2019 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT
2019

Through biomedical research and science education,
Van Andel Institute is committed to improving the
health and enhancing the lives of current and
future generations.

Table of Contents
2 A letter from David Van Andel
4 Research
6 New blood test for pancreatic cancer
8 Inflammation’s role in depression
and suicide
10 Road map to a healthier future
12 Research highlights
15 Translating impact from the lab to the clinic
16 Van Andel Institute’s principal investigators
22 Graduate School welcomes largest, most
international cohort
24 Graduate School highlights and
student statistics
26 Education
28 Blue Apple brings project-based learning
to life
29 Science on the Grand
30 Strong growth for VAI student programs
32 Events and Philanthropy
34 Event photos
45 Signature special event sponsors
46 George Vande Woude: A life lived in science
47 Supporting Parkinson’s research today,
because of tomorrow
48 Student Ambassadors make their mark
49 Parkinson’s research goes ‘MINI’ on the
Mackinac Bridge
50 Events and philanthropy highlights
51 Society of Hope
52 By the numbers
53 Institute leadership team
54 Board members
56 Board of Governors
57 JBoard Ambassadors

A letter from David Van Andel
Dear Friends,
This year’s annual report was created against the backdrop of a changing world, given
the indelible mark made on our global society by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though we remain strong as an Institute and are proud to share our breakthroughs
and triumphs, we also want to express our gratitude to you as we all make our way in
these uncertain times. It is the deep sense of community with our hometown that has
sustained us for many years, and we will forge ahead together through this altered
landscape.
Over the course of the last year, we have continued to shape the course of scientific
discovery and stayed on the cutting edge of K-12 and graduate education. You’ll find
evidence of that in the following pages, stories and anecdotes that reflect our unbridled
concern for humanity.
While our collective reality has changed, the progress made by VAI scientists and
educators in 2019 laid a strong foundation to continue our mission of improving the
health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations.
Early in the year, for example, a team led by Institute scientists announced a new
combination blood test for pancreatic cancer that may help save lives by catching this
notoriously difficult-to-treat disease sooner. That test was undergoing additional thirdparty
validation as of spring 2020. In another breakthrough, a team led by VAI scientists
identified a new mechanism that accelerates aging in the brain and gives rise to the
most devastating biological features inherent in Alzheimer’s disease. The findings give
scientists new avenues for screening compounds designed to slow or stop Alzheimer’s
progression, something existing medications cannot do.
In the summer, Van Andel Institute for Education launched its Blue Apple initiative
that has brought project-based learning to life in classrooms nationwide. And Van Andel
Institute Graduate School welcomed in the fall its largest and most international cohort
to date.
our progress. Your support empowers the Institute to attract and retain world-class
scientists and educators who carry out vital and important work on behalf of a world in
need.
The Institute thanks you. I thank you. We hope you enjoy reading about the work we are
doing here at VAI — the work made possible by you.
Warmly,
David Van Andel
Van Andel Institute Chairman & CEO
It is because of you that we can work urgently to end diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s
and Parkinson’s, inspiring and training the scientists of tomorrow who will build on
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VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 3

Van Andel Institute for Research
is a world leader in cancer epigenetics and Parkinson’s disease
research. The Institute’s scientists collaborate with partners around the
world to catalyze discovery and translate bold ideas into breakthrough
treatment strategies.
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New combination blood test for pancreatic cancer
may catch disease earlier
Clues in the blood may help catch pancreatic cancer
sooner, giving people battling this deadly disease a
better chance at remission.
A team led by Dr. Brian Haab has developed a new,
simple blood test that, when combined with an existing
test, detects nearly 70% of pancreatic cancers with
a less than 5% false-positive rate. If successful in
additional clinical evaluation, this new combination
approach could give doctors a powerful new tool for
screening people at high risk for pancreatic cancer and
increase the chances that it’s caught in its earlier and
more treatable stages.
“Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease made even
more devastating by its tendency to spread before
detection, which is a serious roadblock to successful
medical treatment,” Haab said. “We hope that our new
method will help doctors catch and treat pancreatic
cancer before this happens.”
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose because it
often doesn’t have obvious early symptoms. By the
time the disease is found, it typically is quite advanced,
complicating treatment and leading to poorer
outcomes. Only 8.5% of people with pancreatic cancer
survive past five years, a figure that has only risen
slightly since the early 1990s.
Both Haab’s new test and the existing test detect
and measure levels of sugars produced by pancreatic
cancer cells that subsequently escape into the blood
stream. The sugar measured by the new test — sTRA —
is produced by a different subset of pancreatic cancers
than CA-19-9, the sugar measured by the existing test.
When used together, the tests cast a broader net and
detect subtypes of pancreatic cancer that may have
been missed by using one of the two tests on its own.
“We believe using these tests in a complementary
fashion will help physicians detect pancreatic cancers
much sooner in the disease process, which significantly
improves a patient’s chance for survival,” Haab said.
“Right now, there are few options for people suspected
to have pancreatic cancer. This combined blood test
could be a simple, cost-effective way to detect disease
early enough to save lives.”
In late 2019, the test began undergoing additional realworld
validation in clinical labs at Spectrum Health. If
successful as expected, Haab and his team envision the
test becoming widely available as a screening tool for
high-risk individuals.
Research reported in this publication was supported by
the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes
of Health under award numbers U01CA152653,
U01CA200466, U01CA200468, U01CA168896,
U01CA196403 and P30CA138313. The content is solely
the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of the National Institutes of
Health.
“Pancreatic cancer is an
aggressive disease made even
more devastating by its tendency
to spread before detection,
which is a serious roadblock to
successful medical treatment.
We hope that our new method
will help doctors catch and treat
pancreatic cancer before
this happens.”
— DR. BRIAN HAAB
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RESEARCH
DR. BRIAN HAAB
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 7

Rooting out inflammation’s role in depression and suicide
Depression and suicide have long carried a stigma —
one that Dr. Lena Brundin hopes to dispel through a
better understanding of their biological roots.
“I think it’s still hard for people to see depression and
suicidality as physical illnesses, but that’s what they
are,” said Brundin, an associate professor in Van Andel
Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science.
“There are measurable biological contributors such as
byproducts of chronic inflammation that influence a
person’s likelihood to develop depression or self-harm.
Leveraging these markers could hold the key to helping
people before it is too late.”
Brundin’s efforts go back decades: as a graduate
student at Sweden’s Lund University in the late 1990s,
she noticed a major inflammatory reaction in brain cells
that had been transplanted into people with Parkinson’s
disease. It made her wonder: could such an aggressive
reaction influence emotion and behavior?
“There has been a huge change from the 1990s, when
people thought of the brain as an organ that’s more or
less isolated from the rest of the body,” Brundin said.
“Over the past 25 years, we’ve seen an explosion of
research on brain inflammation and its broad impact on
the rest of the body.”
By the time she arrived at the Institute in 2012, Brundin
already had uncovered key findings linking inflammation
and depression. She quickly teamed up with Dr. Eric
Achtyes, a psychiatrist at Pine Rest Christian Mental
Health Services, who had similar research interests.
Over the years, this collaboration has continued to
expand and yield critical new insights. In 2019, they
launched a new study to identify blood-based
biomarkers for suicide risk, hoping to develop a test that
could help physicians differentiate between people who
are likely to self-harm and those who are not, allowing for
earlier, life-saving intervention.
The project is the first study of its kind, and is a
collaboration between Brundin, Achtyes and Columbia
University Department of Psychiatry’s Dr. J. John Mann.
It is supported by a five-year, $3.6 million grant from the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the National
Institutes of Health.
“Clinicians are looking for tools to help them identify
individuals who are at highest risk for suicide among
those who are depressed,” Achtyes said. “We are hopeful
this study will help us develop these tools to better
understand who is at imminent risk.”
Later in the year, Brundin and Achtyes and colleagues
from Michigan State University College of Human
Medicine published a report that showed a runaway,
inflammatory immune response may be responsible for
triggering severe depression during and after pregnancy.
Not to be mistaken for the rapidly passing “baby blues,”
which is common right after delivery, pregnancy-related
depression is a serious medical condition that can
escalate in severity and may even require hospitalization.
One in five new mothers experience depression after
pregnancy, with symptoms beginning during pregnancy
and generally worsening after delivery. An estimated 14%
have suicidal ideation during pregnancy.
Brundin is hopeful that their efforts will soon translate
into new, effective treatment options for those with
depression.
“There already are many anti-inflammatory medications
that could possibly be repurposed to treat depression,”
she said. “The more we learn, the closer we come to
finding actionable, new ways to improve people’s lives.”
Research reported in this publication is supported by the
National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes
of Health under award no. 1R01MH118221 (Brundin,
Achtyes, Mann) and award no. R01MH104622 (Brundin). The
content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does
not necessarily represent the official views of the National
Institutes of Health.
“There are measurable biological contributors such as byproducts of chronic inflammation that influence a person’s likelihood to
develop depression or self-harm. Leveraging these markers could hold the key to helping people before it is too late.”
— DR. LENA BRUNDIN
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RESEARCH
What is
inflammation?
Inflammation is the immune system’s
normal reaction to harmful stimuli, such as
infection, injury or chronic disease, or
even stress.
Following one of these insults, the body
releases a cascade of white blood cells,
which produce chemicals that attempt to
remove the cause of the problem and start
the healing process.
The effects of inflammation, though
designed to help us, aren’t always pleasant.
They include increased blood flow, leading
to redness and increased heat; fluid rushing
to the area, causing swelling; and pain, a
flood of chemicals to stimulate nerves.
DR. ERIC ACHTYES & DR. LENA BRUNDIN
With their job complete, these cells stop
making these chemicals and the symptoms
of inflammation wear off. Occasionally,
however, something goes awry and the
body overproduces inflammatory chemicals
and continues producing them longer than
they are needed. If left unchecked, this
can disrupt the body’s ability to function
normally and contribute to a number of
issues, including depression and suicidal
thoughts and actions.
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Epigenetic ‘memories’ may provide clues to the
health of future generations
Dr. Andrew Pospisilik and Dr. Heidi Lempradl are
working on a road map to a healthier future, one that
accounts for the ripple effect our diet and lifestyle
choices may have across the generations.
“The human body has an incredible capacity to adapt to
its environment,” said Pospisilik, director of Van Andel
Institute’s Center for Epigenetics. “Evidence suggests
that the choices we make and experiences we have today
can have far-reaching implications and may even affect
predisposition to disease down the line.”
To accomplish their goal, Pospisilik and Lempradl must
untangle a highly complex, interwoven web of factors,
tracing the impact of individual variables — such as diet
or a specific genetic element — through a proverbial
Gordian knot.
“It’s not as simple as saying, ‘One parent ate a certain
type of diet, so their child will be less at risk for a specific
disease,’” said Lempradl, an assistant professor in VAI’s
Metabolic and Nutritional Programming group. “We are
complex organisms who inhabit a complex world. This
work is incredibly challenging, but if we can figure it out,
the benefits to human health will very much be worth it.”
Biological information is passed through the generations
via genetics and epigenetics. Our genetics are a biological
blueprint created by blending our parents’ genetic
information; our epigenetics are the switches that
determine when this information is used — or not.
Here’s how it works: Each of the roughly 37.2 trillion cells
in the human body contains essentially the same genetic
information encoded in our DNA. But at any given
moment, an individual cell doesn’t need to use all of
those instructions; for example, a blood cell needs only
the instructions related to its function and can ignore the
instructions that are specific to a brain cell. Epigenetics
determines when specific instructions are needed and
used by tagging DNA with special molecular marks.
But epigenetics aren’t static. They can be responsive
and play a major role in our ability to adapt to changes
in our environment. Take, for example, people who faced
the stress of war and famine brought on by the Great
Depression and World War II: These individuals likely
experienced epigenetic changes that helped their bodies
respond to that stress. These changes, reflected in the
patterns of epigenetic marks laid down on their DNA,
act like a molecular memory that is passed down to their
children. The results, depending on the changes, may
even alter predisposition to cancer, depression and other
conditions.
Recent discoveries and ongoing work in the labs of
scientists like Pospisilik and Lempradl are painting a rich
portrait of how the experiences of our ancestors have
shaped us. One day, they hope to translate what they
find into powerful preventative methods for some of our
most challenging diseases.
“We may find that cancer prevention starts even before
a person is born,” Pospisilik said. “We’re really at the
beginning of something that could radically transform
how we view health, and prevent and treat illness. The
possibilities are endless.”
“It’s not as simple as
saying, ‘One parent ate a
certain type of diet, so their
child will be less at risk for
a specific disease. We are
complex organisms who
inhabit a complex world.
This work is incredibly
challenging, but if we can
figure it out, the benefits to
human health will very much
be worth it.”
— DR. HEIDI LEMPRADL
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RESEARCH
DR. ANDREW POSPISILIK & DR. HEIDI LEMPRADL
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 11

Highlights
CENTER FOR CANCER & CELL BIOLOGY
The link between taste & neurological disorders
Understanding how the brain processes sweet, bitter and umami tastes may one
day help researchers design more effective drugs for neurological disorders. VAI’s
Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü revealed for the first time the near atomic-level structure
of calcium homeostasis modulator 2 (CALHM2), a protein that plays critical roles
in processing taste stimuli and mitigating toxicity in brain cells. CALHM2 works by
sensing chemical and electrical changes in its environment — in the taste buds,
for example — and relaying the information back to the brain. Abnormal changes
in CALHM proteins have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and other
neurological conditions; fixing these errors may help create viable treatments in the
future.
CENTER FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE
Collaboration & big data help redefine a rare form of dementia
In a 2019 landmark study, more than 100 scientists from around the world —
including VAI’s Dr. Rita Guerreiro and Dr. José Brás — teamed up to investigate
frontotemporal dementia, a progressive syndrome marked by shrinking of brain
regions that govern behavior and speech. FTD is a rare disease, and FTD caused by
genetic mutations is even rarer, making it especially difficult to study. Often, there
simply aren’t enough cases from which to gather sufficient data. The first-of-its-kind
study in FTD encompassed data from 3,403 individuals, and allowed scientists to
identify patterns that tied specific gene mutations to age of onset, disease duration
and age of death. This is particularly important for people and families with these
mutations, for clinicians managing FTD and for scientists developing precision
medicine approaches and methods for tracking disease progression. Findings in FTD
may also have applications in understanding other types of dementia.
CENTER FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE
Investigating a diabetes drug as a way to slow or stop multiple
system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy is a rare neurodegenerative disease that shuts down
the vital systems in the body, such as the ability to move, to regulate heart rate
and to digest food. In its early stages, it often is mistaken for Parkinson’s disease
and, like Parkinson’s, there is no cure. In 2019, researchers at University College
London began a pilot clinical study to see if the diabetes drug exenatide can slow
or stop progression of MSA. Exenatide has already shown promise as a possible
Parkinson’s treatment because it acts on many of the same biological pathways
affected by neurodegenerative diseases. The trial is supported by Van Andel
Institute, the Defeat MSA Alliance, the John Black Charitable Trust and the MSA
Trust.
CENTER FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE
Unlocking the brain’s secret code
Dr. Viviane Labrie is parsing the human genome and the epigenetic code that
regulates it in search of the root causes of neurological disorders that affect
millions around the globe. In spring 2019, she discovered a mechanism that
accelerates aging in the brain and gives rise to the most devastating features of
Alzheimer’s disease. Later, Labrie and her colleagues found a hot spot of epigenetic
marks that may fuel the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Taken together, her findings are charting new paths toward better diagnostic and
treatment methods for a trio of tough-to-treat diseases.
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RESEARCH
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 13

Highlights
CENTER FOR EPIGENETICS
Helping the heart heal itself
Scientists in the DeVos Cardiovascular Research Program, led by Dr. Stefan
Jovinge, have devised a technique to sort out which heart cells can replicate and
which cannot, a critical step toward treatments that may one day help the heart
heal itself after injury. The method, published in the journal Circulation Research,
removes a significant roadblock to developing ways to regrow healthy cardiac
muscle tissue, a feat not currently possible. Earlier in the fall, the Jovinge team,
along with collaborators in Sweden and Romania, also found that blocking an
inflammatory protein after a heart attack may reduce damage and mitigate the
risk of future heart failure. This study was listed as one of the major discoveries
in the field of acute coronary syndromes in 2019 by the prestigious European
Heart Journal. Together, these two discoveries help lay the foundation for a new
generation of cardiac therapies aimed at repairing the heart without the need
for invasive surgery. The DeVos Cardiovascular Research Program is a joint effort
between Van Andel Institute and Spectrum Health.
CENTER FOR EPIGENETICS
A ‘Swiss Army knife’ for fighting cancer
Blocking specific parts of a Swiss Army knife-like protein called UHRF1 switches
on hundreds of cancer-fighting genes, impairing colorectal cancer cells’ ability to
spread throughout the body. The protein is akin to a molecular Swiss Army knife
with many different paths that each have a different job. The discovery by VAI’s
Dr. Scott Rothbart and VAI and Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Stephen Baylin
comes at a particularly important time — while colorectal cancer rates have been
falling since the 1980s in older people, they are climbing in people ages 20–39.
Colorectal cancers often aren’t caught until their later stages in this younger group
because they fall below the age for annual screening. Rothbart and Baylin are
working to translate their findings into more precise therapeutic strategies that
better fight these devastating cancers and keep them from metastasizing.
CENTER FOR CANCER & CELL BIOLOGY
Breaking down osteoarthritis in search of a cure
More than 31 million people in the U.S. have osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint
disease caused by the breakdown of cartilage, the elastic tissue that serves as a
shock absorber between bones. Despite being incredibly common, this painful and
often debilitating condition has no cure. VAI’s Dr. Tao Yang hopes to change that by
better understanding the root cause from which osteoarthritis stems. He and his
team are investigating the complex web of overlapping biological pathways and
factors that govern skeletal health, with a special focus on a pathway related to
cellular aging.
CENTER FOR EPIGENETICS
Findings could help women with uterine fibroids avoid hysterectomy
Uterine fibroid tumors are the leading cause of hysterectomies in the U.S., yet the
mechanisms that give rise to these tumors have largely been unknown. In 2019, a
collaborative team led by Dr. Hui Shen of Van Andel Institute and Dr. Jose Teixeira
of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine found that an overactive
gene in uterine fibroids is linked to the transformation of cells in the muscle of the
uterus into cells more typically found in the cervix. This breakthrough eventually
may lead to new treatments that interfere with this abnormal process and could
help many women to avoid surgery.
CENTER FOR CANCER & CELL BIOLOGY
When studying immune cells, environment matters
For years, scientists have used cells grown in petri dishes to study the metabolic
processes that fuel the immune system. But findings from VAI’s Dr. Russell
Jones suggest that the way immune cells manage and use energy in the artificial
environment of a dish is drastically different from how it occurs in living organisms.
The discovery has far-reaching implications for how scientists study the complex,
interconnected systems that underpin health and disease and how they translate
these insights into new diagnostic and treatment strategies.
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Translating impact from
the lab to the clinic
Clinical trials are a critical step in a new treatment’s journey from the lab to the
doctor’s office. Through collaborations with leading scientists, physicians and
organizations in the U.S. and abroad, Van Andel Institute is supporting critical
trials designed to evaluate potentially life-saving therapies for cancer and
Parkinson’s disease.
RESEARCH
Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To
Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team
Optimizing drug combinations for
a one-two punch against cancers,
including:
• Metastatic colorectal cancer
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
(CMML)
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Bladder (urothelial) cancer
• Liver, pancreatic, bile duct and
gallbladder cancers
• Breast cancer
Research By The Numbers
12
1
470
+
Trials launched
Trial in development
Patients
International Linked
Clinical Trials (iLCT)
Repurposing existing drugs to
shorten the development pipeline
in collaboration with The
Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
The iLCT initiative aims to identify
new therapies for Parkinson’s
disease by repurposing medications
used for other conditions, including
diabetes, high cholesterol and
respiratory ailments.
Research By The Numbers
15
10
850
+
Trials launched
Trials In development
Patients
All numbers as of March 2020
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Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Van Andel Institute for Research is home to a team of scientists dedicated to improving the health and enhancing the
lives of current and future generations through groundbreaking biomedical research.
LEADERSHIP
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon),
is a pioneer in epigenetics, a
growing field that explores how
genes are regulated and provides
new avenues for developing
therapies for cancer and other diseases. His discoveries
have helped usher in an entirely new class of drugs that
have been approved to treat blood cancer and are being
investigated in other tumor types. Dr. Jones is a member
of the National Academy of Sciences and the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences among other prestigious
societies. He and his colleague Dr. Stephen Baylin
co-lead the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer
Epigenetics Dream Team.
Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Director of
Research;
Director, Center for
Neurodegenerative Science
Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.,
investigates molecular
mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease with the goal
of developing new therapies aimed at slowing or
stopping disease progression and repairing damage.
He is one of the top-cited researchers in the field of
neurodegenerative disease and leads international
efforts to repurpose drugs to treat Parkinson’s.
J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.
Director, Center for
Epigenetics; Professor,
Metabolic and Nutritional
Programming, Center for
Cancer and Cell Biology
J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D., seeks
to understand how we become who we become, and
how our disease susceptibility is defined from early on in
life, even before conception, with the long-term goal of
being able to predict lifelong health outlook at birth.
Bart Williams, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Cancer
and Cell Biology; Professor,
Skeletal Disease and Cancer
Therapeutics, Center for
Cancer and Cell Biology
Bart Williams, Ph.D., studies the
building blocks of bone growth on behalf of the millions
suffering from diseases such as osteoporosis. He seeks
new ways of altering cell signaling pathways to encourage
healthy bone development and deter the spread of
cancer to the skeleton.
Scott Jewell, Ph.D.
Director, Core Technologies
and Services
Scott Jewell, Ph.D., leads Van Andel
Institute’s Core Technologies
and Services, which provides
technology and specialized
expertise for research investigators. Services include
bioinformatics and biostatistics, cryo-EM, optical imaging,
flow cytometry, genomics, pathology and biorepository,
vivarium management and transgenics. Jewell is a past
president of the International Society for Biological and
Environmental Repositories (ISBER).
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D.
Dean, Van Andel Institute
Graduate School
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D., is
the dean of Van Andel Institute
Graduate School. His lab, which
closed in 2018 after 31 years of
productive research, explored the genetic and epigenetic
control systems of viruses to understand how infections
progress and to reveal new ways to stop them. His
discoveries with herpes simplex viruses opened up
new possibilities for antiviral drug development and
revealed new insights into how human cells control gene
expression.
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RESEARCH
CENTER FOR EPIGENETICS
Stephen Baylin, M.D.
Director’s Scholar
Stephen Baylin, M.D., studies the
body’s genetic control systems —
called epigenetics — searching for
vulnerabilities in cancer. Baylin is a
leader in this field, ranking among
the first to trace epigenetic causes of cancer. His studies
have led to new therapies for common cancers, like
breast, lung, colorectal and many others. He is co-leader
of the VAI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team with Dr. Peter
A. Jones, co-director of Johns Hopkins’ Cancer Biology
Division and associate director for research at Sidney
Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, VAI; Medical Director
of Research, Spectrum Health
Frederick Meijer Heart and
Vascular Institute; Director,
DeVos Cardiovascular Research
Program (a joint effort between
Van Andel Institute and Spectrum Health)
Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D., develops ways to help the
heart heal itself and has led dozens of clinical trials in
regenerative medicine. As a critical care cardiologist
and scientist, he uses a bench-to-bedside approach in
an effort to give patients with serious heart conditions
longer, healthier lives. The clinical platform for his
research is the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit at
Spectrum Health’s Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center,
and the basic science effort in regenerative medicine is
performed at VAI.
Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.
Professor
Peter W. Laird, Ph.D., seeks
a detailed understanding of
the molecular foundations of
cancer with a particular focus
on identifying crucial epigenetic
alterations that convert otherwise healthy cells into
cancer cells. He is widely regarded as an international
leader in this effort and has helped design some of
the world’s state-of-the art tools to aid in epigenetics
research. Laird is a principal investigator for the National
Cancer Institute’s Genome Data Analysis Network and
played a leadership role in The Cancer Genome Atlas, a
multi-institutional effort to molecularly map cancers.
Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D.
Professor
Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D., studies how
the body switches genes on and
off, a biological process called
methylation that, when faulty, can
lead to cancer or other diseases.
His studies range from the effects of tobacco smoke
on genetic and epigenetic systems to the discovery
of a mechanism that may help protect the brain from
neurodegeneration. Pfeifer’s studies have implications
across a range of diseases, including cancer, Parkinson’s,
diabetes and many others.
Center for Epigenetics
Epigenetic mechanisms control how
DNA is used, how organisms form, and
how cells switch particular genes “on”
or “off” to determine form and function.
Errors in these intricate processes
play major roles in the development
of diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s,
diabetes and heart disease.
Scientists in the Center for Epigenetics
investigate the role of epigenetics
in health and disease, with the goal
of developing new prevention and
treatment strategies for diseases that
affect millions of people around
the world.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 17

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., studies
the ways in which cells pack
and unpack DNA. This complex
process twists and coils roughly
two meters of unwound DNA into
a space less than one-tenth the width of a human hair.
Although this process is impressive, it is also subject
to errors that can cause cancer and other disorders.
Rothbart seeks new targets for drug development in
this process.
Hui Shen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Hui Shen, Ph.D., develops new
approaches to cancer prevention,
detection and treatment by studying
the interaction between genes
and their control systems, called
epigenetics. Her research focuses on women’s cancers,
particularly ovarian cancer, and has shed new light on the
underlying mechanisms of other cancer types, including
breast, kidney and prostate cancers.
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D.
Professor
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D., investigates
the mechanisms that regulate
DNA and gene expression in an
effort to better understand how
they impact cancer development.
Piroska Szabó, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Piroska Szabó, Ph.D., studies the
flow of epigenetic information
from parents to their offspring,
with a focus on how epigenetic
markers are remodeled during
egg and sperm production and how these markers
are rewritten after fertilization. These processes
have profound implications for fertility and embryo
development. Disturbances in epigenetic remodeling are
thought to contribute to disease conditions lasting well
into adulthood.
Timothy J. Triche, Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
As a statistician and computational
biologist with an interest in clonal
evolution and cancers of the
blood, Tim Triche, Jr.’s, Ph.D., work
focuses on wedding data-intensive
molecular phenotyping to adaptive clinical trial designs
in an effort to accelerate the pace of drug targeting and
development in rare or refractory diseases.
Hong Wen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Hong Wen, Ph.D., investigates
the fundamental mechanisms
of pediatric cancers caused
by dysregulation of epigenetic
regulators, in hopes of developing
new, improved therapies for these devastating diseases.
CENTER FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE
José Brás, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. José Brás is a molecular
geneticist whose research focuses
on how variations in our genes
impact the onset and progression
of neurodegenerative diseases
such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia with
Lewy bodies.
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
As a psychiatrist and a scientist,
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.,
seeks ways to diagnose and
treat depression and suicidality
by studying inflammation of
the nervous system. Her findings may lead to earlier
interventions for depressive patients and to the
development of a new class of antidepressants that
targets the immune system. She also investigates how
inflammatory mechanisms can damage nerve cells in
Parkinson’s disease.
Hong-Yuan Chu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Hong-Yuan Chu, Ph.D., investigates
how and why dopamine-producing
cells die off in Parkinson’s, a
process that underlies many of
the disease’s hallmark symptoms.
He plans to leverage this new knowledge to develop new,
more precise ways to slow or stop disease progression.
18 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

RESEARCH
Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D.
Professor
Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D., searches
the human genome for minuscule
changes that contribute to the
onset, progression and drug
resistance of many diseases,
including cancer, Parkinson’s, and rare and heritable
disorders. His team deploys genome sequencing
technologies and high-powered computational arrays
to tease out patterns and interactions of markers and
treatment targets from among the human genome’s more
than 3 billion DNA base pairs.
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D., is a
neurogeneticist who studies
the genomic contributors to
neurodegenerative diseases such
as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Viviane Labrie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Viviane Labrie, Ph.D., studies
the dynamic interplay between
the human genome and
its control system — the
epigenome — to understand
how neurodegenerative diseases start and progress
in an effort to develop improved diagnostics and
treatments. Labrie’s scientific pursuits have deepened
the understanding of conditions including Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and lactose intolerance. She
has also developed new methods for epigenome analysis.
Darren Moore, Ph.D.
Professor
Darren Moore, Ph.D., seeks
new diagnostic and treatment
approaches for Parkinson’s by
investigating the inherited form of
the disease, which accounts for
5% to 10% of cases. He aims to translate the
understanding of these genetic mutations into better
treatments and new diagnostic tools for Parkinson’s,
both inherited and non-inherited. Discoveries in Moore’s
lab routinely elucidate the faulty molecular interactions
that transform healthy, functioning neurons into
diseased ones.
CENTER FOR CANCER AND CELL BIOLOGY
Skeletal Disease and Cancer Therapeutics
Bart Williams, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Cancer
and Cell Biology; Professor,
Skeletal Disease and Cancer
Therapeutics, Center for
Cancer and Cell Biology
Bart Williams, Ph.D., studies the
building blocks of bone growth on behalf of the millions
suffering from diseases such as osteoporosis. He seeks
new ways of altering cell signaling pathways to encourage
healthy bone development and deter the spread of
cancer to the skeleton.
Center for
Neurodegenerative
Science
Scientists in the Center for
Neurodegenerative Science are
investigating the factors that
contribute to Parkinson’s disease
and working to translate these
findings into new therapies that
slow or stop disease progression —
something no current treatment can
do. The Center also is investigating
other diseases caused by progressive
damage to the brain, including
Alzheimer’s disease and multiple
system atrophy (MSA), as well as the
biological basis of depression.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 19

Van Andel Institute Principal Investigators
Xiaohong Li, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Xiaohong Li, Ph.D., studies how and
why various cancers, particularly
prostate and breast cancer cells,
migrate from their original site
and spread to the bone. These
cells stay dormant but might wake up years later and
grow to become bone metastases, causing debilitating
pain and complicating treatment. Li hopes that a better
understanding of metastatic cancers will lead to new
diagnostic tests and targeted therapies.
Matt Steensma, M.D.
Associate Professor
Matt Steensma, M.D., studies the
genetic and molecular factors
that cause benign tumors to
become cancers in order to find
vulnerabilities that may be targeted
for treatment. As a scientist at VAI and a practicing surgeon
at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,
he is committed to translating scientific discoveries into
treatments that improve patients’ lives.
Tao Yang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Tao Yang, Ph.D., studies the
signaling systems that govern
skeletal stem cells and the role
they play in diseases such as
osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Bones are the largest producer of adult stem cells, which
mature into cartilage, fat or bone tissue — a process that
falters with age. Yang seeks a better understanding of
these systems in search of new treatments for degenerative
bone disorders.
20 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019
Structural Biology
Huilin Li, Ph.D.
Program Leader and Professor
Huilin Li, Ph.D., uses cryo-electron
microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal
the most basic building blocks of
DNA replication and other systems
vital for life. He has been at the
vanguard of cryo-EM for more than 20 years, and his
research has implications for some of the world’s most
critical public health concerns, including tuberculosis,
cancer, mental illness and many more.
Juan Du, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Juan Du, Ph.D., seeks to
understand the brain’s intricate
communication systems using
state-of-the-art structural biology
approaches, such as cryo-EM.
Her work has expanded knowledge of these important
systems and may aid in development of new therapies in
the future.
Wei Lü, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Wei Lü, Ph.D., is working to unravel
how brain cells communicate
with each other. Using techniques
such as cryo-EM, his work
has contributed to the field’s
understanding of molecules that play crucial roles in the
development and function of the nervous system.
Karsten Melcher, Ph.D.
Professor
Karsten Melcher, Ph.D., studies
molecular structure and cellular
communication, which have
implications for finding new
treatments for serious health
threats, including cancer, diabetes and obesity. His
expertise extends beyond human cells — his research
into plant hormones may one day lead to heartier crops
that resist drought and help meet the nutritional demands
of a growing global population.
Metabolic and Nutritional Programming
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Program Leader and Professor
Russell Jones, Ph.D., investigates
metabolism at the cellular level
to understand how it affects cell
behavior and health, with a specific
eye on cancer and the immune
system. By revealing how cancer cells use metabolic
processes to fuel their growth and spread, he hopes to
develop new treatments that help patients by changing
the standard of care for cancer.

RESEARCH
Brian Haab, Ph.D.
Professor; Assistant Dean,
Van Andel Institute Graduate
School
Brian Haab, Ph.D., searches for
new ways to diagnose and stratify
pancreatic cancers based on the
chemical fingerprints tumors leave behind. Part of the
problem Haab aims to solve is that cancers often look
and behave normally — until after they’ve started making
people sick. Haab is sleuthing out clues to build a library
of diagnostic tools that will help providers diagnose
tumors earlier and optimize treatment.
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.,
investigates the links between
metabolism, epigenetics and the
immune system, with the goal
of understanding how they work
together to keep us healthy and, when things go wrong, to
promote disease.
Adelheid Lempradl, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Adelheid Lempradl, Ph.D., is
investigating how the dietary
choices of parents may impact
the health of their offspring in
the hopes of translating her
findings into new ways to prevent disease and create a
healthier future.
Ning Wu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ning Wu, Ph.D., investigates
the interface between cellular
metabolism and cellular signaling,
particularly as they relate to
cancer. On the most basic level,
cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth, and Wu
believes that understanding a tumor’s voracious energy
requirements and altered signaling pathways will lead
to new treatments that optimize existing combination
therapies and identify novel therapeutic targets.
EMERITUS FACULTY
George Vande Woude, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scientific
Fellow, Emeritus
George Vande Woude, Ph.D.,
is a titan in cancer biology.
He is the founding research
director, and led the Institute’s
research efforts for a decade. His discovery and
description of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase as an
oncogene, together with its activating ligand hepatocyte
growth factor, have led to new possibilities for cancer
therapies and revolutionized the way scientists view the
disease, especially in tumor progression. He is a member
of the National Academy of Sciences.
Center for Cancer and
Cell Biology
Scientists in the Institute’s Center for
Cancer and Cell Biology investigate
the mechanisms that give rise to
diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, diabetes and rare
disorders such neurofibromatosis
type 1 with the goal of developing
better diagnostics and treatments.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 21

In 2019, Van Andel Institute Graduate School welcomed
its largest, most international cohort
To understand how Leena Kariapper first became
interested in science, you have to go way back.
Kariapper, who was born in Sri Lanka but grew up in
Saudi Arabia, was one of those kids who would pick up
a grasshopper just to study it under a magnifying glass.
Once, an uncle gave her a toy microscope — the kind
you can plug into a computer to get a good look at your
specimens. She wasted no time going home and finding
tiny things that she could examine.
But it was in eighth grade when Kariapper first
encountered the science that would launch future
academic and professional pursuits: molecular and
cellular biology.
“I had a really good biology teacher who was explaining
the world of molecular biology and how DNA
replication works, and I remember she drew it up on
this chalkboard and I was just hooked,” Kariapper said.
“I knew at that moment this was a field I wanted to
explore deeper.”
Fast forward, and Kariapper is a member of
Van Andel Institute Graduate School’s largest and
most international cohort: 10 students representing
five nations, including Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom,
Russia, the Netherlands and the U.S. including Puerto
Rico. Together, in fall 2019, they embarked on a fiveyear
journey toward a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular
biology.
The size and diversity of the cohort embodies an
intentional growth strategy put in place by Graduate
School leadership to raise visibility domestically and
internationally, to bolster student numbers, and to
promote diverse perspectives among its student body.
“We have worked very deliberately over the years to
attract a highly qualified and diverse field of applicants,
and each new cohort offers proof that our efforts are
bearing fruit,” said Graduate School Dean Dr. Steven
J. Triezenberg. “Our Institute and our community are
enriched by the different personal and academic
backgrounds each student brings with them to VAI.”
These efforts have been helped in no small part by the
work of the Graduate School’s Director of Enrollment and
Records Christy Mayo. Mayo attends graduate school fairs
across the country and online; in fact, it was through a
virtual graduate school fair that Kariapper first met Mayo
and became aware of the opportunities at the Graduate
School.
The Graduate School also benefits from using the
Centralized Application Service for Biomedical Science
Programs, or BioMedCAS, which lets students apply
to multiple biomedical science graduate programs
simultaneously. Mayo said BioMedCAS has led many
prospective students to learn about VAIGS and then to
apply for admission to the program.
“We put a lot of effort into reaching a broad cross-section
of students,” Mayo said. “We strongly encourage anyone
searching for a rigorous Ph.D. program in molecular and
cellular biology to learn how they can contribute to the
world-class science happening right here at the Institute.”
To learn more about the Graduate School, visit vaigs.vai.org.
Van Andel Institute
Graduate School
develops future
leaders in biomedical
research through an
intense, problemfocused
Ph.D. degree
in molecular and
cellular biology.
DR. CARRIE GRAVEEL (SECOND FROM LEFT) EXAMINES
RESULTS WITH VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE
SCHOOL PH.D. CANDIDATES MENUSHA ARUMUGAM,
RACHEL HOUSE & JAMIE GRIT
22 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

RESEARCH
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 23

Highlights
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Dean leads cancer consortium
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Dean Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D., was elected
as president of the Cancer Biology Training Consortium. CABTRAC is a national
organization dedicated to training the next generation of cancer scientists. As
president, Triezenberg will spearhead development of the CABTRAC 2020 annual
meeting hosted by Vanderbilt University, as well as support programmatic
committees focused on diversity, training grants, curriculum development,
postdoctoral training and medical school curriculum. He began his term at the
CABTRAC 2019 meeting in October 2019. Triezenberg joined VAI in 2006 as a
professor and founding dean of the Graduate School. He is a respected authority
in viral biology. For 31 years, his lab explored the molecular control systems that
allow viral infections to progress. Triezenberg’s discoveries with herpes simplex
virus opened new possibilities for antiviral drug development and revealed new
insights into how human cells control gene expression.
Graduate student statistics
Fall 2019 Cohort
6 Domestic
1 Underrepresented minority
4 International
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Student earns career development award
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Ph.D. student Robert Vaughan earned a
prestigious Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award from the National
Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The award, also known as the
F99/K00, provides continuous support for outstanding research Ph.D. candidates
through the completion of their dissertation research training into mentored,
cancer-focused postdoctoral career development research positions. This unique
fellowship — the first awarded to a student of the Graduate School — is intended
to support students recognized by their institutions for their high potential and
strong interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The award
will help Vaughan develop his skills in analyzing genomic and epigenomic data,
with hands-on training from VAI’s Genomics and Bioinformatics Core.
5.29 Median years to degree
65% Completion rate for Ph.D.
73% Completion rate for M.S. and Ph.D.
24 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

RESEARCH
By Career Type
(Current Position, 2007–2014 cohorts)
Primarily Research
62%
Science-related
Primarily Teaching
Further Training or Education
14%
5%
19%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
By Job Sector
(Current Position, 2007–2014 cohorts)
Nonprofit
29%
For-Profit
19%
Academia
52%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 25

Van Andel Institute for Education
is dedicated to creating classrooms where curiosity, creativity
and critical thinking thrive.
26 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 27

Blue Apple brings project-based learning to
life for teachers, students
Van Andel Institute for Education underscored its
commitment to creating classrooms where curiosity,
creativity and critical thinking thrive with the launch
of its Blue Apple project-based learning initiative in
summer 2019.
Blue Apple is an innovative way to bring project-based
learning to life for teachers and their students. Each
Blue Apple project is a self-contained unit that includes
the materials needed to immerse students in a crossdisciplinary
learning experience that develops their
understanding in science, social studies, English language
arts, math and social-emotional learning.
For example, in “Prevent the Spread,” students learn
how to stop germs in their tracks by learning how they
proliferate. By testing disinfectants, students also learn
methods to combat the spread of illnesses. Ultimately,
the students use what they’ve learned to create a public
service announcement encouraging people to practice
good hygiene and protect against germs.
“Student engagement is the key to student achievement,
so each Blue Apple project is designed to help teachers
create learning experiences that are memorable,
meaningful, and fun,” said VAI Chief Education Officer
Terra Tarango. “We are equipping and empowering
educators everywhere with the tools they need to bring
authentic, project-based learning to life.”
The Institute partnered with educators across the country
to develop 10 Blue Apple projects. These teacher-authors
spent hours refining and implementing their projects,
ensuring that each is already classroom-tested and
student-approved by the time it is made available for
wider adoption as an official Blue Apple project.
The Institute also partnered with industry experts
to infuse these learning experiences with real-world
connections. Whether it’s listening to a video from an
infectious disease expert or sharing their PSAs with
an advertiser, Blue Apple helps students interact with
authentic audiences to address actual challenges and
opportunities in today’s world.
By the end of 2019, classrooms across the nation had
adopted a total of 220 Blue Apple projects, and 100% of
educators reported their Blue Apple project increased
students’ creative and critical thinking.
To learn more about Blue Apple, visit blueappleteacher.org. To
learn more about Van Andel Institute for Education,
visit vaei.vai.org.
Impact of Blue Apple Projects
Increased creative & critical thinking
Increased student engagement
Helped students make the world a better place
Effectively integrated core content
Helped improve professional practice
Helped make efficient use of planning time
Likely to do another project
100%
95%
90%
95%
95%
80%
80%
28 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Science on the Grand 2019 shined a
spotlight on inquiry-based education
EDUCATION
The second annual Science on the Grand conference brought more than 130
teachers and educational professionals together at Van Andel Institute in
July 2019.
First held in 2018, the two-day conference is designed to honor the teaching profession
and provide educators with interactive sessions aimed at creating and maintaining
classroom cultures that support science, technology, engineering, art and math.
The conference emphasized inquiry-based learning, a principle that lies at the root
of Van Andel Institute for Education’s K–12 programs. With content curated by the
Institute’s expert team of educators, Science on the Grand sent attendees home with
research-based and classroom-tested strategies that address the demands of content
standards as well as the 21st century skills needed to succeed in today’s workplaces.
“The biggest draw for me is the chance to meet other educators who share a passion for
the STEM fields, and who I can continue to connect with and learn from even after the
conference ends,” said 2019 presenter Andy Losik, a STEM teacher in Hamilton, Michigan,
who has taught technology at the elementary level for the past two decades. “There’s
an amazing cadre of presenters, and the conference strikes the perfect balance so that
you’re always learning and connecting and growing, but you don’t feel overwhelmed or
under pressure. It was incredible.”
With workshops ranging from coding for teachers and implementing games into social
studies lessons, the 2019 conference was full of fun and innovative experiences. Another
big draw for participants was Pitch Tank, where educators were invited to submit their
ideas on how they would use $5,000 to transform their classroom. Five finalists were
invited to present their “pitch” to a panel of judges — including local radio personality
Michelle McKormick — and a live audience on the first night of the conference. Because
all the finalists made compelling arguments for their pitch, each of them was awarded a
portion of the prize money.
Science on the Grand is a perfect example of the many ways the Institute supports
teachers with the goal of helping create classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical
thinking thrive.
To learn more about VAI’s education programs, including teacher and student-focused events
and resources, visit vaei.org.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 29

Field trips, summer camps drive strong
growth in VAI student programs
Van Andel Institute for Education capped a strong
year of growth in its K–12 student programming,
serving 2,608 students in 2019 and rolling out a
number of enhancements to popular offerings like
field trips and summer camps.
The number of students served increased 82% over
the year prior, a figure driven by greater enrollment in
the Institute’s summer camps and expanded field trip
offerings that included the addition of mobile field trips.
The Institute’s student programs are designed to
advance and promote cutting-edge K–12 education
concepts and equip students with the skills to
successfully navigate the workplace of tomorrow.
“We strive to offer programs that empower students
with a lifelong love of learning, and we’re thrilled to see
more and more people taking part in these learning
experiences,” said VAI Chief Education Officer Terra
Tarango. “The growth this year has been phenomenal,
and it’s a testament to how influential these programs
are in our students’ lives.”
Here are some highlights:
Summer camps
Four summer camps were added in 2019. This included
the wildly popular, Harry Potter-themed camp,
“Hogwarts in Grand Rapids: The Science Behind the
Magic.” Students were sorted into Hogwarts houses,
made wands and attended courses like “Potions,”
“Caring for Magical Creatures” and “Herbology.”
Summer camp enrollment increased to 240 in 2019 from
135 in 2018, a 78% increase. It was the third year the
Institute hosted student summer camps.
Afterschool cohort
The Institute hosts two cohorts each semester for
students in grades 4–6. Topics vary each semester.
In 2019, Education expanded its afterschool cohort
offerings, adding programs that focus on innovation in
the areas of space exploration, natural disasters and
energy.
In the fall, students participated in “Biomedical
Explorers,” which examined genetic diversity, and
“Disaster Detectives,” which explored natural disasters
and their impact on humans. One hundred percent of
students in each cohort reported that the programs
increased their understanding of science and/or
engineering.
Field trips
Education expanded its catalog of science, engineering
and robotics field trips in 2019; in all, more than three
dozen field trips were available to students and teachers.
The Institute also began offering mobile field trips that
bring VAI educators on-location to schools.
Field trips offered by the Institute are designed to
immerse students and their teachers in learning about
science through inquiry. Students conduct unique,
grade-specific investigations and participate in hands-on
discovery.
To learn more about Van Andel Institute for Education’s
student programs, visit vaei.vai.org/student-programs.
“The growth this year has been
phenomenal, and it’s a testament
to how influential these programs
are in our students’ lives.”
— Terra Tarango
30 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

EDUCATION
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 31

Events & Philanthropy
Van Andel Institute’s donors and philanthropic partners are
connected by a shared sense of commitment to the Institute’s
mission. Their creativity, passion and dedication have helped the
Institute become a thriving center for biomedical research and K–12
education. Van Andel Institute’s signature events are an important
catalyst for scientific innovation, bringing community members
together in support of research and educational initiatives that give
people hope for a healthier future.
32 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 33

Winterfest
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
CAROL VAN ANDEL, TONY GATES
& DAVID VAN ANDEL; GEORGE
SHARPE JR., WINTERFEST
COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR, SPEAKS
TO EVENT GUESTS; AB GETTING
THE PARTY STARTED; DELICIOUSLY
COLORFUL WINTERFEST DESSERTS;
VAI SCIENTISTS DR. LENA BRUNDIN
& DR. VIVIANE LABRIE
34 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Connection Breakfast
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT,
GOING CLOCKWISE)
DR. JOSÉ BRÁS; GUESTS ENJOYING
BREAKFAST; DR. RITA GUERREIRO;
TERRA TARANGO
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 35

Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence
Dinner & Award Presentation
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
SALLY SCHAAFSMA; JERRY DEBLAAY,
CAROL VAN ANDEL & KAREN DEBLAAY; JEFF &
STEPHANIE BATTERSHALL; KIRK GIBSON &
CAROL VAN ANDEL; MEMBERS OF THE
BEA ALDRINK IDEMA FOUNDATION
36 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Board of Governors Dinner
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
CAROL VAN ANDEL; BETH VAN PORTFLIET
& LYNETTE ELLIS; DAVID VAN ANDEL;
DR. PETER A. JONES’ PRESENTATION
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 37

Purple Community Celebration
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) DR. HUI SHEN;
WOOD TV’S MARANDA WITH PURPLE COMMUNITY TEAM MEMBERS
ASHLEY OWEN & MCKENZIE HOLLERN; TERRA TARANGO;
MICHELLE LUNN GOLF COMMITTEE
38 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Around the World
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
CAROL VAN ANDEL, TERRA TARANGO &
DAVID VAN ANDEL; A BARTENDER POURS A
SELECTION FROM THE ARRAY OF ARTISAN WINES;
CHRIS & ALYSSA NANCE; EVENT GUESTS PERUSING
THE SILENT AUCTION
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 39

Curiosity Hour
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING
CLOCKWISE) KIDS EXPERIMENT WITH FOSSILS
AT THE CAN YOU DIG IT STATION; GUESTS
COOL DOWN AT THE KONA ICE TRUCK; TOBY
THE TORTOISE IN HER HABITAT; TESTING
STRUCTURE DESIGNS AT THE SHAKE, SHAKE,
SHAKE STATION; KIDS THINK LIKE ENGINEERS
TO BUILD STABLE STRUCTURES
40 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

VAI Golf Outing
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
JACK DOLES, MIKE KNUBLE, DAVID VAN ANDEL &
KYLE VAN ANDEL; THE TITLE SPONSOR GROUP
ENJOYING THE DAY; THE SILENT AUCTION
TABLE FEATURING A VARIETY OF RED WINGS
MERCHANDISE SIGNED BY MIKE KNUBLE;
CAROL VAN ANDEL & SUSAN SHAW; SPECIAL
GUEST MIKE KNUBLE DISCUSSES THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE INSTITUTE’S MISSION
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 41

Couture for a Cure
(STARTING AT THE TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT) CAROL VAN ANDEL SHARES
THE INSTITUTE’S LASTEST RESEARCH UPDATES; A MODEL WALKS THE
RUNWAY; FEATURED DESIGNER VICTORIA HAYES, LEIGH’S OWNER
REBECCA WIERDA, SCOTT WIERDA & LEIGH’S SALES MANAGER JOANNA
HADJIYANIS; GUESTS ENJOY AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT VICTORIA HAYES’
FALL/WINTER ‘19 COLLECTION; CAROL VAN ANDEL WITH JANE ZWIERS
& YOUNG SUPPORTERS OF THE INSTITUTE FROM HOPE COLLEGE;
AMWAY’S CANDACE MATTHEWS EMCEES THE EVENT; THE ARTISTRY
BEAUTY LOUNGE FEATURING HAIR & MAKEUP TOUCHUPS
42 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Hope on the Hill — A Night in Wonderland
EVENTS
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE)
JEFFERY ROBERTS, CAROL VAN ANDEL & DAVID
VAN ANDEL; GUESTS BID ON EXCITING PACKAGES
AT THE SILENT AUCTION TABLE; VAI’S DR. HEIDI
LEMPRADL ENJOYS A CARD TRICK; THE CHESHIRE
CAT SMILES AT GUESTS AS THEY CELEBRATE THE
EVENING; PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON ENTERTAINS
THE AUDIENCE WITH HIS UNIQUE PERFORMANCE
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 43

A Conversation About Metabolism & Nutrition
Hosted By Carol Van Andel
(STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT, GOING CLOCKWISE) VAI’S CHIEF SCIENTIFIC
OFFICER DR. PETER A. JONES MINGLING WITH GUESTS; DR. RUSSELL JONES,
DR. CONNIE KRAWCZYK & WOOD TV’S MARANDA; CAROL VAN ANDEL
HOSTING THE EVENT; GUESTS NETWORK BEFORE THE EVENT
44 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Signature special event sponsors
We are grateful to have extraordinarily dedicated signature event sponsors.
Thank you for partnering with us and supporting our mission throughout the year.
PHILANTHROPY
ACH + Hospitality, Hyatt Place,
AC Hotels Marriott
Dennis & Barbara Adama
Advanced Family Chiropractic
Center
Alliance Beverage
Amway
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Anonymous
Applied Imaging
Aon
Aquinas College
Atwater Brewery GR
Autocam Medical
B-93
B.D.’s BBQ
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Chad Bassett
BDT & Company, LLC
Belwith Products
Bengtson Center for Aesthetics
& Plastic Surgery
Betz Industries
BHS Insurance
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
Dave & Jill Bielema
Bluewater Technologies
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
BRAVO
Buist Electric
Butcher’s Union
Calamos Investments
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Cancer & Hematology Centers
of Western Michigan
Carnelian Energy Capital
Cascade Rental
Center for Physical Rehabilitation
CityFlatsHotel
Cheeky Strut
Classic Race Management
Colliers International
Consumers Credit Union
Cork Wine & Grille
Cornerstone University
Crowe LLP
Mimi Cummings
Cumulus Media
Tom & Tracy Curran
Custer Inc.
CWD Real Estate Investment
D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare
& Forest Hills Foods
Davenport University
David & Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation
Deloitte
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Jeff & Mary Dixon
Divani
DJ Grant Miller
Eastern Floral
Edward Jones
Eenhoorn, LLC
Eileen DeVries Family Foundation
Ellis Parking Company
Emmanuel Hospice
Erhardt Construction
Eurest
FastSigns
Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.
Fifth Third Bank
First National Bank
Foremost Insurance Company
Fred L. Hansen Corporation
Gallagher Insurance
Gazelle Sports
Give ‘Em A Break Safety
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Grand Valley State University
Greenridge Realty, Inc.
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Groove City Events
Gun Lake Investments
Jana Hall
Harvey Automotive of Grand
Rapids
HealthBridge
Ben & Molly Hunting
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
Dave & Donna Hockstra
Hope College
Hope Network
Howard Miller
Huizenga Group
Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy
Bill & Starr Humphries
Ice Sculptures, LTD
ICN Foundation
iHeart Media
Independent Bank
Jandernoa Foundation
Jeffery Roberts Design
John Hancock Retirement Plan
Services
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Julie & Dan Horning Family
FUN’d
Kent County Medical Society
Alliance
Craig & Debra Kinney
Kitchen 67
Al & Robin Koop
Blake & Mary Krueger
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Leigh’s
Leo’s
Life EMS Ambulance
Lighthouse Group
Gary & Vicky Ludema
Macatawa Bank
Making the Turn Against
Parkinson’s
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation
Hospital
Mary Free Bed YMCA
McAlvey Merchant & Associates
McShane & Bowie, P.L.C.
Meijer
Meijer Foundation
Deb Meijer
Mercy Health
Merrill Lynch — Veldheer, Long,
Mackay & Bernecker Group
Metro Health — University of
Michigan Health
Metro Health Sports Medicine
MGD Technologies, Inc.
Michael J. Murdock
Oppenheimer & Co.
Michelle Crumback Jewelry
Michigan Paving & Materials Co.
Michigan State University —
College of Human Medicine
Midwest Capital Advisors, LLC
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Millennial Guru
MLive Media Group
Modern Day Collective
New Holland Brewing
Norris Perne & French, LLP
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Orthopaedic Associates of
Michigan
Matt & Beth Osterhaven
Owens-Ames-Kimball Co.
Lee & Alexandra Perez
Perper Design Associates, Inc.
Peter C. & Emajean Cook
Foundation
Pine Rest
Pioneer Construction
Pitsch Company
PL Capital, LLC
Plastic Surgery Associates
Priority Health
Quality Air Service, Inc.
Reds at Thousand Oaks
Regal Financial Group LLC.
Rehmann
Renew Family Dental
Reserve Wine & Food
Tom & Brenda Rinks
ROAM
Robert Barcelona — Merrill
Lynch
Rocket Science
Rockford Construction
RoMan Manufacturing Inc.
Ron’s Beans
Eve Rogus & Paul Becker
John & Therese Rowerdink
Rowerdink Inc.
San Chez Bistro
Scott Group Studio
Secrest Wardle
Tony & Dawn Semple
Dan Shapiro & Joe Mangini
Slows Bar BQ
Sobie Meats
Spectrum Health
Rob & Susan Stafford
Steelcase
Stephen Klotz Family Foundation
Suburban Landscapes
Summit Point Roofing
Sweetie-licious Bakery
Taconic Charitable Foundation
Terra
Thacker Sleight
The Chop House
The John Dykema & Michele
Maly-Dykema Family Foundation
The Meijer Foundation
The Peter & Joan Secchia Family
Foundation
The Sharpe Collection
The Steve & Amy Van Andel
Foundation
Thomas S. Fox Family
Thomas & Mary Stuit
Todd Wenzel Automotive
Townsquare Media
Trillium Investments
US Bank
Sharon Van Dellen
Mike & Michelle Van Dyke
Van Eerden Food Service
Company
Dave & Beth Van Portfliet
Brian & Lori Vander Baan
Versiti
Vintage Prime & Seafood
Waddell & Reed
Mike & Bonnie Walters
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Wells Fargo
West Michigan Woman
Wheelhouse Kitchen & Cocktails
Geoff & LeeAnne Widlak
Dr. Bart & Wendy Williams
Greg & Meg Willit
Wolverine Worldwide
Women’s Lifestyle
YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Zip Xpress, Inc.
Jim & Jane Zwiers
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 45

Dr. George Vande Woude: A life lived in science
DR. GEORGE VANDE WOUDE
If you ask Van Andel Institute’s Founding Research
Director Dr. George Vande Woude about his uncle
Henny, he’ll tell you that he was a prizefighter who
could lift a barrel of beer over his head with one arm.
He’ll also tell you that Henny changed his life.
“My uncle said, ‘I’ll get you a summer job and it’ll pay
good money, but if you take it, you have to promise me
that you’ll go back to school,” Vande Woude recalled.
When Vande Woude was 18, his uncle made good on his
promise, and the young man started work as a union
beer truck delivery man in Queens, New York. It was
hard work, but that job, along with help from the G.I. Bill
of Rights from his earlier Army service, funded Vande
Woude’s first degree at Hofstra University — and gave
the world one of the great pioneers of cancer research.
“My giving is a testament to
the work of the Institute’s
scientists, and I really try
and give as much as I can to
support the Institute as it
continues to take its mission
out into the rest of the world.”
— Dr. George Vande Woude
After earning his Ph.D. from Rutgers University, Vande
Woude held a number of prestigious posts before
coming to Grand Rapids. He spent eight years at the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plum Island Animal
Disease Center followed by stints as research director
of the Basic Research Program at the National Cancer
Institute’s Cancer Research and Development Center,
and as director for NCI’s Division of Basic Sciences.
During his tenure at NCI, Vande Woude explored the
origins of cancer on the molecular level and discovered
the human MET oncogene and proto-oncogene —
advances that led to the development of new, targeted
cancer therapies.
One day in 1998, Vande Woude got a call about a new
research institute opening in Michigan. He would have
the chance to help build it from the ground up. He
accepted and began recruiting talented, young scientists
from across the country to work at VAI. His exhaustive
efforts in those early days laid a strong foundation for
VAI and helped grow the Institute into a world-class
biomedical research organization.
Vande Woude stepped down as research director
in 2009 to focus on his laboratory. Today, he is a VAI
Distinguished Scientific Fellow, Emeritus, and continues
to provide the Institute’s leadership with guidance. Vande
Woude and his late wife, Dot, were active, generous VAI
donors for years. George, whose support continues to
this day, believes strongly in the ability of philanthropy
to support groundbreaking research into cancer and
neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
“Philanthropy plays a major role in any research
program,” Vande Woude said. “My giving is a testament
to the work of the Institute’s scientists, and I really try
and give as much as I can to support the Institute as
it continues to take its mission out into the rest of the
world.”
As a man who has lived his life in science for more than
six decades, Vande Woude glows when asked what his
favorite part about being a scientist, and states without
missing a beat: “All of it.”
46 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Supporting Parkinson’s research
today, because of tomorrow
PHILANTHROPY
It all started with a tremor.
Richard Nelson, a father of three, loving husband and
successful sales manager, noticed a small shake in his hand.
At first, he didn’t think much of it, and continued to live
his life. Then, 12 years ago, that tremor was diagnosed as
Parkinson’s disease, and Richard and his wife, Paula, had to
come to terms with the reality that their life had changed.
“I was in denial that I had Parkinson’s for a long time,”
Richard said. “I just convinced myself that it wasn’t that bad.”
“As donors, we are always looking at
the bigger picture, and we’re confident
that this incredible research will
benefit people down the road who are
fighting this disease as well.”
— Paula Nelson
When the Nelsons began looking for Parkinson’s patient
resources in West Michigan, they learned about Van Andel
Institute’s annual Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease
symposium. They attended Rallying to the Challenge, a
meeting within the symposium for people with Parkinson’s
and hosted in collaboration with The Cure Parkinson’s
Trust. While there, they heard VAI’s Director of the Center
for Neurodegenerative Science, Dr. Patrik Brundin, speak.
After hearing about the Institute’s research, the Nelsons
knew they wanted to do something to support Dr. Brundin
and his work at the Institute.
“Dr. Brundin’s passion for what he does creates a
contagious level of excitement,” Paula said. “I really feel that
Van Andel Institute is one of best kept secrets in Grand
Rapids, and I wish people had a better understanding
about how lucky we are to have people like Dr. Brundin
working in our community.”
In addition to attending the Institute’s Parkinson’s-focused
events, the Nelsons are generous donors who believe in
RICHARD & PAULA NELSON
the power of research to impact the lives of people who are
battling a disease that affects millions of people worldwide.
“As donors, we are always looking at the bigger picture,”
Paula said, “and we’re confident that this incredible
research will benefit people down the road who are fighting
this disease as well.”
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 47

Student Ambassadors make their mark with
Van Andel Institute Purple Community
HOLLY BARKER (RIGHT) & HER MOTHER, AUDREY, STRIKE A POSE
AT RUNWAY FOR RIBBONS
Holly Barker has a passion for helping others. When
she was an eighth grader at Duncan Lake Middle School
in Caledonia, Michigan, Barker organized and hosted a
fashion show to coincide with the school’s annual Cancer
Walk. The event raised $2,000 with the help of big-name
sponsors like American Eagle, Macy’s, Men’s Wearhouse
and Meijer that pitched in after appeals from Barker
herself.
Barker’s drive to build a new philanthropic event from the
ground up is what helped earn her a spot in Van Andel
Institute Purple Community’s inaugural class of Student
Ambassadors for the 2019–20 school year. She was
thrilled to be part of the new program, which brings
together student leaders from West Michigan high
schools to learn critical philanthropic skills like event
planning, fundraising, community engagement and
teambuilding.
“The Student Ambassador
program really helped me learn
how to prioritize tasks, to
always have a backup plan and
to always be flexible in how you
reach your goals.”
— Holly Barker
“Getting to help and support people in the community,
while also learning new skills myself, has been amazing,”
said Barker. “We get to work with so many incredible
people, all while supporting research into cancer and
other diseases being studied at VAI.”
The Student Ambassadors’ goal was to plan and host a
new event to raise funds for the Institute’s research and
education programs. The students gathered monthly
at VAI, and to help them along the way, Institute leaders,
scientists and staff met with the students to explain
VAI’s mission and teach them about the importance
of cultivating community connections and fundraising
partnerships. The speakers also addressed the skills
necessary to successfully organize and execute an event,
such as communication and organization. To help gain
hands-on experience, the students also volunteered at
Purple Community events during the school year.
Ultimately, Barker and her fellow ambassadors put their
heads together and announced Cruising for Hope, a
fun, family-friendly night at Craig’s Cruisers. Attendees
would be able purchase a wristband that gave the wearer
access to three hours of unlimited laser tag, go-karts,
pizza and more activities and refreshments at Craig’s
Cruisers.
Though the event, originally scheduled for spring
2020, was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the
planning process taught the students valuable life and
leadership skills like time management, teamwork and
adaptability. Barker said one of her biggest takeaways
was learning how to take a bold idea like a new event,
critically examine it and continually refine the strategy to
accomplish the end goal.
“It’s easy to dream as high as the sky, but you can only
do so much in a set amount of time,” Barker said. “The
Student Ambassador program really helped me learn
how to prioritize tasks, to always have a backup plan and
to always be flexible in how you reach your goals.”
To learn more about the Van Andel Institute Purple
Community Student Ambassador Program and to apply for
the upcoming school year, visit purplecommunity.org.
48 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Parkinson’s research goes ‘MINI’
on the Mackinac Bridge
PHILANTHROPY
On a sunny August weekend in Mackinaw City,
Michigan, near the southern terminus of the Mackinac
Bridge, a sea of MINI Coopers stretched as far as the
eye could see.
It was time for MINI on the Mack, a unique, biennial event
organized by the Grand Rapids-based Sharpe Automotive
dealership that brings together hundreds of MINI Cooper
owners to drive in unison across the five-mile span
connecting Michigan’s two peninsulas.
What first began as a world record attempt for the longest
parade of MINIs has evolved into a fun and meaningful
event that supports Parkinson’s disease research at
Van Andel Institute.
Sharpe’s father, George Sharpe Sr., was diagnosed
with Parkinson’s in 2009. The Sharpe family have been
passionate supporters of the Institute’s Parkinson’s
research, and MINI on the Mack marries the family’s
automotive passions with their drive to support VAI.
MINI owners are a passionate group, eager to share the
story behind their cars, Sharpe Jr. said. At events like MINI
on the Mack, that passion readily translates into supporting
Parkinson’s and other research at the Institute.
“It creates a long-lasting memory for MINI owners,” he said,
“and for us as a family and business, being able to serve as
the connector is gratifying.”
“Having Van Andel Institute involved adds a level of depth for most people there,
and for the people like me who have been affected by Parkinson’s. It gives them
an opportunity to connect and share their stories with each other.”
— George Sharpe Jr.
More than 1,300 MINI owners participated in the 2019
event, which raised $30,000 research at the Institute.
“It’s an adrenaline rush,” said George Sharpe Jr., partner
in Sharpe, of seeing MINI owners from far and wide join
together. “Having Van Andel Institute involved adds a level
of depth for most people there, and for the people like me
who have been affected by Parkinson’s. It gives them an
opportunity to connect and share their stories with each
other.”
Sharpe Jr. said he was thankful for the involvement of
Institute CEO David Van Andel and wife Carol Van Andel,
executive director of the David and Carol Van Andel Family
Foundation, who helped kick off the festivities and took
part in the parade across the bridge. Jay Van Andel, the
Institute’s founder and David Van Andel’s father, lived with
Parkinson’s disease for many years before his death in
2004.
“We’re so grateful to Sharpe and the Sharpe family for
spearheading this fun and powerful event,” Carol Van Andel
said. “The Sharpe and Van Andel families are connected by
the impact Parkinson’s has had on our families, and we are
proud to stand together at events like MINI on the Mack that
bring together so many people to raise awareness of and
support for Parkinson’s research.”
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 49

Highlights
EVENTS
Public lectures highlight VAI research and education efforts
Van Andel Institute hosted four public lectures in 2019, exploring the topics of
pancreatic cancer, translational medicine, education in America and Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia. Members of the public were invited into the
Institute for the free, one-hour lectures, where attendees heard about the latest
research and education initiatives at VAI. Audience members could ask questions
after each presentation to further probe the topics being discussed. The public
lectures are an important way to connect community members and donors with
scientists and educators at the Institute, and to show them the impact their support
has on furthering VAI’s missions of improving the health of current and future
generations. Total attendance for the 2019 lectures was 768 people.
PHILANTHROPY
Celebrating our Van Andel Institute Purple Community volunteers
In 2019, volunteers gave a combined 1,189 hours of their time to support Van Andel
Institute Purple Community events and programs. Volunteers fill a key role in
Purple Community’s mission by helping ensure the success of our signature and
third-party events run smoothly. They also help spread word about the important
work being done at the Institute. Registering to volunteer with Purple Community is
easy: Our simple online registration form helps Purple Community staff get to know
our prospective volunteers. A volunteer handbook and an up-to-date calendar of
upcoming volunteer opportunities accompany the registration form. To learn more
about how you can get involved with Van Andel Institute Purple Community, visit
purplecommunity.vai.org/volunteer.
PHILANTHROPY
VAI Marathon Team conquers Chicago, New York City marathons
The Van Andel Institute Purple Community Marathon Team had another banner
year at the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City
Marathon. The Institute is an official charity partner with both races, which gives
free, guaranteed entry to Marathon Team members. Marathon Team members
run for a number of reasons; some run to honor a loved one who’s been affected
by a disease like cancer or Parkinson’s, and others run because they personally
have been affected. Some run to accomplish a personal goal. Whatever the reason,
Marathon Team members helped raise $99,953.40 toward research and K–12
programs at the Institute in 2019. The Marathon Team has raised $247,151.12
since 2017.
PHILANTHROPY
Bee Brave 5K brings hope to breast cancer survivors
The 12th annual Bee Brave 5K brought dozens of runners together on Saturday,
Oct. 12, 2019, to support those who have been affected by breast cancer and raise
funds for research at Van Andel Institute. The 5K is one of multiple events hosted
by Bee Brave throughout the year to raise breast cancer awareness, support those
who have been affected by the disease and honor those whose battle has ended.
The event, held at Shagbark Farm in Caledonia, Michigan, raised more than $60,000,
with 100% going directly toward research at the Institute. Other 2019 events
included the Bee Brave Golf Outing and Bee Brave Beer & Wine Fest. All Bee Brave
events raised a combined $81,484 in 2019.
50 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

PHILANTHROPY
Society of Hope
The Society of Hope recognizes those who have included
Van Andel Institute in their will, trust, or other estate plans.
Through our acknowledgment of and gratitude to these
exceptional people, we hope that their generosity will
inspire others.
Viviane G. Anderson
Stanley & Blanche Ash
Kevin & Michelle Bassett
Philip & Shirley Battershall
John & Nancy Batts
Fred Bogaert
William & Marilyn Crawford
Barbara Erhards
J. Scott Grill
Joan Hammersmith
Arthur Joseph Jabury
Maryanna Johnson
Reneé Kuipers
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Long
Donald & Kathleen Maine
Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols
LG & Helen Myers
Robert & Lorraine Nyhoff
Jone E. Phillips
Ronald Rutkowski
Alan R. Ryan
Ralph Siegel
George Sietsema
Eva Sonneville
Fred L. Tape
Hylda & Alvin Tuuk
John E. VanFossen
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 51

By the numbers
VAI Operating Revenues
67%
3%
5%
25%
$60,800K
$23,100K
$4,100K
$2,900K
Investment return utilized
Grant & contract revenue
Contributions
Other revenues
$103,000
$63,000
Designated Gifts
Total: $3,492,000
$557,000
Scientific Event Sponsorships
Neurodegenerative
Metabolism
$1,477,000
Internship Program
Operating Expenses
$1,000,000
Education
Cardiovascular
Cancer
Other
32%
$65,800K
Research
$28,000 $124,000
$140,000
63%
$32,800K
Management, general & other
5%
$5,100K
Education
52 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Institute Leadership Team
LEADERSHIP
David Van Andel
Van Andel Institute Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
David Van Andel is Chairman and CEO of Van Andel
Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also an
entrepreneur involved in several other business interests
in the natural and life science products industries.
The son of Jay Van Andel, founder of Van Andel Institute
and co-founder of Amway Corporation, David is currently
a member of Amway’s Board of Directors and serves on
its Executive, Governance and Audit committees. Before
leading Van Andel Institute, he had held various positions
at Amway since 1977, including chief operating officer of
Amway’s Pyxis Innovations Business Unit, and was senior
vice president — Americas and Europe, overseeing
Amway business activities in North America and 22
European and 11 Latin American affiliates.
Jerry Callahan, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Chief Strategic Officer
Jana Hall, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Chief Operations Officer
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer
Timothy Myers, M.B.A., C.P.A.
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Terra Tarango
Director & Chief Education Officer
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D.
President & Dean, Van Andel Institute
Graduate School
Linda Zarzecki
Vice President of Human Resources
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 53

Van Andel Institute Board Members
Van Andel Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
Joan Budden
President & Chief Executive Officer, Priority Health
John Kennedy
President & Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Medical
Mark Meijer
President, Life E.M.S. Ambulance
Van Andel Research Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
Tom R. DeMeester, M.D.
Professor & Chairman Emeritus, Department of Surgery,
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
James B. Fahner, M.D.
Chief of Hematology & Oncology, Helen DeVos Children’s
Hospital
Michelle Le Beau, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology;
Director, University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer
Center; Director, Cancer Cytogenetics Laboratory,
University of Chicago
George Vande Woude, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scientific Fellow, Founding Research
Director, Van Andel Research Institute
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor,
Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director,
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Van Andel Education Institute Trustees
David Van Andel
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
James E. Bultman, Ed.D.
Former President, Hope College
Susan Keipper Meell
Chief Executive Officer, MMS Education
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scholar in Residence for Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy,
Grand Valley State University; President Emeritus, Aquinas
College
Teresa Weatherall Neal, Ed.D.
Former Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Van Andel Institute Graduate School
Board of Directors
James B. Fahner, M.D.
Chief, Hematology & Oncology, Helen DeVos Children’s
Hospital
(LEFT TO RIGHT) JOHN KENNEDY, DAVID VAN ANDEL,
MARK MEIJER & JOAN BUDDEN
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Chief Scientific Officer; Distinguished Professor; Director,
Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute
54 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

BOARDS
Van Andel Research Institute Graduate School Board of Directors (continued)
Pamela Kidd, M.D.
Medical Director, Hematology & Flow Cytometry
Laboratories of Spectrum Health & Helen DeVos
Children’s Hospital
Karen Klomparens, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor to the Provost, Michigan State University
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scholar in Residence for Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy,
Grand Valley State University; President Emeritus,
Aquinas College
Mary O’Riordan, Ph.D.
Professor & Associate Dean, University of Michigan
Medical School
Danny R. Welch, Ph.D.
Founding Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, University
of Kansas Cancer Center
Van Andel Research Institute External
Scientific Advisory Board
Sharon Y.R. Dent, Ph.D. (ESAB Chair)
Professor & Chair, Department of Epigenetics & Molecular
Carcinogenesis; Director, Science Park; Director, Center
for Cancer Epigenetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Van Andel Research Institute External Scientific Advisory Board (continued)
Joseph Ecker, Ph.D.
Professor, Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Laboratory;
Director, Genomic Analysis Laboratory; Howard Hughes
Medical Institute Investigator; Salk International Council
Chair in Genetics, Salk Institute
Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, University of California at Irvine
Theresa Guise, M.D.
Professor of Medicine; Jerry W. & Peg S. Throgmartin
Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Division
of Endocrinology, Indiana University
Tony Hunter, Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory; American
Cancer Society Professor; Renato Dulbecco Chair;
Director, Salk Institute Cancer Center
Anthony E. Lang, O.C., M.D., FRCPC, FAAN, FCAHS,
FRSC
Director, Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease,
Toronto Western Hospital
Mitchell Lazar, M.D., Ph.D.
Willard & Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes & Metabolic
Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of
Pennsylvania
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor,
Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 55

Van Andel Institute Board of Governors
CO-CHAIRS: TIM LONG & VICKY LUDEMA
Chris Ade
Perry Alburg
Liz Alexander
Rosemary Anderson
Kurt Arvidson
Tony & Kathleen Asselta
Jeff Battershall
Regena Bassett
John & Ginny Baysore
Norman & Kristina Beauchamp
Stacie Behler
Bradley & Anna Bengtson
Gregory & Rajene Betz
Karl & Patricia Betz
Franco & Alessandra Bianchi
Dave & Jill Bielema
Daniel Bitzer
Chuck & Christine Boelkins
Carrie Boer
M. Rodrick & Kathleen Bolhous
Chuck & Sarah Booth
Jeremy Bouwhuis
Patrick & Kris Brady
Leonard Brucato
Joan Budden
William & Jackie Bylenga
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
Amy & Randall Chambers
Stacey Coffman
Mike & Kathy Cok
Steven & Diane Colvin
Stephen Comer
Matthew & Carlie Cook
Bill & Marilyn Crawford
Mimi Cummings
Tom & Tracy Curran
William Currie
Dave & Karen Custer
Stephen & Jennifer Czech
Jerry & Karen DeBlaay
Thomas & Jacquie DeJonge
Douglas & Sandra Dekock
Rob DeVilbiss
Dick & Betsy DeVos
Douglas & Maria DeVos
Brian DeVries & Barbara Pugh
Daniel & Viki Distin
Cynthia Dunlap
John Dykstra
Mark Eastburg
Michael & Lynette Ellis
Tim & Gail Emmitt
Henry & Anne Emrich
Mathew & Jennifer Fahrenkrug
Tom & Mickie Fox
Tina Freese-Decker
Edward Fritsch
Dan & LouAnn Gaydou
Todd & Brenda Gardner
Stuart & Lori Genschaw
John & Nancy Gordon
Brent & Cheryl Granger
Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Jefra Groendyk
Ronald Haan
Dr. Thomas & Marcia Haas
Peter Hahn
Jana Hall
Tom & Lynn Hammer
Scott Hammontree
Kurt & Madelon Hassberger
Paul & Sheryl Haverkate
Lewis & Teresa Hendricks-Pitsch
Paul & Rosemary Heule
Steve Hodges
Dirk & June Hoffius
Rhonda & Marshall Huismann
J.C. Huizenga & Dr. Tammy L. Born-
Huizenga
Bill & Starr Humphries
Ben & Molly Hunting
John & Laura Hurley
Bea Idema
Kyle Irwin
Mike & Sue Jandernoa
Robert & Lynne Jarman-Johnson
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
John & Deb Kailunas
John & Nancy Kennedy
Craig & Debra Kinney
Stephen Klotz
Al & Robin Koop
Blake & Mary Krueger
Renee Kuipers
Michael & Brenda Lamfers
Ray & Jeannine Lanning
Kenneth Larm
Wayne & Terry Lobdell
Ray B. Loeschner
Tim & Kim Long
Steve Longstreet
Gary & Vicky Ludema
Michael & Suzanne Lunn
David Madiol
Kathleen Maine
John & Michele Maly-Dykema
Joe Martinez
Holly McCaw
Michael & Jen McGraw
Deb Meijer
Lena Meijer
Mark & Mary Beth Meijer
Rusty & Jenn Merchant
Howard & Lisa Miller
Jack H. Miller
Jamie Mills & Jim Nichols
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Martha Muir
Laurie-Ann Netto
Jack Nichols
Juan & Mary Olivarez
Steve Olson
Richard Pappas
Richard Postma
Ryan Quillan
Sam & Francesca Rehnborg
Patrick Reid
Henry Rempe
Pat Ringnalda
Brenda & Tom Rinks
Jeffery Roberts
Eve Rogus & Paul Becker
Kari Luther Rosbeck
Doug Rottman
John & Therese Rowerdink
Fred & Kathy Rozema
Christine Salvati
H. Gideon Sanders
Michael & Cynthia Schaap
Megan Schmidt
Tim & Barbie Schowalter
Matthew A. Scogin
Peter & Joan Secchia
Tony & Dawn Semple
George & Linda Sharpe
George & Missy Sharpe
Thank you, Board of Governors.
As members of the Van Andel Institute Board of Governors, you serve as ambassadors who help advance the Institute’s mission and vision in the local community.
Thank you for being our partners and contributing significantly to our success.
56 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS
Nicole Sharpe
Eric & Mary Shupe
Jason & Kasie Smith
John & Judy Spoelhof
Rob & Susan Stafford
Peter Stamos & Soonmee
Cha-Stamos
Frank & Dana Stanek
Tom Stavrou
Dr. James L. Strikwerda
Thomas & Mary Stuit
Theresa Sullivan
Duke Suwyn
Steve & Cheryl Timyan
Marilyn Titche
Brian Toronyi
Dr. Steven & Laura Triezenberg
David & Carol Van Andel
Steve & Amy Van Andel
Michael & Michelle Van Dyke
Dan & Ann Marie Van Eerden
Donna Van Haren
Dave & Beth Van Portfliet
Maria Van Til
Dr. George Vande Woude
Brian & Lori Vander Baan
Allen & Nancy VanderLaan
Sharon VanDellen
Don & Janell VanDine
Michael & Gayle VanGessel
James & Mary Veldheer
John & Vanessa Veleris
Peter & Denise Versluis
Chris & Dana Vinton
Phillip & Kathleen Vogelsang
Jen Weixeldorfer
Tom & Laurie Welch
Todd & Tracy Wenzel
Ben & Jennifer Wickstrom
Geoff & LeeAnne Widlak
Scott & Rebecca Wierda
Julie Wiersema
Jim & Sue Williams
Greg & Meg Willit
Steve Wlodarski
Galit Wolf
Dr. Leslie & Jane Wong
John & Kathleen Workman
Todd Wriggelsworth & Renee
Tabben
Sean Wright
Jim & Jane Zwiers
Van Andel Institute JBoard Ambassadors
CO-CHAIRS: RACHEL MRAZ & CHAD BASSETT
Dr. Dorothy C. Armstrong
Travis Arnoys
Keegan Balk
Robert & Katie Barcelona
Chad Bassett
Lindsay Benedict
Christopher Billmeier
Hannah Blackwell
Paige Cornetet
Blake Crabb
Jenna DeBest
Aaron & Afton DeVos
Samuel DeVries
Alex Ehlert-VanBeveren
Jennifer Fischer
Dana Friis-Hansen
Zachary Gebben
Mary Hilger
Ken Hoffman & Lisa Rose
Mark Holzbach
Jordan Hoyer
Jason & Brandi Huyser
Eric Jones
Margaret Kennedy
Alison Keutgen
Kevin & Katie Kileen
Kyle Kimble
Michael & Andrea Leestma
Casey Lowery
Geoff Ludema
Mike & Rachel Mraz
Thomas Murray
Christopher & Alyssa Nance
Kendra Osowski
Gregory Paplawsky
Eric Payne
Stacy Peck
Leland & Alexandra Perez
Justin Pinto
Cody Pletcher
Lily Powers
Pablo & Jenna Prieto
Nicole Probst
Sara Ross
Charlie & Tanya Rowerdink
Alex Schrotenboer
Lisa Schrotenboer
Kelsey Schweibert
Jon & Allison Sleight
Joseph Spoelhof
Timothy Streit
Mark Stuit
Elizabeth Terhorst
Bob Tsironis
Aaron & Hailey Van Andel
Chris Van Andel
Jesse & Heather Van Andel
Kyle Van Andel
Daniel VandenBosch
Sarah VanderBaan
Tripp & Katie VanderWal
Sydney Vinton
Alexandra Wittenbach
Brandon & Tina Wong
Megan Zubrickas
THESE LISTS REPRESENT MEMBERSHIP BETWEEN JAN. 1, 2019, AND DEC. 31, 2019.
Thank you, JBoard Ambassadors.
As JBoard Ambassadors, you are leaders who exhibit the power of young professionals to make a difference. We appreciate the energy and dedication you bring to the
Institute. Thank you for your vision and your friendship in our efforts to improve the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 57

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