2026 HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

HIGHLIGHTS OF

HOPE

SPRING/SUMMER ’26 ISSUE

2 Hello from the CSO: A message from Dr. Jonathan D. Licht 4 How Dr. Peter A. Jones

transformed VAI into a research powerhouse 6 VAI welcomes metabolism expert

Dr. Maulik Patel 7 Midkine proteins prevent Alzheimer’s-related plaques

8 More than meets the eye: How fruit flies power breakthroughs 10 Highlights from

Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease 2025 12 VAI, Cure Parkinson’s renew funding

for Parkinson’s clinical trials program 13 Fueling the fight against cancer

14 A sticky situation: How a molecular ‘adhesive’ may be the key to making an antibiotic

more effective 15 Not just a harmless accessory, tau’s ‘fuzzy coat’ contributes to

Alzheimer’s progression 16 DNA ‘organizer’ helps cells store and access

genetic information 18 Can fixing genetic changes in gut bacteria help treat

inflammatory bowel diseases? 20 Program immerses recent high school graduates

in research 22 Education highlights 24 Donor spotlight: Ella Spooner

26 Donor spotlight: Donna Rosa 28 Events 36 Event sponsors 38 Tributes

RESEARCH

Hello from the CSO: A message

from Dr. Jonathan D. Licht

In February, I enthusiastically began my work as president and

chief scientific officer of Van Andel Institute.

I’ve long admired VAI’s commitment to discovery, collaboration

and innovation. With a talented team of faculty and staff, an

infrastructure focused on breakthroughs, and unparalleled

resources and support, the Institute’s impact continues to grow.

In 2025, the Nature Index ranked VAI no. 5 among North American

nonprofit research organizations in biological sciences. Globally, the

Institute ranked no. 17. This is a tremendous achievement, made

even more impressive when you consider that the Institute was

founded only 30 years ago.

Since day one, VAI has relentlessly pursued its mission: to improve

the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations.

This singular dedication, fueled by strategic vision, helped grow the

Institute into a research powerhouse.

Today, VAI is home to exceptional research in cancer, epigenetics,

metabolism, neurodegenerative diseases, cell biology and structural

biology, all supported by outstanding Core Technologies and

Services. Discoveries made by our scientists are helping us better

understand the foundations of health, pinpoint what goes wrong in

disease and pave the way toward improved prevention, diagnosis

and treatment strategies.

In the coming years, we hope to further strengthen our existing

programs while also strategically expanding our work in

complementary areas of science.

We won’t be doing this alone. From local partnerships here in

Grand Rapids to large-scale clinical trial programs with collaborators

in the U.S. and abroad, the Institute brings together scientists,

physicians, advocates and industry partners to accelerate progress

and make a real difference. To date, more than 7,500 people have

participated in clinical trials supported by VAI and our collaborators.

I look forward to engaging with organizations in Grand Rapids and

beyond to further build on the excellent work already underway.

As we take the next steps toward our future, I would like to

recognize and celebrate my colleague and outgoing President

and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter Jones for more than a decade

of exceptional leadership of the Institute. I am delighted that he

remains on the faculty, continuing his research and co-leading the

Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team.

I am deeply grateful to the Van Andel family, VAI’s trustees and

VAI’s leadership for this incredible opportunity. I’m also excited to

connect with our exceptional community of supporters who make

the work we do possible.

Since moving here from Florida in January, I’ve been familiarizing

myself with VAI and getting to know Grand Rapids — from picking

up a set of snow tires to cheering on the Grand Rapids Griffins as

they scored a hat trick. I’m already starting to feel at home.

It’s clear that West Michigan and VAI are special. Reflecting on all

that the Institute has achieved and the opportunities ahead, I’m

excited for and inspired by what we will accomplish in the years

to come.

Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., is an internationally recognized physicianscientist

who studies blood and other cancers in the pursuit of

innovative therapies. As an expert in epigenetics, Dr. Licht’s research

explores how problems with the instructions for gene regulation

contribute to the onset and progression of cancer. Dr. Licht has held

numerous leadership roles in national cancer research organizations

and scientific journals and, in 2023, led the University of Florida Health

Cancer Institute to become a National Cancer Institute-designated

cancer center. He is an elected member of the American Society for

Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians, and

an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of

Science. In 2026, he joined Van Andel Institute as president and chief

scientific officer.

“In the coming years, we hope

to further strengthen our

existing programs while also

strategically expanding our

work in complementary

areas of science.”

— Dr. Jonathan D. Licht

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

RESEARCH

How Dr. Peter A. Jones transformed

VAI into a research powerhouse

“We had a chance to develop

the Institute into a world

leader in cancer epigenetics

and that’s what we did.”

— Dr. Peter A. Jones

Dr. Peter Jones arrived in Grand Rapids with a vision:

build Van Andel Institute into one of the world’s

premier research organizations.

More than a decade has passed since then and, by

any measure, Jones has surpassed his goal.

VAI has nearly doubled its number of labs since 2014,

recruiting renowned scientists and rising-star earlycareer

researchers who routinely earn recognition for

their work. The Institute has become known worldwide

as a leader in cancer epigenetics, a growing field

Jones pioneered. Perhaps most telling, the Nature

Index, which measures institutional research output,

ranked VAI no. 5 among North American nonprofit/

nongovernmental research organizations in biological

sciences in 2025. Globally, VAI ranked no. 17.

“Joining the Institute was the chance of a lifetime,”

Jones said. “It was an opportunity to take an

organization with tremendous potential and elevate it

to the next level in a way that makes a real impact on

science and human health.”

In February, Jones returned to the lab full time after

serving as chief scientific officer since 2014, and as

president of the Institute and its Graduate School

since 2024. His impact on the Institute set the

stage for a bright future, one built on innovation,

collaboration and world-class science.

“Peter Jones is an exceptional scientist and a visionary

leader,” said VAI Chairman and CEO David Van Andel.

“An epigenetics pioneer, he leveraged his high-impact

research and global reputation to create a hub of

scientific excellence. He recruited brilliant faculty, built

extensive collaborations and ultimately put VAI on the

scientific map. Thanks to his efforts, the Institute is

recognized as a research powerhouse and connector

that brings people together to make a difference.”

The Institute’s next steps are possible because of

Jones’s contributions, said Dr. Jonathan D. Licht,

who succeeded Jones as president and chief

scientific officer.

“Thanks to Peter’s vision and focus on excellence, VAI

has developed a world-class faculty that produces

new paradigm-changing findings published in the

world’s leading journals. Through efforts

such as the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up

To Cancer ® Epigenetics Dream Team and

International Linked Clinical Trials Program,

breakthroughs are being translated to

impact human health. As a result, VAI

has entered the top tier of independent

biomedical research institutions,” Licht said.

“Peter’s extraordinary efforts have set the

Institute up for sustained impact and future

success. It’s an honor to continue growing

this outstanding Institute.”

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Jones first visited VAI as an invited speaker

in 2012. A year earlier, he closed out

an 18-year run as director of the Norris

Comprehensive Cancer Center at University

of Southern California, a place that had

been his scientific home since 1977.

His 2012 trip to VAI ended up offering

more than he expected: a once-in-alifetime

opportunity to transform a

fledgling research institute into a scientific

powerhouse. At the time, VAI was searching

for a new chief scientific officer, and Jones’s

leadership experience and scientific

acumen fit the bill.

“VAI had incredible resources and a strong

start thanks to the generosity and vision

of the Van Andel family and the work of

Founding Research Director Dr. George

Vande Woude,” Jones recalled. “We had a

chance to develop the Institute into a world

leader in cancer epigenetics and that’s what

we did.”

Epigenetics ensure the right genetic

instructions are used at the right time

without changing the DNA sequence itself.

These important processes influence

virtually every aspect of health and, when

errors occur, can contribute to diseases

such as cancer, Parkinson’s and metabolic

disorders.

Jones wasted no time making epigenetics

a focus when he officially became chief

scientific officer in 2014. The first order

of business? Recruit a critical mass of

epigenetics experts. In the years that

followed, Jones established the Institute’s

Department of Epigenetics and grew it into

a group of more than a dozen labs.

At the same time, VAI further bolstered

other areas of strength by recruiting

faculty in neurodegenerative science, cell

biology and structural biology. The Institute

created a wholly new department focused

on metabolism and nutrition research,

attracting both established and earlycareer

scientists, and installed a state-ofthe-art

suite of microscopes that visualize

molecules at the near-atomic level.

This immense growth was reflected in the

Institute’s research output: in 2025 alone,

VAI scientists published 141 peer-reviewed

research papers that shed critical new

light on health and disease, a nearly 50%

increase from 2013.

Jones credits the Institute’s success to its

people: a deeply dedicated leadership

team, mission-driven employees and a

passionate community of supporters.

“People need to feel a sense of belonging

and to see how they fit into the big picture,”

Jones said. “Every single person that works

at the Institute, that attends an event, that

supports our mission makes breakthroughs

possible.”

A team effort

When he joined VAI, Jones brought more

than just his expertise — he introduced a

novel way to translate discoveries made

in the lab into clinical care for people with

cancer. In 2014, the Institute partnered

with Stand Up To Cancer ® to establish the

Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer ®

Epigenetics Dream Team, which unites

leading scientists, physicians and industry

partners to support clinical trials for

potential new cancer treatments. Jones and

longtime collaborator Dr. Stephen Baylin

had led an earlier iteration of the team. At

VAI, Jones saw the opportunity to continue

this important work.

The impact has been immense. As of

February 2026, the VAI–SU2C Epigenetics

Dream Team has launched 15 clinical trials

in cancer, encompassing more than 800

participants. Scientists on the team also

have used data from the trials to make new

discoveries that could help improve cancer

treatment.

This spirit of teamwork has infused

every aspect of VAI’s work under Jones’s

leadership. From small-scale collaborations

between individual labs to large-scale team

science initiatives, the Institute now has a

reputation as a connector, both in Grand

Rapids and beyond.

“We can do more together than we ever can

do alone,” Jones said. “VAI is a catalyst for

collaboration. We see a problem, we figure

out who needs to be part of the solution

and we make it happen.”

Back to the lab

As his time as VAI’s president and chief

scientific officer came to an end, Jones was

ready to take the next step.

Thankfully, it was a familiar one.

He returned to his lab in VAI’s Department

of Epigenetics full time, overseeing research

at the forefront of cancer epigenetics. He

plans to continue pursuing discoveries that

impact human health, a lifelong mission that

started at 13 years old in a homemade lab

in his parents’ garage.

As VAI has grown, so too has the recognition

of Jones’s work. He was elected to the

National Academy of Sciences, the National

Academy of Medicine and the American

Academy of Arts & Sciences, all within the

past decade. He and Baylin, along with

Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Andrew

Feinberg, were awarded the Harvey Prize in

Science and Technology, an honor widely

considered to be a precursor to the

Nobel Prize.

Each of these honors reflects a career

steeped in impact and dedicated to

discovery. As he settles into his new role,

the thing Jones is most excited about is

finding answers to “big scientific questions

that have been puzzling me for years.”

“When I wake up in the morning and look in

the mirror, I see a scientist,” Jones said. “I’m

the luckiest person in the world because I’m

able to pursue my lifelong dream.”


RESEARCH

VAI welcomes metabolism

expert Dr. Maulik Patel

Van Andel Institute has recruited metabolism expert Dr. Maulik

Patel as an associate professor in its Department of Metabolism

and Nutritional Programming.

Patel studies how cells handle, store and expend energy — and

how this intricate process interacts with other systems to influence

health and disease. His research centers on cellular “powerhouses”

called mitochondria, which support day-to-day function and, when

faulty, contribute to a host of disorders.

At VAI, Patel explores how cells maintain mitochondrial

homeostasis and investigate what happens when this critical

process breaks down. Homeostasis is a type of biological balance

by which organisms — and the cells that comprise them —

maintain a stable internal environment.

“I am thrilled to join VAI, an exceptional community of scientists,

trainees and staff united in their commitment to transformative

biomedical research,” Patel said. “I am especially excited at the

prospect of collaborating with colleagues in the Department of

Metabolism and Nutritional Programming and across VAI and

leveraging its cutting-edge Core Technologies and Services to delve

deeper into the fundamentals of mitochondrial biology and its role

in shaping human health.”

Patel joined VAI from Vanderbilt University, where his lab revealed

new insights into mitochondria’s role in homeostasis and other key

aspects of mitochondrial biology. He also developed and taught the

undergraduate courses Introduction to Cell Biology and Principles of

Human Disease. His commitment to supporting the next generation

of scientists earned him the 2021 Excellence in Mentoring Award

from Vanderbilt’s Department of Biological Sciences.

Patel earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He then joined the

lab of Dr. Harmit Malik at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

as a postdoctoral fellow, where he developed a mitochondriafocused

research program. He was awarded a prestigious Helen

Hay Whitney Foundation Fellowship to support his work.

Midkine

proteins prevent

Alzheimer’srelated

plaques

A protein called midkine may help prevent brain plaques

that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, reports a study by

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Van Andel Institute

and collaborators.

The findings give scientists a new avenue for pursuing therapies

designed to slow or stop disease development and progression by

targeting a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

“One of the biggest problems in Alzheimer’s treatment is that

still we don’t have an effective way to prevent or clear out these

harmful plaques,” said Dr. Yang Yang, an assistant professor at VAI

and co-corresponding author of the study. “Our research shows

that the presence of midkines interferes with the formation of

plaques. Although we’re still in the early stages, I’m hopeful that our

work will help inform new treatment strategies that address one of

the root issues in Alzheimer’s.”

“I am especially excited at the

prospect of collaborating with

colleagues in the Department

of Metabolism and Nutritional

Programming and across VAI and

leveraging its cutting-edge Core

Technologies and Services to delve

deeper into the fundamentals of

mitochondrial biology and its role in

shaping human health.”

— Dr. Maulik Patel

Plaques are formed by a buildup of amyloid-beta proteins in the

brain, which stick together and create sheets that disrupt cellular

communication and contribute to cell death. As the plaques worsen

and cause more damage, people with Alzheimer’s experience

memory loss and other symptoms.

The findings, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology,

suggest that midkine is found in the brain alongside amyloid-beta.

Rather than causing damage, however, midkine prevents amyloidbeta

from aggregating into plaques. The research team, led by

Yang, St. Jude’s Dr. Junmin Peng and St. Jude’s Dr. Ping-Chung Chen,

used several different techniques to demonstrate and confirm that

the presence of midkine reduces plaque formation.

They also found that “silencing” the gene that contains the

instructions for midkine led to significant increases in amyloid-beta

plaques.

Funding Acknowledgement

Yang is supported by Van Andel Institute.

A STUDY FROM ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, VAN ANDEL

INSTITUTE & COLLABORATORS SUGGESTS THAT THE PROTEIN MIDKINE

(IN RED) HELPS PREVENT AMYLOID-BETA PROTEINS (IN GREEN) FROM

FORMING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE-ASSOCIATED PLAQUES

Yang and her team contributed to the findings by using advanced

modeling tools to investigate interactions between midkine and

amyloid-beta. In the future, she plans to leverage VAI’s highpowered

cryo-electron microscopy suite to study this important

interaction in deeper detail.

“Revealing how these proteins interact gives us a foundation for

developing potential medications that mimic midkine’s ability to

prevent plaques,” Yang said. “I’m excited to see where this research

takes us.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award nos. R01AG053987 (Peng), RF1AG064909 (Peng and Yu), RF1AG068581 (Peng and Rossoll),

U19AG069701 (Asmann), P30AG019610 (Alexander) and P30AG072980 (Alexander); the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. P30CA021765 (Akers); the National Institute of Neurological

Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award no. U24NS072026 (Beach); the Arizona Department of Health Services; the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission; the Michael J. Fox Foundation for

Parkinson’s Research; and the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude. 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

More than meets the eye: How

fruit flies power breakthroughs

You know those tiny flies that suddenly appear in late summer

and constantly hover over your fruit? And as many times as you

set up apple cider vinegar in the kitchen corner, they never seem to

disappear? Those persistent little insects are fruit flies, more formally

known as Drosophila melanogaster.

Remember how we share many of the same disease-causing genes

as fruit flies? These genes are important but so is the rest of the fruit

fly genome. Because fruit flies are such vital models, we need to know

everything we can about their genetics — including how small genetic

changes can have big impacts on study outcomes.

As annoying as they can be, fruit flies are more important than you

might think. For example, they share 65%–75% of disease-causing

genes with humans, making them valuable models for studying

neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, metabolic diseases and more.

“We’re not so different,” said Dr. Heidi Lempradl, an associate

professor at VAI. “A significant portion of human disease genes

have corresponding genes in flies, which is immensely helpful for

investigating disease mechanisms and potential treatments.”

Fruit flies help Lempradl study metabolism, specifically how it shapes

development and influences disease risk throughout life.

This past year, Lempradl published two papers that highlight why fruit

flies are powerful models for studying health and disease.

The first, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, provides an

unprecedented look into the nuts and bolts of how fruit fly embryos

assert metabolic independence from their mothers. 1

The findings offer the most detailed analysis to date of how

metabolites and other biomolecules shift in the earliest stages of fruit

fly development, paving the way toward better understanding similar

early-life factors in humans.

“The metabolic handoff from mother to embryo is a major transition

period with far-reaching implications,” said Lempradl. “Development

sets the stage for lifelong health in every organism, from fruit flies to

humans. Thanks to our new technique, we now have a clearer view of

this nuanced, complex process.”

While this study explored how fruit fly embryos detangle their

metabolism from their mothers, Lempradl’s other study looks at

something different but equally important: fruit fly genetics.

One example of this is the white gene, a commonly used genetic

marker in Drosophila research that causes an eye color shift from

the flies’ normal red eyes to white. This eye color difference allows

scientists to identify flies that carry a genetic characteristic of interest

and those that do not, making comparison between the two groups

easy.

Here’s the thing though: the white gene also plays a role in fruit fly

metabolism, which raises questions about its impact beyond eye

color.

With that in mind, Lempradl and her team set out to answer a

question that could help scientists design better studies in the future:

does changing the white gene have other effects?

Published in the journal Genetics, Lempradl and her team found that

changes in the white gene may slightly alter some metabolic functions

and behavior in flies — and these alterations may affect research

results. 2 For example, they found that the red-eyed flies were more

active and better climbers than white-eyed flies, despite having

the same genetic background. Fruit flies are models for studying

movement disorders such as Parkinson’s, so understanding the exact

reasons for behavior shifts is important.

“We want to help improve the field and make discoveries more

robust,” Lempradl said. “I’m hoping our results reframe how we

use fruit fly models and emphasize the need to control for genetic

background in Drosophila research.”

Together, these studies highlight the importance of fruit flies as a

model, one that makes vast contributions to our understanding of

human health and disease. So, the next time you see a fruit fly buzzing

around your banana bowl, maybe say a quick “thank you” before

setting out that vinegar.

Funding Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by:

1

Van Andel Institute and a Van Andel Institute Metabolism & Nutrition (MeNu) Program Pathway to Independence Award (Pérez-Mojica).

2

Van Andel Institute.

This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the funding organizations.


RESEARCH

Highlights from Grand Challenges

in Parkinson’s Disease 2025

Here at Van Andel Institute, September marks more than the

turn of the season: it signifies the return of our annual Grand

Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease symposium and Rallying to the

Challenge meeting.

These events bring together hundreds of scientists, clinicians and

people with Parkinson’s to explore the latest Parkinson’s research.

The 2025 symposium focused on cell biology and highlighted the

role of the endolysosomal pathway in disease. In tandem, VAI and

Cure Parkinson’s hosted Rallying to the Challenge, a meeting designed

for and by people with Parkinson’s, advocates and care partners

that explores how the Parkinson’s community can impact and

accelerate research.

In case you missed the events, here are a few major takeaways:

The endolysosomal pathway has a major impact on

Parkinson’s disease

Much like a recycling center, the endolysosomal pathway is

responsible for cleaning up and recycling different types of

materials within the cell. It comprises a system of organelles — tiny

cellular versions of organs — that play key roles in cell survival by

maintaining its internal environment. Because the endolysosomal

pathway plays such an important part in cell health, problems with it

can contribute to diseases like Parkinson’s.

Several symposium speakers discussed the latest research into

LRRK2 and GBA1, a pair of genes known for their links to Parkinson’s.

Both LRRK2 and GBA1 help maintain the structure and function of

the organelles involved in the endolysosomal pathway and, when

changes to these genes occur, it can lead to a buildup of misshapen

alpha-synuclein within cells. These toxic proteins disrupt normal cell

function and lead to cell death, ultimately contributing to the onset

and progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Other speakers highlighted the role of mitochondria, one of

the organelles that interacts with the endolysosomal pathway.

Mitochondria are commonly known as the “powerhouses of the cell”

because they generate most of the cell’s energy (and much more).

As a result, mitochondria produce specific molecules that aid in cell

communication and adaptation to stress. When there are problems

with the mitochondria, production of these molecules increases,

leading to a cellular imbalance and further contributing to the buildup

of alpha-synuclein.

Looking to the future: The potential of combination therapies

for targeting Parkinson’s progression

One of the grand challenges of Parkinson’s disease is its

unpredictability: the disease can vary widely from person to person.

These differences make it extremely hard to develop a universal

treatment. As a result, scientists are exploring combination therapy

approaches, which involve the use of two or more medications that

work in parallel with each other. They can be paired to target separate

pathways or enhance the effectiveness of the other.

One example is carbidopa/levodopa, which combines two common

Parkinson’s medications. Levodopa works by crossing the bloodbrain

barrier and converting into dopamine, an essential chemical

messenger that supports movement. Carbidopa prevents levodopa

from being converted to dopamine too early and helps reduce

side effects that can be caused by taking levodopa alone. Although

combination therapies like carbidopa/levodopa treat Parkinson’s

symptoms, no current treatments slow or stop disease progression.

Among participants of Rallying to the Challenge, this raised the

question: might we use combination therapies to slow progression?

In theory, combining medications could offer a one-two punch

needed to more comprehensively treat individual disease. Although

combination therapies often are used to treat cancer and other

disorders, they have not been deeply explored in Parkinson’s. That’s

changing, according to Cure Parkinson’s, and will be spurred on by a

new funding program announced by the charity this summer.

Many people with Parkinson’s already take a combination of

medications to help manage their movement- and non-movementrelated

symptoms. It is critical, Ralliers said, that new diseasemodifying

combinations do not make that routine more challenging.

Ultimately, the success of combination therapies will depend on how

well treatments can be tailored to the unique biological landscape of

each person with Parkinson’s.

Honoring excellence

During Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease, VAI presented the Jay

Van Andel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease

Research to Dr. J. Timothy Greenamyre of University of Pittsburgh.

Greenamyre’s pioneering research into the interactions between

genes and the environment has vastly improved our understanding of

Parkinson’s development and progression. The Jay Van Andel Award

was established in 2012 in memory of VAI Founder Jay Van Andel, who

battled Parkinson’s disease for a decade before his death in 2004.

It is given to scientists who have made exceptional contributions

to Parkinson’s disease research and who have positively impacted

human health.

VAI and Cure Parkinson’s also honored University of Florida’s

Dr. Matthew Farrer with the Tom Isaacs Award, which recognizes a

researcher who has significantly impacted the lives of people living

with Parkinson’s and has involved them in their research. Farrer

is widely known for his work in the genetics and neuroscience of

Parkinson’s and focuses on uniting people with Parkinson’s and

researchers for their mutual benefit.

To stay up to date on the 2026 Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s

Disease symposium and Rallying to the Challenge meeting, please visit

grandchallengesinpd.org and vai.org/rallyingpd2026.

10 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 11

RESEARCH

Van Andel Institute, Cure

Parkinson’s renew partnership

In December, Van Andel Institute and Cure

Parkinson’s renewed a funding agreement

to support the International Linked Clinical

Trials Program, the world’s largest drug

repurposing clinical trial initiative for

Parkinson’s disease.

As part of the three-year agreement, VAI

and Cure Parkinson’s each pledge $750,000

annually to the program, with the two

organizations also agreeing to collaboratively

pursue fundraising to further support

Parkinson’s clinical trials.

“Together with Cure Parkinson’s, we are thrilled

to reaffirm our longstanding support of the

International Linked Clinical Trials Program.

Our renewed agreement will enable the

program to continue seeking promising new

therapies, with the goal of identifying muchneeded

ways to impede disease progression

and improve quality of life,” said Dr. Darren

Moore, the Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in

Parkinson’s Disease Research at VAI and a

member of the International Linked Clinical

Trials Scientific Committee.

“Cure Parkinson’s and Van Andel Institute

are pleased and proud to renew our funding

partnership for a further three years, having

partnered successfully since 2014,” said Helen

Matthews, CEO of Cure Parkinson’s. “This new

matched funding agreement makes between

$1.5 million and $1.75 million available

each year for disease-modifying Parkinson’s

research. The funding will support clinical

trials and related projects as part of the

International Linked Clinical Trials initiative, our

thriving global program that aims to develop

new treatments to slow, stop or reverse

Parkinson’s.”

An estimated 10 million people worldwide

have Parkinson’s disease, a number expected

to grow in the coming years as the population

ages. Although there are treatments to

manage symptoms, there are no currently

approved ways to slow or stop disease

progression.

The International Linked Clinical Trials Program

aims to change that by supporting and

facilitating clinical trials that evaluate potentially

disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s.

Many of the medications included in the trials

are “repurposed,” meaning they were originally

designed or approved to treat other diseases.

This approach can save time and resources

because candidate medications have already

cleared rigorous safety and efficacy testing.

Medications are reviewed and prioritized by

the program’s Scientific Committee, which

comprises Parkinson’s researchers, medical

professionals and advocates. Approximately

40% of the drugs being researched as

disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s

have been prioritized for clinical trials by the

International Linked Clinical Trials Program.

To date, more than 6,800 people with

Parkinson’s have participated in an

International Linked Clinical Trials-associated

trial. VAI has supported 10 iLCT clinical trials or

related projects.

These trials include the world’s largest-ever

clinical trial of treatments to slow or stop the

progression of Parkinson’s disease, which

launched in October. The Edmond J. Safra

Accelerating Clinical Trials in Parkinson’s

Disease (EJS ACT-PD) trial is led by researchers

at University College London and Newcastle

University. It will include up to 1,600

participants in its first phase from more than

40 hospitals across England, Wales, Scotland

and Northern Ireland.

Fueling the fight against cancer

All cells rely on nutrients from the foods we eat to survive and thrive.

Thanks to research from VAI scientists and collaborators, we now know that cells don’t treat

all nutrients the same: they use different nutrients for different purposes. These insights are

important steps toward designing evidence-based diets to support the immune system and

enhance cancer treatment, said VAI Professor Dr. Russell Jones.

“Using new technology, we’re able to precisely study how various nutrients impact cells. What

we’re finding goes far beyond simply giving cells the energy to function,” Jones said. “Diet is a

major part of health and understanding the fine details of how nutrients influence different cells

— and processes within cells — opens a new world of opportunity to support cancer prevention

and therapy.”

Take glucose, for example. Findings published in August by Jones and colleagues reveal that

this specialized sugar does more than simply power T cells, the soldiers of the immune system:

it helps cells facilitate their anti-cancer properties. 1 Another study, published in December with

VAI’s Dr. Evan Lien, found that metabolic by-products called ketones help immune cells become

more effective tumor fighters by preventing cellular exhaustion. 2

But there’s a hitch: cancer cells also rely on nutrients like glucose and ketones.

To satisfy their voracious appetites, cancer cells hijack the metabolic processes that transform

nutrients into energy, siphoning resources to evade attack by the immune system.

Another study by Lien published in September found that cancer cells also use ketones to fuel

their growth. 3 Likewise, glucose is a universal cellular fuel source, with both cancer cells and

healthy cells using it in different ways.

Earlier research from Lien’s lab also revealed that limiting cancer cells’ access to certain fats

makes them more susceptible to medications that cause ferroptosis, a type of cell death fueled

by a buildup of iron in cells. 4 But healthy cells use fats too — for energy, communication and

supporting the protective membrane that surrounds each cell.

Dr. Russell Jones

Dr. Evan Lien

LEFT TO RIGHT: DR. RICHARD WYSE, DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT AT CURE PARKINSON’S;

RYAN BURGOS, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH AT VAI; HELEN MATTHEWS, CEO

OF CURE PARKINSON’S; DR. SIMON STOTT, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT CURE PARKINSONS;

& DR. DARREN MOORE, CHAIR OF VAI’S DEPARTMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE.

IMAGE BY PHOTOGRAPHER LONDON.

The trial is sponsored by University College

London and funded by a Medical Research

Council and National Institute for Health and

Care Research partnership, Cure Parkinson’s,

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s

Research, Parkinson’s UK, The John Black

Charitable Foundation, The Gatsby Charitable

Foundation and Van Andel Institute.

“The launch of this expansive new trial is a

significant moment in our collective pursuit of

ways to slow or stop Parkinson’s progression

and improve quality of life for people with

the disease,” Moore said. “We are thrilled to

support this vital work and grateful to all who

made it a reality. The EJS ACT-PD Trial is truly

hope in action.”

All of this raises an important question: If both immune cells and cancer cells use the same

nutrients, albeit in different ways, how can we ensure only immune and other healthy cells

benefit?

“Because metabolism affects everything in the body, it is difficult to draw straight lines from

point A to point B,” Jones explained. “That said, worthwhile things are rarely simple. We know

that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Our findings are giving us a much clearer picture

of all the interconnected pieces that link nutrition to health and disease, which will allow us to

design adaptable, targeted approaches.”

Taken together, these discoveries underscore the importance of studying metabolism in the

context of the immune system and cancer. The Jones Lab and Lien Lab are already hard at work

building on their discoveries and searching for ways to supercharge immune cells while making

cancer cells more vulnerable to immune attack.

“Metabolism quite literally fuels health and disease,” Lien said. “The more we understand, the

better we can use that knowledge to improve cancer outcomes.”



1

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National

Institutes of Health under award no. R01AI165722 (Jones).

2

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

National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under

award no. U01CA297713 (Jones); and the National Institute of Allergy

and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award

no. R01AI165722 (Jones).

3

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under

award nos. R00CA255928 (Lien) and T32CA251066 (House; PI: Peter

A. Jones); the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the

National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AI165722 (Jones);

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

VAI MeNu Program Pathway to Independence Awards (Jeong and Longo);

and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowship under award

no. MFE-181903 (Longo).

4

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under

award no. R00CA255928 (Lien) and T32CA251066 (P. Jones); and

Van Andel Institute’s Metabolism & Nutrition (MeNu) Program.

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

A sticky situation: How a molecular

‘adhesive’ may be the key to

making an antibiotic more effective

Not just a harmless accessory,

tau’s ‘fuzzy coat’ contributes to

Alzheimer’s progression

Dr. Huilin Li

Dr. Diessel Duan

Antibiotics are essential tools in modern

medicine. They treat bacterial infections by

killing harmful bacteria or making it harder

for them to grow and multiply.

Whether it be for strep throat or wound

infections, most of us have likely taken an

antibiotic before. But their power comes

with a caveat: some antibiotics can have

unwanted side effects that also impact

healthy cells.

“Antibiotics don’t all work the same — they

each have their own unique plan of attack,”

said Dr. Huilin Li, the Ralph and Grace

Hauenstein Endowed Chair in Structural

Biology at VAI. “Understanding how

antibiotics function at the cellular level can

help us develop more effective, targeted

medications with fewer side effects.”

One such antibiotic is neomycin, a medication

commonly used as a topical treatment for

bacterial skin infections. Neomycin works

by blocking protein production, which is

an essential process for bacterial survival.

While effective for treating skin conditions,

its broader clinical use as an oral antibiotic is

limited because it can harm healthy cells in

the kidneys and ears.

Scientists like Li and collaborator Dr. Todd

Graham of Vanderbilt University are

searching for new ways to improve these

crucial medications while minimizing side

effects. To this end, they’re exploring why

some non-bacterial cells, such as those

in the ears and kidneys, are so sensitive

to neomycin. Their goal: understand how

neomycin enters cells, and how we might

control that process to reduce its side effects.

Solving a sticky situation

Neomycin sensitivity is linked to a protein

called Neo1 in yeast and ATP9A in humans.

ATP9A is found mostly in the brain and, to a

smaller extent, the kidneys.

In a 2021 study, the Li Lab found that Neo1

acts as a lipid flippase, a specialized protein

that transports specific lipid molecules from

outside of the cell membrane to the inside.

This important process helps ensure integrity

of the cell membrane and enables cells to

respond to shifts in their environments.

During this project, the team made an

unexpected discovery, said study co-author


Dr. Diessel Duan, a research scientist in

the Li Lab. They found that a lipid signaling

molecule called PI4P binds to Neo1, which

activates its transport properties. At the time,

Duan said, the reason behind the interaction

was unclear.

That wasn’t the only mystery: they still didn’t

understand exactly how neomycin could

enter cells in the body.

But now, thanks to follow up work, we have

answers.

In their study, which appeared in the

journal Nature Cell Biology, Li, Graham and

collaborators found that Neo1 (and its

human equivalent, ATP9A) actively transports

PI4P to the inside of the cell membrane,

preventing neomycin from entering the cell.

The team also tracked how PI4P moves inside

the cell. They discovered that when Neo1 in

yeast and ATP9A in humans are disrupted,

PI4P is left exposed on the cell surface. The

exposed PI4P functions like a molecular

adhesive, attracting neomycin and allowing

it to enter the cell, where it exerts its toxic

effects.

The findings reveal how cells become

sensitive to neomycin and how they manage

lipid-signaling molecules. Together, these

insights could help refine antibiotics like

neomycin.

“Our work has important implications for

understanding how molecules like PI4P may

communicate on the cell surface,” said Duan.

“Targeting these lipid molecules could be a

game-changer in overcoming neomycin’s

adverse effects.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute; the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National

Institutes of Health under award no. R35GM144123 (Graham) and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no.

R01CA231466 (Li). Experiments were performed in part through the use of the Vanderbilt Cell Imaging Shared Resource, which is supported by the

National Institutes of Health under award no. S10OD021630. 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.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that over time interferes

with memory, thinking and the ability to perform day-to-day tasks.

It is the most common type of dementia. An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65

and older have Alzheimer’s.

“There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and we still don’t fully understand what causes

it,” said Dr. Michael Henderson, an associate professor at VAI. “By deepening our

understanding of how the disease develops, we hope to make strides toward better

treatments. One particularly promising area of research focuses on a protein

called tau.”

Tau is found in the brain, where it helps stabilize the internal structure of nerve cells.

However, when things go wrong, tau can misfold and form sticky filaments that

disrupt nerve cell function and contribute to Alzheimer’s development.

The presence of misfolded tau also can initiate a snowball effect, recruiting normal

tau to misfold and form filaments — a process known as “seeding.”

Until recently, many scientists believed tau’s structured core was solely responsible

for driving this snowball effect. But Henderson’s lab, along with the lab of Dr. Sjors

H. W. Scheres at MRC Laboratory Molecular Biology, found that the core alone is not

sufficient to cause the level of misfolding seen in Alzheimer’s.

To dig deeper, the team shifted their focus to a different region of the protein: tau’s

“fuzzy coat,” a loose, unstructured layer that surrounds the core.

They discovered that the fuzzy coat is not just a harmless accessory — it is an

essential component in the seeding process.

On its own, the fuzzy coat plays a protective role, preventing tau from aggregating too

quickly. But when negative charges are added by signaling molecules, the protein can

form long fibers like those seen in diseases like Alzheimer’s.

The findings, which were published in the journal Nature Communications, improve

our understanding of how tau contributes to Alzheimer’s disease and highlight a

potential disease-modifying strategy to slow its progression.

“Our work reframes how we think about tau aggregation,” Henderson said. “It’s

not just the core — it’s the interaction between the core and the fuzzy coat that

drives this process. Additional work will be necessary to determine the molecular

mechanisms of this interaction, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

The authors thank the individuals and families who participated in this research,

without whom this work would not have been possible. Brain tissue was provided by

the VAI Brain Bank.

“By deepening our

understanding of how

the disease develops,

we hope to make strides

toward better treatments.

One particularly

promising area of

research focuses on a

protein called tau.”

— Dr. Michael Henderson


Research reported in this publication was supported by the National

Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award nos.

F31AG084199 (Kasen) and R01AG077573 (Henderson); and by the MRC,

as part of U.K. Research and Innovation (UKRI) under award no. MC_UP_

A025_1013 (Scheres). This 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

DNA ‘organizer’ helps cells store

and access genetic information

Dr. Gerd Pfeifer

When it comes to organization, our cells give even the most popular tidiness

influencers a run for their money.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the nucleus, the operational center of the

cell. The nucleus is home to roughly six-and-a-half feet of DNA tightly packed into

a space 50 times smaller than a grain of sand.

But DNA isn’t like old clothes or holiday decorations: it can’t simply be squeezed

haphazardly into the nucleus.

Instead, it must be carefully spooled into chromatin, a tightly coiled combination

of DNA wrapped around wheel-like proteins. In humans, chromatin is then

further condensed into a set of 23 chromosomes.

This elegant organizational system is important, says VAI’s Dr. Gerd Pfeifer,

because the way DNA is packaged and stored has profound impacts on health

and disease.

Pfeifer is an expert in epigenetics, a field that explores mechanisms that

ensure the right genetic instructions are used at the right time. Organizing and

packaging DNA are essential features of epigenetics and directly affect how these

instructions are accessed.

When cells can’t retrieve the right genetic information, the results can be

devastating: cancer cells may continue to grow unchecked, immune cells may

lose their ability to fight infections and other important maintenance processes

break down.

His team identified a protein called SMCHD1 as a central player

that maintains the separation of DNA into active and inactive

compartments in muscle cells. SMCHD1 also is responsible for

determining where the compartments are stored in the nucleus.

Active compartments are kept closer to the center of the nucleus

while inactive compartments are pushed to the outer edge of the

nucleus. This system ensures physical distance between active and

inactive DNA.

When SMCHD1 is defective, the three-dimensional organization of

DNA breaks down, causing many inactive compartments to become

active. This allows silenced genes — genes not actively in use — to

switch on when they are not needed. Such accidental re-activation

can wreak havoc on the normal function of cells and lead to

disease.

“SMCHD1 acts like an anchor for keeping compartments in place

and, in the case of inactive compartments, blocking access to

prevent activation,” Pfeifer said. “We’re excited about this discovery

for two reasons: one, we now have a clearer idea of how this

fundamental process works and two, we have new opportunities

for exploring SMCHD1’s role in disease, including a rare form of

muscular dystrophy.”

The next steps

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2 (FSHD2) is a rare

genetic disorder that causes muscles in the face, shoulder blades

and upper arms to weaken and atrophy. Symptoms usually appear

during adolescence and worsen throughout life. There is no cure for

FSHD2, and treatment focuses on symptom management.

FSHD2 is caused by mutations in SMCHD1 that interfere with the

protein’s ability to regulate chromatin organization in muscle cells.

Using their new discovery as a guidepost, Pfeifer and his team plan

to further investigate how SMCHD1 influences this rare form of

muscular dystrophy.

The work is in its early days, but the initial findings are promising,

Pfeifer says.

“Right now, there aren’t many options for people with FSHD2,” he

adds. “Our characterization of SMCHD1’s role in organizing DNA

compartments is just the starting point. I’m hopeful that we find new

opportunities to translate our understanding of these fundamental

processes into ways that meaningfully improve lives.”

“Studying DNA organization helps us better understand the basis of disease and

find ways to fix problems,” Pfeifer said. “These processes happen out of sight and

out of mind, but they are incredibly important parts of sustaining health.”

A compartment for everything

Although there’s still much we don’t know about the intricacies of DNA packaging,

findings from Pfeifer’s lab offer important insights. In a study published in the

journal Nature Communications, Pfeifer, study first-author Dr. Zhijun Huang and

colleagues reveal a never-before-seen look into the fine details of a key DNA

organization strategy: “compartments.”

Dr. Zhijun Huang

Compartments house DNA regions that comprise millions of bases — the rungs

that make up DNA’s ladder-like structure. There are two types of compartments:

active compartments, which contain DNA that is actively being used, and inactive

compartments, which house DNA not currently in use. Until Pfeifer’s study, we

didn’t know exactly how active and inactive compartments were established or

maintained.

THE IMAGES ABOVE SHOW CROSS-SECTIONS OF MUSCLE CELL NUCLEI WITH NON-ACTIVE CHROMATIN (HETEROCHROMATIN) IN BLUE. IN

NORMAL MUSCLE CELLS (LEFT), NON-ACTIVE CHROMATIN IS FOUND ON THE OUTER EDGES OF THE NUCLEUS. IN MUSCLE CELLS THAT ARE

MISSING SMCHD1 (RIGHT), THERE IS LESS NON-ACTIVE CHROMATIN AT THE EDGES OF THE NUCLEUS, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE DNA

ORGANIZATION SYSTEM HAS BROKEN DOWN. IMAGES COURTESY OF THE PFEIFER LAB.


Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R01AR079174 (Pfeifer). The content is solely

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



RESEARCH

Can fixing genetic changes in gut

bacteria help treat inflammatory

bowel diseases?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like ulcerative colitis and

Crohn’s disease affect between 2.4 million and 3.1 million people

in the U.S. These conditions arise when the immune system

mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the intestines, although the

reasons why this happens aren’t well understood.

Now, scientists at VAI have found an important clue. They

discovered that a genetic change in common gut bacteria

promotes the buildup of N1-APA, a molecule that can affect

mitochondrial function in the intestines. N1-APA forms when

bacteria experience problems processing polyamines, small

molecules that help cells grow, divide and survive.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal N1-APA as

a potential link between the genetic change and IBD. Importantly,

they also highlight new opportunities for potentially treating IBD by

preventing N1-APA accumulation.

The study underscores the important connection between health

and the gut microbiome, a community of trillions of bacteria, fungi

and other microorganisms that help break down food, support the

immune system and much more.

“Inflammatory bowel diseases have a big impact on health

and quality of life. To develop better treatments, we need to

understand exactly how and why they occur,” said Dr. Nick Burton,

an assistant professor at VAI and corresponding author of the

study. “Our new study gives us an important look into the role

of the gut microbiome in IBD and offers a new path for pursuing

potential therapies.”

To find answers, Burton and his team turned to the microscopic

worm C. elegans, a powerful model for studying health and

disease. Despite their obvious differences, C. elegans share many

fundamental biological similarities with humans: for example,

approximately two-thirds of their genes have a human counterpart.

C. elegans feed on bacteria. Like humans, the composition of their

diet affects the worms in different ways. One type of bacteria

may help C. elegans grow more quickly, while another slows their

growth. Monitoring the worms’ response to different bacterial

diets gives scientists a window into how certain bacteria (and the

byproducts they produce) impact health.

Using C. elegans, Burton and his team screened nearly 4,000

variants of Bacillus subtilis, a naturally occurring gut bacteria that

frequently is used as a probiotic. They identified a variant of

Bacillus that is missing a gene called speB and found that C. elegans

that eat this variant do not grow.

The next step was figuring out why. Using a new analytical method

developed in collaboration with VAI’s Mass Spectrometry Core,

the team found that loss of the speB gene disrupts polyamine

production. Previous research suggests that problems with

polyamines can derail cellular function and contribute to disease.

In this case, loss of speB caused Bacillus to produce N1-APA, which

builds up in the bacteria. From there, N1-APA can spill out into the

gut and enter intestinal cells, where it interferes with mitochondria,

the parts of the cell responsible for energy production. In

C. elegans, this stops development completely.

That’s not all. Burton teamed up with

immunologist and VAI Associate Professor

Dr. Connie Krawczyk and found that

N1-APA also affects the function of

macrophages, immune cells that are key

contributors to IBD in humans. This finding

further supports N1-APA’s role in these

diseases.

“The microbiome is massive and likely

acquires upward of a billion mutations

each day. Many of these mutations likely

have little to no effect but some of them,

like the loss of speB, could contribute to IBD

or other diseases,” Burton said. “Excitingly,

speB isn’t the only potential treatment

target. We also found that targeting other

genes involved in polyamine metabolism

in bacteria, like speA or speE, completely

prevents the buildup of N1-APA. This

suggests targeting these microbial factors

could be a viable path for developing new

IBD treatments.”

C. ELEGANS

Dr. Nick Burton named as a Pew

Scholar in Biomedical Sciences

The Pew Charitable Trusts named Dr. Nick Burton as a Pew

Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, a prestigious honor that

recognizes exceptional early-career scientists who seek

answers to pressing questions about health and disease.

Burton was 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. Burton also searches for

new Type 2 diabetes treatments by analyzing byproducts

produced by soil bacteria. This approach has extensive

precedent: Many medications, from antibiotics to those that


Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award no. DP2DK139569 (Burton) and a MeNu High Impact

Idea Award (MH.004-NOB) from Van Andel Institute—Metabolism and Nutrition (MeNu) Program (RRID:SCR_027494). 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.

prevent organ transplant rejection, have been identified and

derived from microbes.



RESEARCH

Program immerses recent high

school graduates in research

A passion for pursing research can start anywhere: a lesson in a

classroom, a chance observation, the simple act of asking “why?”

For Mae Rydingsward, a critical step was participating in Van Andel

Institute’s High School Graduate Research Program, an eightweek

paid fellowship that gives recent high school graduates the

opportunity to learn and work in real laboratories.

“It was a really good experience,” Rydingsward said. “I was a little

nervous at first, but our mentor did a great job of explaining

and teaching. I asked a lot of questions that led to moments of

realization and connecting the dots.”

Rydingsward was one of six recent high school graduates from

the Grand Rapids area who participated in the inaugural 2025

summer program. She and another participant worked in the lab of

Dr. Stephanie Grainger, a VAI assistant professor and expert in a

cellular communication pathway that plays critical roles in health

and diseases like cancer.

Although many research organizations have fellowship programs or

internships for college undergraduates, few have similar programs

for recent high school graduates.

“Giving young people opportunities to experience and explore

science is so important,” Grainger said. “This program is an excellent

way for high school graduates to get exposure to research and

figure out if it’s something they’re interested in. The skills they

develop will help them regardless of their eventual career path.”

From the beginning, Rydingsward was immersed in the day-today

work of the lab under the mentorship of Lab Manager Jessica

Ensing. Together, they explored how different parts of a particular

protein can help or hinder communication between cells. Ensing

also provided a deep dive into the fundamentals of working in

research, from technical skills and best practices to critical thinking

and the scientific method.

Outside of the lab, participants benefit from an array of professional

development experiences, including workshops, tours of other local

research facilities, Q&A sessions with undergraduate fellows and

social activities. The experience culminates with a final project in

which participants synthesize and present

what they’ve learned.

After the 2025 program ended,

Rydingsward applied for and was hired into

a part-time laboratory aide position in the

Grainger Lab, where she continues honing

her research skills. She’s also pursuing

a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley

State University, with a double major in

biomedical sciences and studio art.

Her advice for upcoming high school

graduates who are considering applying to

the program?

“Just do it!” she said. “Working in the lab

was a whole new world. This experience

was so helpful and opened the doors to

new opportunities.”

Early-career

scientists

earn accolades

Earning a grant is a significant achievement in any scientist’s career.

These awards provide crucial funding to pursue bold ideas and launch

transformative research projects. They also offer valuable external recognition of

one’s ideas and approaches.

From July to December 2025, a VAI graduate student and postdoctoral fellow were

awarded highly competitive grants. These awards will support their innovative

research and deepen our understanding of health and disease.

Dr. Michael Dahabieh

Postdoctoral Fellow, Russell Jones Lab

Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)

from the National Cancer Institute of the

National Institutes of Health

Project: Boosting the immune system’s

ability to fight cancer and overcome cellular

exhaustion 1

Yanqing Liu

Van Andel Institute Graduate School Ph.D.

Student, Rothbart Lab

Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition

Award (F99/K00) from the National Cancer

Institute of the National Institutes of Health

Project: Improving solid tumor treatments

by targeting overlapping epigenetic

pathways 2



1

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. K99CA293261 (Dahabieh).

2

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award no. F99CA305570 (Liu).

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



EDUCATION

From inspiration to impact:

Supporting educators and students

The Educator’s Studio: Creativity just got an upgrade

This fall, Van Andel Institute for Education rolled out something

brand new for teachers: the Educator’s Studio, a members-only

hub packed with resources that make deeper learning doable and

fun. Since launch, 220 members have joined.

Teachers are constantly juggling lesson prep, grading and the

constant search for activities that keep kids excited to learn. That’s

where the Educator’s Studio comes in. For less than $20 a year,

teachers get access to more than 600 classroom-tested tools, from

STEM challenges and critical-thinking games and no-prep activities

that save teachers time and help kids thrive while boosting

curiosity and creativity.

“Teaching is an art, and great artists need great tools,” said Terra

Tarango, VAI Education director. “The Educator’s Studio is full of

classroom-tested resources that not only promote deeper learning

but also bring joy back to teaching.”

Every activity was piloted with VAI Education’s

student visitors before being added to the

Educator’s Studio, ensuring they are practical,

effective and engaging. The result? A one-stop

shop that helps teachers kick off the school year

with fresh ideas and powerful tools.

A partnership that creates new pathways for student success

VAI Education began a new partnership with Atlantis Alternative, a

program for grades 9–12 based in the Carman-Ainsworth School

District in Flint, Michigan.

The school, led by Principal Taylor Chapman, provides a supportive

and flexible learning environment for students who are behind on

credits and working toward getting back on track for graduation.

The program’s mission is to meet students where they are and

help them move forward with confidence.

Chapman was looking to offer a unique opportunity for hands-on

STEM learning and contacted VAI Education to bring our mobile

field trips to Atlantis students. Under the partnership, students will

experience five mobile field trips during the school year. Each field

trip will feature investigations of increasing complexity.

For many Atlantis students, these mobile field trips offer access to

STEM experiences that help build confidence, curiosity and a sense

of possibility that they may not otherwise have. This partnership

reflects both the power of collaboration across Michigan and

VAI Education’s commitment to bringing meaningful science

experiences directly to students.

Science on the Grand 2025: Empowering educators to

spark curiosity

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

Educators returned in July 2025 for another exceptional year,

offering a space where more than 150 teachers felt celebrated,

honored and fulfilled.

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, VAI Education expanded the conference’s Immersive

Field Experiences to include new themes such as “Buzz, Bloom,

Build: Engineering the Future of Pollination,” “Igniting Inquiry Through

Exploration,” and “Engineering the Ultimate Animal.”

With each year, the conference strengthens its mission: to

celebrate educators, amplify their voices, and equip them to create

classrooms where curiosity thrives.

“The addition of these

partnerships, like

Van Andel Institute

mobile field trips, affords

us unique real-world

applicable experiences

for students to

showcase their learning,

understanding and

mastery of science.”

— Principal Taylor Chapman



PHILANTHROPY

Purple Power and purpose

ELLA SPOONER, (RIGHT)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELLA SPOONER

As a middle school student, Ella Spooner didn’t think

much about the meaning behind West Ottawa Public

School’s Purple Power games, sporting events that

raised funds for Van Andel Institute. It was an excuse

to wear lots of purple and go to a basketball game,

with fundraising happening in the background. A few

years later, and now a high school senior, she got an

opportunity to play in a Purple Power basketball game,

cementing what would become a meaningful relationship

with VAI Purple Community.

“My teammates, the school, the administration, the

parents, everyone came together to raise funds — and I

realized it wasn’t for a nebulous cause somewhere else,

but for real, tangible change happening just a few miles

away,” Spooner said.

Playing in the game ignited a passion for getting involved.

As captain of the girls lacrosse team, she saw an

opportunity to host their own Purple Power game, and

her teammates bought in right away.

“It’s the kind of thing that’s daunting at first, but once you

get the ball rolling, friends and teammates get involved,

you find yourself taking action and focusing on getting

things done,” Spooner said.

The inaugural game was a success, further inspiring the

boys lacrosse team to host their own Purple Power event.

After graduating, Spooner sought to bring this purple

passion with her to Kalamazoo College. She saw it as

a new challenge, introducing a research institute to a

community farther away, where students were less likely

to know about it. She employed the same strategy that

worked on her as a young student: She introduced her

teammates to the idea of a fun event, then showcased

the impact of biomedical research.

Spooner would see the impact of the fundraising efforts firsthand.

She joined the Institute in summer 2025 as an intern in

Dr. Stephanie Grainger’s lab. She walked across the sky bridge, into

VAI’s facilities, and “saw a whole new world of science, research

and things I never thought were happening in Michigan.” Much

like Purple Power ignited a passion for fundraising, the Institute

itself sparked a new interest: Spooner is pursuing medical degree

programs where she can remain involved in research. She’s also

set to return to VAI as a research assistant in Dr. Grainger’s lab.

“It’s been an interesting path, from attending basketball games, to

organizing Purple Power events, to somehow finding myself in the

lab,” Spooner said. “It’s not something I ever saw myself doing, but

it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience, and it’s an honor to

try to make a difference along the way.”

“My teammates,

the school, the

administration, the

parents, everyone

came together to raise

funds — and I realized

it wasn’t for a nebulous

cause somewhere else,

but for real, tangible

change happening just

a few miles away.”

— Ella Spooner

“Once you get people to listen to the message, to see

the impact we can have just by coming together and

organizing a lacrosse game, people buy in,” Spooner said.

The Purple Power lacrosse games at Kalamazoo College

have raised nearly $8,000 in support of research at VAI.



PHILANTHROPY

Planting hope: A gardener’s gift

to research

Donna Rosa showcased resilience from

the day she was born. Her mother noticed

Rosa had difficulties crawling, and a trip

to the doctor led to the discovery of a hip

injury from birth. A leg brace helped, but

it kept her from participating in sports

and playing with friends. Later in life, a

Parkinson’s disease diagnosis would add

additional movement difficulties. Yet, you

would often find Rosa getting up and down,

digging in the dirt, and traversing the trails

of her favorite place: the garden.

Rosa was a master gardener, spending

much of her free time tending to plants

and flowers. She brought her passion

everywhere she went, volunteering at

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

and the Grand Rapids Daylily Society —

even using her green thumb to care for the

gardens at her nearest community park.

“There was little that ever held her back

— even if movement was hard, she always

went on a walk, spent time outside, and

found ways to do what she loved,” said

Jackie Meester, a close friend of Rosa.

They met on one of Rosa’s many walks

near the Grand River, a routine which

would become tradition. Meester

remembers speeding up with her dog to

walk alongside Rosa, making sure they

spent as many seconds together as

possible, regaling each other with stories.

Of course, the walks would end in Rosa’s

garden, where she generously shared her

flowers with Meester.

A Parkinson’s disease diagnosis didn’t

interfere much with Rosa’s routine at first.

She took things as positively as she could,

Meester said, bravely facing the change in

lifestyle. If anything was needed, Meester

was there: providing support during

recovery from surgery, an aiding hand

after a fall, or simply bringing the calming

presence of a good friend.

“Rosa fought for her independence, doing

everything she could on her own,” Meester

said. “I’m grateful for the moments she let

me into her life, where I did what I could to

brighten her day.”

When Rosa’s medication schedule became

too much to track by herself, she moved

to an assisted living facility. In addition to

receiving excellent medical care, Meester

said Rosa found a new community: It was a

place to share meals with others, connect

with strangers and find even more people

who cared for her. The new home gave

her time to meet with her trusted financial

advisor and dedicate part of her estate to

VAI’s Parkinson’s research.

“She truly believed in making the world better, and I

think this was one way she could plant a seed for the

future. We both saw VAI as a place where individuals

can hope for the better, and I pray my

friend’s generosity can be part of

that future.”

— Jackie Meester

“She truly believed in making the world

better, and I think this was one way she

could plant a seed for the future,” Meester

said. “We both saw VAI as a place where

individuals can hope for the better, and I

pray my friend’s generosity can be part of

that future.”

Rosa died on June 3, 2025. Meester visited

the facility one last time, thanking the

caregivers who watched over her friend.

One of them asked where Rosa went to

church, and Meester’s answer was simple:

in her garden.

DONNA ROSA



EVENTS

Van Andel Institute Golf Outing

Community members, businesses and local organizations

gathered at the picturesque Wuskowhan Players Club for

an afternoon that combined golf and support for science.

Between tournament swings, guests enjoyed a drone drop raffle,

silent auction and dinner, along with remarks from Todd Custer

and George Sharpe Jr.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, the Timothy Long and William

Mackay Group of Merrill Lynch.

20th anniversary

Couture for a Cure

Co-hosts Carol Van Andel and Rebecca Wierda invited the VAI

community for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of 20 years of

science, fashion and philanthropy. The evening featured the newest

trends from the luxury specialists at Leigh’s, along with a unique

program commemorating 20 years of merging the runway with

research. Couture welcomed Max Alexander as this year’s featured

designer. Born in 2016, Alexander holds the Guinness World Record

for youngest runway fashion designer. After the presentations,

guests were treated to a dance floor, silent auction and a stunning

beauty bar from Artistry.

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

Leigh’s and Max Alexander.

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) SANDY HUIZENGA, CAROL VAN ANDEL, KATE STEC & BETH VANPORTFLIET;

KYLE & DAVID VAN ANDEL, JACK DOLES & SCOTT TYLER; GOLFERS GATHER AT THE CLUBHOUSE; GUESTS VIEW SILENT AUCTION;

GOLFERS GET READY ON THE GREEN


(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) MODEL WALKS THE RUNWAY;

CAROL VAN ANDEL & REBECCA WIERDA; GUESTS GATHER FOR DINNER;

MAX ALEXANDER; KYLE VAN ANDEL


EVENTS

25th annual Hope on the Hill Gala

— Casino Royale

Van Andel Institute’s signature gala celebrated a quartercentury

of science, discovery and hope. Guests stepped

into a vibrant world of excitement and chance at DeVos

Place, immersing themselves in an evening of glamour.

The celebration was one to remember, with exquisite drinks,

delectable food and even a bit of mystery — courtesy of a

breathtaking performance from The Clairvoyants, Thommy Ten

and Amélie van Tass. One of the most celebrated mentalism

duos in the world, they are known for their extraordinary mental

connection and breathtaking performances, they have redefined

the art of mind-reading for a modern audience.

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

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DAVID & CAROL VAN ANDEL; DAVID VAN ANDEL DELIVERS REMARKS; AMÉLIE VAN TASS PARTICIPATES IN

ENTERTAINMENT ACT FROM THE CLAIRVOYANTS; GUESTS ARRIVE; PADDLE RAISE AUCTION; MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT;

GUESTS PARTICIPATE IN PARLOR GAMES; THOMMY TEN & AMÉLIE VAN TASS PERFORM ALONGSIDE A GUEST



EVENTS

A Conversation About Metabolism

& the Immune System Hosted by

Carol Van Andel

From fueling the immune system to providing our bodies with

the energy needed for life, metabolism influences every aspect

of our health. Carol Van Andel was joined by Maranda, Dr. Russell

Jones and Dr. Connie Krawczyk for an inside look at how different

nutrients power our immune cells, how metabolism interacts with

other systems to support health and how we can leverage new

breakthroughs to better prevent and treat disease.

Winterfest Celebration

Supporters, philanthropists and community members gathered

to celebrate 21 years of Winterfest and 30 years of Van Andel

Institute’s impact. Guests enjoyed an elegant evening of spirited

company and inspiring research insights. The celebration also

featured a paddle raise, silent auction, live auction and raffle with

exclusive experiences. Since its inception, Winterfest has raised

$3 million in support of Parkinson’s research.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Buist.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Howard Miller Company.

(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) CAROL VAN ANDEL DELIVERS REMARKS; DR. RUSSELL JONES DELIVERS REMARKS;

DR. RUSSELL JONES, DR. CONNIE KRAWCZYK & MARANDA; DAVID VAN ANDEL; KYLE VAN ANDEL GREETS GUESTS


(STARTING AT TOP RIGHT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DAVID VAN ANDEL, MISSY SHARPE & GEORGE SHARPE JR.; DR. JONATHAN D. LICHT;

DAVID & CAROL VAN ANDEL & GEORGE SHARPE JR; GUESTS PARTICIPATE IN PADDLE RAISE; GUESTS ARRIVE;

GUESTS GATHER AT CASCADE HILLS COUNTRY CLUB; EVELYN SHARPE


EVENTS

Celebrating three decades

of science, discovery and hope

with the VAI community

VAI is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026 — the perfect

opportunity to dive into the past, present and future of

biomedical research and science education. We look forward to

celebrating with you throughout the year, including with a oncein-a-lifetime

evening set for Hope on the Hill — Quantum Leap.

For now, we invite you to step into the past of Couture for a Cure

and Hope on the Hill. Countless supporters, businesses, sponsors

and philanthropists have joined us to support research and

share a message of hope. Thank you, and we hope to see you

again soon.



TRIBUTES

Thank you to our generous

event sponsors

VAI Golf Outing

Advantage Commercial Real Estate

Applied Innovation

Baudville

Bluewater

Bouma Corporation

Custer

David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation

Erhardt Construction

Eurest

First National Bank of Michigan

Gallagher

Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Guiding Light

Loomis, Sayles & Company

Macatawa Bank

McAlvey Merchant & Associates

M.D. Sass

Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long & William

Mackay

Midwest Capital Advisors

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Priority Health

John & Therese Rowerdink

SHARPE

Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Standard Supply & Lumber Co.

Tom & Mary Stuit

University of Michigan Health-West

US Bank

David & Beth VanPortfliet

West Michigan Woman

Windemuller Electric, Inc.

Couture for a Cure

AHC Hospitality

Max Alexander

Amway

Andy J. Egan Co., Inc.

Bluewater

Dan & Sherry Bowen

Cheeky Strut

Consumers Credit Union

Ryan & Jessica Cook


Jeffrey & Kate DeLongchamp

Brian & Barbara DeVries

Eileen DeVries Family Foundation

First National Bank of Michigan

Gallagher

Patti Griswold

Kurt & Madelon Hassberger

Paul & Sheryl Haverkate

Dave & Donna Hockstra

Jack & Lori Skoog Family Foundation

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga

Bill & Starr Humphries

Jandernoa Foundation

Jeffery Roberts Design

Veronica & Peter Jones

Lake Michigan Credit Union

Leigh’s

Life EMS Ambulance


Mercantile Bank

Modern Day

Orange Insoles

The Parlour at CityFlatsHotel

Pediatric Dental Specialists of West Michigan

Jenny Peterson

Priority Health

Sabo PR

Scott Group Studio

The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation

SW Real Estate Investment

Felix & Terra Tarango

Tom & Mary Jo Tuori

Urban You

Vicky Weller

West Michigan Woman

Greg & Meg Willit

XYZ Motors

Hope on the Hill — Casino Royale

Advantage Commercial Real Estate

AHC Hospitality

Al & Robin Koop Foundation

Amway

Aon

Jeff & Gretchen Asfour

Autocam Medical

Bill & Amy Bennett

Jeff & Meg 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

Jerry & Suzanne Callahan

Cascade Rental Center

Ryan & Jessica Cook

Mimi Cummings

Tom & Tracy Curran


Jeffrey & Kate DeLongchamp


Ellis Parking Company

Erhardt Construction

Eurest

Eve Rogus & Paul Becker Foundation

Ferris State University

Fifth Third Bank

Gallagher

Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Valley State University

Martin & Peggy Greydanus

Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Co.

Harvey Automotive

Hope Network

Howard Miller Company

Huizenga Group

The Ice Guru

iHeartMedia

Jandernoa Foundation

John Ball Zoo

Veronica & Peter Jones

Craig & Debra Kinney

Blake & Mary Krueger

Lake Michigan Credit Union

Ray & Jeannine Lanning

Gary & Vicky Ludema

Grant Ludema

Macatawa Bank


Meijer

Merrill Lynch — Timothy Long & William

Mackay

Michigan State University College of Human

Medicine

Tim & Denise Myers

NPF Investment Advisors


Pageworks

Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation

Pioneer Construction

Pitsch Companies

Priority Health

Progressive Companies

Rockford

Rowerdink, Inc.

S.A. Morman & Co.

SHARPE

Spartan Graphics

Rob & Susan Stafford

Stephen Klotz Family Foundation


Scott & Sally Tyler

University of Michigan Health-West

Urban You

Van Eerden Foodservice

Dr. John R. & Grace VanTimmeren

Vicinity Energy

Mike & Bonnie Walters

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

West Michigan Woman

Greg & Meg Willit

Jim & Jane Zwiers

Jeff & Trisha Zylstra

A Conversation About Metabolism & the

Immune System Hosted by Carol Van Andel

42 North Partners

Gallagher

Howard Miller Company

iHeartMedia West Michigan

Leigh’s


VA Enterprises

West Michigan Woman

Western Theological Seminary

Winterfest Celebration

Rob & Dawn Arnoys

Steven & Amanda Barbour

Buist Electric

Jerry & Suzanne Callahan

Custer


The Doubleday Family Trust: in honor of Ron

Rutkowski

Fiduciary Financial Advisors (Rob & Katie

Barcelona)

Foster Swift Collins & Smith

George & Dorothy Vande Woude

Foundation

Harvey Automotive

Hines Corporation

Innovia Wealth

King Street

Landscape Design Services

LMCU

McShane & Bowie PLC

Mike & Sally Murdock

Sharon Naughton

The Nicely Family in Memory of Philip Nicely


Pioneer Construction

PL Capital Advisors LLC

Red Glasses Movement

Rolling Ridge Ranch

Rycenga Building Center

S. Abraham & Sons, Inc.

SHARPE

Straight Line Design

Trillium

Robert & Karen Wiltz

This list includes sponsors of signature

events held between September 2025

and February 2026.

To learn more about sponsoring an

event, contact Kim Ritz at 616.234.5712

or kim.ritz@vai.org.



TRIBUTES

IN MEMORY OF

IN HONOR OF

Apollo, the Great Pyrenees

Barbara Rubino

Allan Arnoys

Rob & Dawn Arnoys

James Barcelona

Karen Dillon

Keith Bassett

Regena Bassett

Wendy Jo Blakely

Cindy Bigler

Caitlin Boudreau

Brian & Mary Boudreau

Robert Bradford

Marvin & Ruth Bradford

Sallie Brinks

David L. Brinks

William Bylenga

Michael & Juleen Cobb

Tom & Cindi Poll

John P. Carrington

Elaine Carrington

Richard Cebelak

Patricia Cebelak

Nancy Coles

Dr. Peter Coles & Sue Bourget-Coles

Roger Cook

Roger & Judy Abbott

Ross N. Davis

Brian & Diane Johnson

Jerry & Deborah Park

Richard & Helen DeVos

Bob & Paulette Israels

Melissa Eden

Keith & Carolyn Murphy

Michael S. Ellis

David & Carol Van Andel Family

Foundation

Jack Frick

Allan & Barbara Lowe

Jerry Genzink

Larry & Marcia Genzink

Gordon Grant

Calvin B. Ainsworth

Marian Hagenauer

Nancy Brown

Deborah DeHaan

Geraldine DeHaan

Virginia & Lawrence Frank

David & Heather Hagenauer

Ingrid Howard

David Stover

Scott Ward & Lisa Hagenauer Ward

Cyndy & Jon Wulff

Oscar Hernandez Sr.

Oscar Hernandez Jr.

Gisela Kah

Birgit Klohs & Greg Northrup

Mark Kastner

Brenda Kastner

John Koehler

Shirley Koehler

Gordon Konyndyk

Margaret Konyndyk

Lloyd “Butch” Landman

Stanley & Marian Szudera

Nelson McBride

Mary Susan McBride

Jane Ellen Munn

Robert & Cheryl Jackson

Wayne & Anamarie Joosse

Sharon Kelly

Jill Peirce

Thomas Newhof

American Council of Engineering

Companies of Michigan

Art & Caryl Brintnall

Deborah S. Cook

Chris & Kimberly Cruickshank

Nicole & Steven Dyer

Michael & Elyce Fuller

Tim & Tracie Marcus

Northwest Kent Mechanical Co.

June Prein

Catherine Prein

Thomas & Lisa Smith

TowerPinkster

Tom & Julie Wheat

Thomas & Greta Newhof

Greg & Barbara Marczak

Steven O’Donnell

Dennis & Andrea Storrs

Kenneth B. Peirce, Jr.

Don & Debbie Amos

Joel & Marianne Bouwens

Matthew Brennan

Bettina Brown

George & Mary Lou Convy

James Gansman

Karen Kania

Tom & Dawn McDonald

Birch & Catherine Mullins

Jim & Mary Murphy

Jim & Peggy Reynolds

Laura Stuursma

Jason Paul Pelland

Kevin & Laura O’Connor

Denise Picardat

Brian Picardat

Alvin Postma

Brooks & Carol Simpson

Richard Pullen

Ruth Kemp

Jane Rhoades

Mary Rhoades

Jonah Roelofs

John & Sheri Geddes

John & Lucille Ryan

Donny & Patty Patterson

Linda Sokolski

Bill & Jeanne Penny

Claudia Stover

Tony & Judy Belski

Diana Birdsall

Regina Ciaravino

Charlene Cook

Paul Dobosz & Marty MacGregor

Dobosz

Shirley Eber

Pilar (Wilson) Leon

Donna Mach

Kenneth & Barbara Mach

Cynthia Payne & Sue West

Melissa & Christopher Rauch

Raymond & Laura Rosado

John & Shirley Sharda

Robert & Christine Sterner

David Stover

Lisa Stover

Andrea Wilson

Andrew Wilson

Peter Titta

Claudia Rhode

Eric Smith

Paula Treviso

Shawn & Stacy Tilstra

Cyndy Tubergen Napper

Betty Fogersong

Jay & Betty Van Andel

Bob & Paulette Israels

George Vande Woude

Dave & Sue Birdsall

Penny VanDuinen

Rob & Katie Barcelona

Patricia “Pat” Vaughan

Steven & Teri Olson

Dr. John Vaughan

Nancy Lee Voltz

Gertrude & Johannes Bokhout

BridgePoint Wealth Management

Carmen Briggs

Sara Brown (Clara, Laura, &

Stephanie)

Bob & Marcy DeMarco

Benjamin Eggleston

Jeffrey & Sheila Frank

Kate Hanson

Arden McConnell

Metrohm USA

Laurel Pope

Ruth Reickard & Family

Gail Ricker

Michelle Sanders

William & Marnita Young

Elenora Wessel

Ralph & Diane Wessel

Dona Whitehouse

Birgit Klohs & Greg Northrup

Daniel Young

Joe & Kelley Young

Lynn M. Zandbergen

Laurel Harris

Rich & Sylvia Hovey

Lake Michigan Dental

Pam Miller

Arthur Spalding

William Zoller

Carole Zoller

Alison Anderson

Katherine TeKolste

Kathy Farr

Kate Frillmann

Marcia Force


Abigail Godec & Todd Gerry

Paul & Charlyne Wozniak

Joe Haverdink

Matt & Jodie Haverdink

Ted Heilman


Brandi Huyser

Amway

Dr. Peter Jones

Dr. James & Gail Fahner

Kathleen Kooistra

Jeff & Sarobi Walsh

Kim Long

John Birney & Emily Long Birney

Jim Owen

Sharon Naughton

Mini Paceman

John Jordan

Sandy Schumaker

Sharon Naughton

George Sharpe Sr.

William & Paula Murphy

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 July 1 and Dec. 31, 2025.

Dr. Todd Stevens

Kathleen Teunis

Andrea M. Storrs

Dennis Storrs

Paul & Laurina Vander Sloot

Karen Vander Sloot

Kathy Vogelsang

Dr. Jana Hall


Betsy & Jim Watts

The Chicago Community Foundation

— Gene & Ann Mandarino

Charitable Fund

Austin Way




Membership List

The Jay and Betty Van Andel

Circle of Hope

Let your legacy be one of impact, discovery and

unwavering hope.

Van June Andel 2024 Membership Institute

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

that drives discovery. Our scientists and educators are united

by one vision: a healthier, brighter future, with modern

prevention, diagnosis and treatment options for diseases

like cancer, Parkinson’s and metabolic disorders. This work is

made possible by people like you, who believe in the power

n Andel Circle of Hope recognizes those individuals who have

of science, the promise of education and the extraordinary

Institute in their will, trust, or other estate plans. We hope our

represents a family

good we can achieve when we work together.

f and gratitude for the generosity of these exceptional people

h

tt

shall

aert

a

an

an

ford

ibert

n

legacy. Founded

Maryanna Johnson

Karen S. Kamerschen, Ph.D. &

by Jay and Betty

Robert E. Pearson*, M.D.

Dennis* & Joanne* Kozarek

Reneé Kuipers*

B. Kenneth Larm*

Van Andel, that

Timothy & Kimberly Long

Donald* & Kathleen Maine

Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols

legacy is now

LG* & Helen* Myers

Robert* & Lorraine* Nyhoff

Steven & Melissa Ozinga

carried Jill & Ken forward Peirce by

Jone Phillips*

Donna Rosa

Ronald & Mary Rutkowski

Chairman and CEO

Alan Ryan*

Tom & Barb Shaw

Ralph Siegel*

David Van Andel

Planned giving ensures our vital mission continues for

generations, fueled by your legacy of generosity. VAI honors

George Sietsema*

those who have included the Institute in their estate plans

Eva Sonneville*

through the Jay and Betty Van Andel Circle of Hope. When

Alvin* & Hylda* Tuuk

John

you

J. Visser*

notify us of your intentions, you are invited to become

Robert* a member. & Greta* Wellington

Carol Winton*

John Wisneski*

To learn more about planned giving,

please contact:

Kate Frillmann

Philanthropy Director

616.234.5515

kate.frillmann@vai.org

* indicates deceased member

You may also visit our website at

vai.giftlegacy.com or scan the QR code.

333 Bostwick Ave. NE | Grand Rapids, MI 49503

616.234.5000 | philanthropy@vai.org

and his wife, Carol.

Learn more at vai.org/plannedgiving

Highlights of Hope is supported through Van Andel Institute

operational funds, ensuring 100% of donations go toward the

Institute’s research and educational efforts.

2026 HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | Spring/Summer Issue

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2026 HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | Spring/Summer Issue

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