lake Casino

iHeartMedia West Michigan

Matt & Sarah Jones

Leigh’s

Liberty Mutual Insurance

Mary Free Bed Hospital & Rehabilitation

Center

Miller Johnson

NPF Investment Advisors

NVINT

David & Mary Slikkers

Smith Dental Team

Tripp & Katie VanderWal

Samuel & Sydney Vucelich

West Michigan Woman

VAI Pickleball Open

20x44 Sports

AHC Hospitality

Amway

Franco & Alessandra Bianchi

David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation

Jodie Haverdink: The Partner’s Coach

Michael & Tina Kanis

Kurt & Jena Lacks

Tim & Kim Long

M.D. Sass

MDRD

Matt & Jodie Haverdink Family Foundation

Pioneer Construction

Rooftop Pickleball

This list includes sponsors of signature

events held between May and August 2025.

To learn more about sponsoring an

event, contact Sarah Rollman at

616.234.5712 or sarah.rollman@vai.org.

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DR. FELICIA EBOT-OJONG;

KYLE VAN ANDEL; GIMME’S GOLF SIMULATOR GAME;

GUESTS GATHER AT COLABORATORY



TRIBUTES

IN MEMORY OF

IN HONOR OF

Steven & Cathy Baker

Joann Jarvi

Lisa Barber

Patricia Bonnell

Nicole Beuschel

James & Sue Baar

Caitlin Boudreau

Brian & Mary Boudreau

Richard Brady

GREIU (Grand Rapids Employees

Independent Union)

Harold Brewster

Diane Munoz

Valerie Wacker

Sallie Brinks

Mary Bell

Alyssa Brinks

Brent & Rachael Brinks

Chris Brinks

David L. Brinks

Jack Brinks

Jason & Jodi Brinks

Kate Brinks

Jacob & Audrey Carpenter

Help@Home Senior Care, LLC

Mike & Judi Mazurek

Dr. Jack Romence

Kristina Romence

Chas & Marcia Schaner

Boone Chaney

Carole DuHadway

Andrew Chow

Eric Chow

Bobby Fry

Gregory & Rajene Betz

Brian R. Getzin

Paul & Lynn Getzin

Wayne Stuart Horton

Cardinal Health

Gisela Chang

Melanie Miller

Maurine Schmidt

Pat & Nancy Schmidt

Deborah Shrum

Kenneth James Host

Charlie & Mary Pardue

Annie Jones

Carole DuHadway

Lloyd “Butch” Landman

The Blain Family

Darlene Gahan

Shannon & Kurt Halland

The Korienek Family: Kathleen,

Marian, Don & Kathy, Joe & Marcy,

John & Amy

Emily & Darrell Kuzma

Brett Liefbroer

Jan Liefbroer

Joey Liefbroer

Kevin & Rosemary Murphy

Brenda Smith

Louis & Kara Sova on behalf of

Sova & Kelly, P.C.

Blake & Kelsey Stapleton

Kevin & Julieann Stapleton

Robert & Judy VanDongen

Thomas Maddox

Ann Maddox

Jack H. Miller

David & Carol Van Andel

Family Foundation

Thomas Newhof

Edward & Betsey Dempsey

Stephen Grimm

Kevin Koster

Brian Merk

Mike & Jean Oele

Professional Underwriters, Inc.

Ridgeview Landscaping

William Thies

Jeff & Janet Williams

Tim & Kate Woodburne

Philip Nicely

Mike & Sally Murdock

Michael Oleszczuk

James & Michelle Milanowski

Kristine Olson

Troy & Nicole Place

Deb & Cap Pohlman

William Palmore

Wally & Nina Gorak

Sandra Parker

Jo Anne Clickner

Fred Parks

Jane Lundin

Ed & Linda Moore

Jonah Roelofs

Amanda Bouwman

Leon & Janice Branderhorst

Tiffany Craigie

Brent & Amy Dreyer

Winifred Nykamp

Kathy Oostra

Alysce Roelofs

Gary Roelofs

Mike & Betsi Roelofs: on behalf of

Cancer Research fundraising efforts

by Jonah Roelofs

Brad & Sue Vanden Berge

Richard Schoonover

Wally & Nina Gorak

Pamela R. Sebby

Marge & Don Picka

Dennis & Cathy Reuschel

Lloyd Sebby

Cheryl Thompson

Tom Shirilla

Patricia Bonnell

Rose M. Smolka

Allied Moulded Products, Inc.

Margaret Pajakowski

Robert Quaco

Karen Swift

Ann Barrenger

Melissa Stewart

Cyndy Tubergen Napper

Betty Fogersong

Bill Van Regenmorter

Bill & Rosemary Stevenson

Richard A. Vandenberg

David & Carol Van Andel

Family Foundation

Carole DuHadway

Patricia “Pat” Vaughan

Dr. John Vaughan

Rebecca Vogelsang

Stephen & Jennifer Czech

Daniel Young

Joe & Kelley Young

Lynn M. Zandbergen

Tom & Carol Hendershot

Brian Moser

Rita Rohleder

Shaw Zeider

Jay Bassett

Kevin & Michelle Bassett

Kate Langmeyer

Janelle Burden Hill

Kim Long

Sandy Bewell

Carl & Kimberly Rossi

Roger & Mary Snider

Tim & Kim Long

Dave & Marianne Grooters

Jim & Barb Weaver

Ron Rutkowski

Rick & Karen Doubleday

Jerry VanderWal


Susan VanderWal


We appreciate your trust in us to fuel discoveries in memory or in honor of your family and

friends — with hope for a healthier tomorrow. To make a gift in memory or in honor of a loved

one, please call 616.234.5352.

These lists represent gifts made between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025.



The Jay and Betty Van Andel

Circle of Hope

Let your legacy be one of healing, discovery and

unwavering hope.

At Van Andel Institute, hope isn’t just a feeling — it’s a force

that drives discovery. Every day, our scientists and educators

work side by side, united by one vision: a future free from

diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and metabolic disorders.

This work is not done in isolation. It’s powered by people

like you — people who believe in the power of science, the

promise of education and the extraordinary good we can

achieve when we come together.

There are many ways to include VAI in your estate plans,

including naming VAI in your will, trust or as a beneficiary of

your IRA. Planned giving ensures our vital work continues

for generations, fueled by your legacy of generosity. Your

gift doesn’t just support research and education — it has the

power to change lives.

When you make this personal and meaningful commitment,

we invite you to join the Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of

Hope, a community of visionaries who are planting seeds of

hope that will bloom long into the future.

To learn more about planned giving, please

contact:

Kate Frillmann

Philanthropy Director

616.234.5515

kate.frillmann@vai.org

You may also visit our

website at

vai.giftlegacy.com or scan

the QR code.

Highlights of Hope is supported through Van Andel Institute

operational funds, ensuring 100% of donations go toward the

Institute’s research and educational efforts.

2025 HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | Fall/Winter Issue

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2025 HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | Fall/Winter Issue

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