ANNUAL REPORT 2015
AN AGILE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION INSTITUTE KNOWN FOR
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THAT HOLD INNOVATION CAPTIVE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 36 Donor Recognition
4 A Letter from David Van Andel
21 Education
7 Research
22 Nexgen Inquiry - Science Education for the New Century
8 Powerful Collaborations 11 Unlocking the Mysteries of Inherited Parkinson's Disease
ÂŽ
25 Training Tomorrow's Physician-Scientists 26 The Teacher as Scientist
12 Recruiting the Best and Brightest
29 Donors and Philanthropic Partners
14 A Historic Day: The Dutch King and Queen Visit VAI
30 Purple Community
17 Heart-Repair Yourself!
32 VAI's Health Advocacy Focused Events Inspire and Inform
18 Top Honors Bestowed to Institute Scientists
39 Tributes 40 Memorials 43 Signature Special Event Sponsors 44 Leadership Team 45 Board and Council Members
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
3
Scientists and educators are looking past the status quo, seeking out new opportunities and forging new paths to discovery. Embracing a culture of collaboration and revolutionary ideas, we enter a new era for the Institute.
Dear Friends, We are fortunate to live in a time of extraordinary innovation, intellectual progress and technological advancement. Over the past 20 years, we have gained incredible insight into the vast universe around us and the smallest molecules within us. Scientists are driving discoveries at an unprecedented rate. And yet, there’s a sense that we are just beginning to see all that is possible. Van Andel Institute is thriving in this new world. Our organization was founded in 1996 with a broad vision to impact human health. Since then, with the support of donors and friends like you, we have become an agile biomedical research and science education institute known for breaking down barriers that hold innovation captive. Scientists and educators are looking past the status quo, seeking out new opportunities and forging new paths to discovery. Embracing a culture of collaboration and revolutionary ideas, we are entering a new era for the Institute. In the following pages, you will see many stories of exceptional science and inspiring educational advances—tangible examples of the momentum we are experiencing as an organization. It is my hope that you will see reflections of yourselves and your generosity. As the Institute heads toward its 20th anniversary, I remain grateful for your friendship and commitment to our crucial mission. Together, we will continue to explore all that is possible and make a lasting and profound impact on the future of human health.
Warmly,
David Van Andel
Chairman and CEO
4
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
5
6
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
WE ARE WORLD LEADERS IN CANCER EPIGENETICS AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE
RESEARCH. COLLABORATING WITH ACADEMIA, INDUSTRY AND PHILANTHROPY, WE ORCHESTRATE CUTTING EDGE CLINICAL TRIALS TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH.
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
7
POWERFUL COLLABORATIONS Collaborations between Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and its prestigious partners around the world continue to solidify the Institute’s reputation as an international leader in cancer and neurodegenerative disease research.
THE VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE–STAND UP TO CANCER (SU2C) EPIGENETICS DREAM TEAM Since 2014, the Institute has become an influential nexus for epigenetics, the study of how the modification and packaging of DNA influences which genes are turned on or off in a cell. DNA may be likened to computer hardware while epigenetics may be compared to software, which tells the hardware what to do. In much the same way, epigenetic changes affect how genes are regulated without changing the actual genetic code. Epigenetic errors can sometimes result in cancer or other diseases and, as such, are prime targets for novel drug therapies. The collaboration between the Institute and SU2C, a program of non-profit organization the Entertainment Industry Foundation that raises funds to accelerate
8
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
the pace of groundbreaking translational research, supports multi-institutional efforts to develop new effective cancer therapies. The VARI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team, led by VARI's Chief Scientific Officer Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc., and Stephen Baylin, M.D., a professor who holds a joint appointment between VARI and Johns Hopkins University, focuses on moving promising epigenetic therapies into clinical trials, a crucial step to get much-needed treatments to patients. Objective scientific review is provided by the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee, chaired by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., with support from SU2C’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the world’s largest and oldest scientific organization focused on cancer. The collaboration between VARI, SU2C and AACR reinforces the Institute’s reputation as a bright light in the field of epigenetic cancer research.
THE CURE PARKINSON’S TRUST AND PARKINSONNET Scientists in the Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science and collaborators around the world also are taking innovative steps
to move promising therapies into clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease. The Linked Clinical Trials (LCT) initiative, a project spearheaded by UK research charity The Cure Parkinson’s Trust and VARI’s Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., aims to repurpose medications approved to treat other diseases and that also have shown promise in slowing or reversing Parkinson’s in preclinical laboratory experiments. If one or more of the planned trials are successful, LCT will significantly cut down on the time and cost of moving new Parkinson’s treatments from the lab to the clinic. Highlighting the importance of a patient-centric approach, VARI also continued exploring a collaboration with the Netherlands-based ParkinsonNet in 2015, which provides people with Parkinson’s increased access to Parkinson’s experts, making it easier for them to get specialized care. The potential collaboration would bring an impressive Parkinson’s disease resource to West Michigan with room for expansion, and increases VARI’s imprint in the global effort to change the standards of care for Parkinson’s.
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: PETER JONES, PH.D., D.SC. "Patients and their loved ones are the reason we do this work, and in part, they are the ones who give us the means to conduct research, whether through donations, advocacy or volunteering for clinical trials. This support is truly exceptional and bolsters our mission to develop better therapies for diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s that steal so many years from our family, friends and neighbors."
and current Chief Scientific Officer Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. Pfeifer was elected for his contributions to the understanding of molecular mechanisms that are involved in the formation of genetic and epigenetic changes in the human genome. These changes can be key players in the development of cancer and other diseases and provide new targets for the development of innovative new therapies.
DR. GERD PFEIFER ELECTED AS AAAS FELLOW In 2015, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) Professor Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D., joined an elite group of scientists who have been honored for their significant contributions to science by their peers. Pfeifer was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), an honor given to AAAS members in recognition of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications. Pfeifer is the third AAAS Fellow at the Institute—a list that includes Founding Research Director George Vande Woude, Ph.D.,
THREE VARI SCIENTISTS FEATURED IN NATURE MEDICINE’S NOTABLE ADVANCES OF 2015 Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) scientists played key roles in discoveries that were hailed as notable advances of 2015 by Nature Medicine, one of the world’s top medical journals. The list featured 10 categories and citations for only 24 papers, a fraction of the thousands of papers published in scientific journals worldwide each year. In a pair of complementary papers published in Cell, scientists demonstrated how certain anticancer drugs called demethylating agents trick cancer cells into behaving as though they are infected with a virus or another pathogen. This process leads to cell death, decreasing the number
of cancer cells and potentially improving the effectiveness of conventional treatments. VARI’s Chief Scientific Officer, Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc., was a contributing author on one of the studies, which was led by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto’s Daniel De Carvalho, Ph.D. Stephen Baylin, M.D., who holds a joint appointment at VARI and at Johns Hopkins University’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, was the corresponding author on the other paper. The journal also heralded research that one day may lead to therapies that harness the heart’s ability to repair itself. A team led by Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of research of the DeVos Cardiovascular Research Program (a joint effort between VARI and Spectrum Health), and colleagues at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute demonstrated that there is some cellular turnover of heart muscle cells throughout a person’s life and that this occurs in sites throughout the organ. Unlike many cells elsewhere in the body, heart muscle cells do not have a high turnover rate, meaning that the organ doesn’t heal after an injury such as a heart attack. The study demonstrated that regenerative therapies are a feasible approach, and its results provide scientists with crucial information needed to develop therapies that jump-start the heart’s ability to heal itself. VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
9
“Van Andel Institute has some of the sharpest biomedical research minds in the country, and they can’t do their work unless we help them acquire the tools to perform this groundbreaking research.” – Steve Grill
10
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
J. Scott Grill
THE POWER OF GIVING: STEVE GRILL Steve Grill is a believer in the power of biomedical research to bring about new therapies that could one day eradicate cancer. Grill’s mother and brother both passed away from cancer, and his reason for giving is very personal. As the fiduciary of his brother's trust, the J. Scott Grill Trust, Grill was responsible for finding a home for a sizable gift to benefit cancer research. After some research and discussions with friends and family, Grill decided that Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) was the perfect home for this gift. Motivated by the Institute’s strong ties to his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and that 100 percent of his donation would go directly into VARI’s labs, the Grill family donated $250,000 to support the Institute’s Center for Epigenetics.
understand the connections between defective cellular processes that occur in all people with Parkinson’s.
From left to right: Darren Moore, Ph.D., and Jeremy Van Raamsdonk, Ph.D.
“Although we don’t exactly know what causes noninherited—or sporadic—Parkinson’s cases, evidence suggests that it is a combination of genetic risk and environmental factors,” Moore said. “By studying the known genetic causes for inherited cases, we have the potential to translate key findings into therapies that also help people with non-inherited Parkinson’s. The opportunities to change the standard of care by identifying new disease-modifying therapies are both highly promising and vast.”
The fourth annual Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease symposium offered ample opportunity to collaborate and encompassed talks by more than two dozen leading experts on alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson’s. The event also highlighted the groundbreaking work of Robert Nussbaum, M.D., and Maria Grazia Spillantini, Ph.D., FMedSci, FRS, who received the Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research for their discoveries regarding alpha-synuclein and its role in Parkinson’s.
Between seven and 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson’s disease, and for the majority, the underlying cause is unknown. However, for a small subset of all cases, scientists know the disease is passed down genetically through generations of family members.
For the second year, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and UK-based research charity The Cure Parkinson’s Trust hosted Rallying to the Challenge, a meeting held in parallel with the symposium that brings together advocates to address important issues in the Parkinson’s community. Building on the success of the previous year, Ralliers explored the best ways to measure clinical trial outcomes, self-monitor symptoms and improve the clinical trial process.
Although inherited Parkinson’s comprises less than 10 percent of all cases, the insights garnered from studies into this subtype have the potential to dramatically broaden the field’s understanding of all cases, inherited and the common sporadic cases with no clear cause. To this end, Van Andel Research Institute’s (VARI) Darren Moore, Ph.D., and his team investigate mutations in several genes that have been linked with inherited Parkinson’s in an effort to establish their normal function and how they contribute to disease when mutations occur. Of these, mutations in a gene that produces a protein called LRRK2 are of particular interest. LRRK2 is associated with a large portion of inherited Parkinson’s cases and may also be a genetic risk factor for developing sporadic Parkinson’s. Focusing on these LRRK2 mutations provides Moore’s team with a foundation to better
This year’s event also featured the international premiere of the photography exhibit This is Parkinson’s by Norwegian photographer Anders Leines, as well as a book signing by award-winning science journalist Jon Palfreman, Ph.D. The exhibit This is Parkinson’s, which Leines began working on after his own diagnosis with the disease, comprises photos of people who have young onset Parkinson’s in an effort to dispel stereotypes about the disease. Palfreman, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011, has written extensively about the disease and the ongoing efforts to cure it. His book Brain Storms: The Race to Unlock the Mysteries of Parkinson’s Disease, explores the disease’s history from early texts by James Parkinson, the first scientist to describe the disease, to the cutting-edge research now being conducted in laboratories around the world, including VARI.
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF INHERITED PARKINSON’S DISEASE
HUNDREDS ATTEND GRAND CHALLENGES IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE SYMPOSIUM More than 300 scientists, clinicians and advocates converged at the Institute in September 2015 with one goal in mind—improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s.
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
11
RECRUITING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Great science is the product of creative, innovative minds, and in 2015, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) experienced a banner year for recruitment. Six principal investigators, including experts in epigenetics, Parkinson’s disease and cancer, joined the Institute’s already outstanding roster of scientists. Appointments include Stephen Baylin, M.D., and Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., in the Center for Epigenetics; Gerhard Coetzee, Ph.D., Viviane Labrie, Ph.D., and Jeffrey H. Kordower, Ph.D., in the Center for Neurodegenerative Science; and Patrick Grohar, M.D., Ph.D., in the Center for Cancer and Cell Biology. Rothbart and his team study how epigenetic signals—which control gene expression without changing the genetic code—are regulated and contribute to diseases such as cancer. His longterm goal is to identify novel epigenetic targets and strategies for therapeutic intervention. Baylin, whose primary appointment is at Johns Hopkins University’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, is co-leader of the VARI–Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team, a collaborative group that leverages the combined expertise of its members to develop new epigenetic therapies for cancer, move promising treatments into clinical trials, in order to benefit patients faster. Coetzee has spent most of his career studying the genetic basis for several hormone-dependent cancers and plans to use his expertise in analyzing large data sets to better understand how genetics and epigenetics are involved in Parkinson’s disease. His team’s cutting-edge research could provide new targets for genomically based Parkinson’s therapies. 12
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
From left to right: Scott Rothbart, Ph.D., Gerry Coetzee, Ph.D., and Patrick Grohar, M.D., Ph.D.
Labrie studies the underlying causes of neurodegenerative diseases by exploring epigenetic processes involved in healthy brain function as well as in disease. She aims to identify abnormally regulated regions of the genome to understand how they contribute to the two most common neurodegenerative diseases—Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Labrie’s studies will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to these diseases and will reveal new opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment. Kordower is an esteemed neuroscientist and leading Parkinson’s disease expert who holds a joint appointment between the Rush University Medical Center and VARI as part of a collaboration to develop new and more effective therapies for Parkinson’s. His work, along with that of other VARI scientists, focuses on better understanding the cause of cell death that underlies Parkinson’s disease and tailoring therapies to slow, stop or reverse this process.
Grohar, a VARI associate professor and a practicing pediatric oncologist at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, is searching for new insights into Ewing sarcoma — a rare type of cancer that typically strikes early in life. Grohar’s dual role weaves together his clinical expertise with his basic scientific research in the lab, providing new insights into potential novel therapies.
200 +
More than 200 employees in research labs Recruiting these top-tier scientists has further bolstered the Institute’s intellectual capital and set the stage for exciting future discoveries that will have a powerful impact on human health.
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: JEREMY VAN RAAMSDONK, PH.D. "In today’s environment, it is becoming more and more difficult to secure funding for research. Without philanthropy, we would not be able to maintain our current pace of research and work toward finding cures for devastating neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease."
antioxidants are often used to combat the effects of aging, and are an important focus for research into preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN AGING AND NEURODEGENERATION Although aging is an inevitable part of life, how and why it occurs remains an elusive subject. In 2015, Assistant Professor Jeremy Van Raamsdonk, Ph.D., uncovered some key clues about the mechanisms underlying aging and its link to neurodegenerative diseases.
FREE RADICALS AND ANTIOXIDANTS In the 1950s, scientist Denham Harman posited the free radical theory of aging, suggesting that molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are created by normal metabolic processes, inflict damage that accumulates over time to cause aging. This damage may be linked to neurodegenerative diseases, many of which also are associated with age. Molecules called
In a study published in early 2015, Van Raamsdonk’s team provided new insight into the free radical theory of aging and how ROS may be helpful or harmful, depending on where they are located in the cell. High ROS levels in the cell’s cytoplasm, which is a cell’s main compartment, decreases lifespan; while high ROS in the mitochondria, which provides a cell’s energy, increases lifespan. Knowing how the location and levels of ROS impact longevity will allow scientists to better target antioxidant treatments to those areas where certain ROS levels are detrimental.
SLOWER AGING AND NEUROPROTECTION Later in 2015, Van Raamsdonk’s team also demonstrated that slowing the aging process reduces the cell death that is the hallmark feature of Parkinson’s. His team believes changes that occur during the aging process make brain cells more susceptible to disease-causing mutations
that are better tolerated in younger people — and therefore don’t cause immediate problems. These powerful insights give scientists crucial information for the development of novel therapeutic strategies that could have a significant role in the treatment of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S THREE RESEARCH CENTERS
CENTER FOR
NEURODEGENERATIVE SCIENCE CENTER FOR
EPIGENETICS
CENTER FOR
CANCER AND CELL BIOLOGY
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
13
A HISTORIC DAY: THE DUTCH KING AND QUEEN VISIT VAI June 2 was a momentous day in the Institute’s history thanks to a visit from His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. The Royal Couple’s stop in Grand Rapids was part of a visit celebrating the strong ties between the Netherlands and the U.S., with a focus on health care and agriculture. While at the Institute, the King and Queen toured a laboratory in the Center for Neurodegenerative Science and attended a letter signing ceremony that marked the beginning of a potential partnership between Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and Netherlands-based ParkinsonNet, which connects people with Parkinson’s to experts in specialized care. In recognition of their visit and that of the Life Sciences and Health Economic Mission of the Netherlands to the U.S., the Institute, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and the Kingdom of the Netherlands hosted a joint symposium aimed at strengthening ties between the Dutch and American research and medical communities. During the symposium held at the Institute, scientists and clinicians from both countries discussed the latest research in epigenetics, neurodegenerative diseases and pediatric cancer. The symposium provided an exceptional opportunity to initiate new collaborations and foster existing partnerships between scientists from both countries.
14
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: HUI SHEN, PH.D. "National Institutes of Health grants provide critical financial support to researchers, but cannot fund everything needed for scientific research. Flat public funding in the past few years deterred many promising researchers from doing more risky, yet possibly more rewarding, work. In particular, for young investigators who have not had a strong track record, getting federal funding can be very challenging. Philanthropy is pivotal for scientific research—helping young investigators like myself establish our careers, starting studies that might seem too obscure or too risky but turn out to be worthwhile. We all greatly appreciate the tremendous help from philanthropy. "
INSTITUTE’S BIOREPOSITORY PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SEVERAL FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROJECTS As the Institute’s scientific reputation continues to grow, so, too, does its involvement in large-scale, team science initiatives. At the core of many of these collaborations is Van Andel Research Institute’s (VARI) Biorepository, an accredited, state-of-theart facility whose team of knowledgeable experts process and store vital biological samples for use in future research projects. The Institute’s Biorepository serves as the Comprehensive Biospecimen Resource for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) GenotypeTissue Expression (GTEx) project, a multiinstitutional effort to build a comprehensive database that can be used to study the relationship between an individual’s genetic makeup and tissue-specific gene expression. The project illuminates how differences in the genome affect which genes are turned on or off and to what degree these variations might contribute to disease onset and progression.
The Biorepository plays a similar role in NIH’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), which is dedicated to improving the understanding of cancer biology through genomic and proteomic analysis. A more thorough understanding of the molecular background of cancer will give scientists vital information for developing new therapies and diagnostics. In addition to its federally-funded projects, the Biorepository provides biobanking and biospecimen processing for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s CoMMpass study and serves as the national biobank for the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.
VARI SCIENTIST RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH AWARD Hui Shen, Ph.D., has a long list of achievements. However, one in particular stands out—her research into the molecular background of ovarian cancer. In recognition of her efforts, Shen was awarded the
Liz Tilberis Early Career Award from the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund—the largest and oldest private funder of ovarian cancer research in the U.S. This award is given to junior faculty who demonstrate a substantial commitment to an investigative career in ovarian cancer research. As one of only six awardees, Shen will receive support for three years to aid her exploration into the differences between healthy cells and cancer cells in order to pinpoint ovarian cancer’s cells of origin. Her goal is to use this information to design earlier and more effective interventions in order to stop cancer from spreading. As part of her work, Shen also collaborates with many scientific consortia such as the National Institutes of Health’s The Cancer Genome Atlas, the Van Andel Research Institute–Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team and the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Science and Innovation Consortium (MOSAIC). These large-scale efforts are dedicated to uncovering the molecular basis of cancer and providing crucial insights needed to better combat the disease.
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
15
“I am confident that the research under way at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) is among the most innovative in the country. VARI aims to not only improve the standard of care for patients with Parkinson’s but also identify a cause for the disease.” – Steve Hodges
16
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
THE POWER OF GIVING: STEVE HODGES AND KIME FUND The KiMe Cure Neurological Disorders Fund was founded by a man with a vision. Steve Hodges, a business leader, public speaker and consultant, started the KiMe Fund after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009. Hodges created the fund with the hope that it would support groundbreaking biomedical research that could bring about new and impactful Parkinson’s therapies. In 2014, the KiMe Fund donated $25,000 to VARI’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science to help fund research that aims to determine how mutations in a gene called VPS35 contribute to inherited Parkinson’s disease. Hodges and the KiMe fund also partnered with the Institute to host Driving Toward a Cure, a special event to benefit the Institute’s Parkinson’s disease research.
the organ. This fixed number indicates that new cells replace only those that die off and that growth of the heart is due to enlargement of individual heart cells, rather than an increasing number of cells. The team also demonstrated that other cells that line the heart’s vessels completely replenish only eight times throughout an average human lifespan. Their findings open avenues for additional research on the source of this regeneration and, ultimately, the development of new therapies that will enable the heart to repair itself.
Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D.
HEART–REPAIR YOURSELF! For the more than five million people in the U.S. with heart failure, therapeutic options are limited to lifelong drug treatment or invasive surgery such as a heart transplant. Stefan Jovinge, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of research of the DeVos Cardiovascular Research Program (a joint effort between Van Andel Research Institute and Spectrum Health), is working to change that. He and his team conduct basic and clinical research that could redefine the way heart disease is treated by developing ways to harness the heart’s regenerative potential to repair itself. Unlike many other cell types in the body (like those that comprise skin), heart muscle cells do not have a high turnover rate, making healing the heart extremely difficult. However, hope is on the horizon. A groundbreaking paper published in 2015 by Jovinge and collaborators at Karolinska Institute in Sweden outlined a striking discovery—the human heart hits a threshold of 3.2 billion cells at one month of age and has the capacity to regenerate muscle cells in multiple sites throughout
“TRICKING” CELLS HARNESSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT CANCER What do a butterfly and a potential new therapy for cancer have in common? Both use a type of mimicry to trick the bad guys. For the butterfly, wing patterns that look like an owl’s eye and a lizard’s head deter predators. In a similar way, epigenetic drugs called demethylating agents “trick” cancer cells into behaving as though they are infected with a virus, which leads to cell death and significantly decreases the number of tumor cells. The findings were detailed in a pair of papers published in 2015 and featured on the cover of the prestigious journal Cell. The discovery, which explains the mechanism behind the anti-tumor effects of demethylating agents, could aid in the design of novel approaches for fighting cancer and augmenting existing chemo- and immunotherapies. Van Andel Research Institute's (VARI) Chief Scientific Officer Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc., was a contributing author on one of the studies, which was led by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto’s Daniel De Carvalho, Ph.D. Stephen Baylin, M.D., who holds a joint appointment at VARI and at Johns Hopkins University’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, was the corresponding author on the other paper.
DAVID VAN ANDEL AND DR. GEORGE VANDE WOUDE HONORED BY RESEARCH!AMERICA David Van Andel, chairman and CEO of Van Andel Institute, and George Vande Woude, Ph.D., the Institute’s founding research director, received Research!America’s 2015 Geoffrey Beene Builders of Science Award for their many contributions to the field of biomedical research. Adding to this honor, Van Andel and Vande Woude also were named honorary chairs for the 2016 Advocacy Awards. Research!America is the nation’s largest nonprofit public education and advocacy alliance working to make medical research and human health a higher national priority. The 2015 Advocacy Awards represented Research!America’s 19th year of recognizing the accomplishments of leading scientists and advocates for medical and health research. The awards celebrate the vision of the Van Andel family and Vande Woude’s leadership, and further establish the Institute as a leader in biomedical research.
“Van Andel Institute is becoming known for innovation in biomedical research and science education. We are accelerating the pace of research and discovery, and working to translate those findings into treatments that directly impact patients with cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. George and I are honored to have received this prestigious award.” – David Van Andel
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
17
TOP HONORS BESTOWED TO INSTITUTE SCIENTISTS Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) Chief Scientific Officer Peter Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc., Founding Research Director George Vande Woude, Ph.D., and Professor Stephen Baylin, M.D., whose primary appointment is at Johns Hopkins University, have much in common. All three are internationally recognized cancer scientists, and all three have made significant contributions to the field. In particular, they each are Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy, a distinction held by only a fraction of AACR’s 35,000 members. AACR is the largest and oldest scientific organization in the world focused on all facets of cancer research. VARI is honored to host such exceptional scientists who have been recognized by their peers as leaders in cancer research and in the scientific community.
18
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: PATRIK BRUNDIN, M.D., PH.D. "Personally, I find interacting with donors incredibly motivating and inspiring. Many donors have a personal connection to Parkinson’s disease, and when we get to know them and their stories, our work becomes that much more meaningful. When donor funds are being used to support a project, we often ask ourselves ‘can this research make a difference in this person’s life?’ If the answer is ‘yes,’ we know we are on the right path."
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCIENTISTS VISIT THE INSTITUTE In 2015, the Institute hosted a number of notable speakers from the scientific community, including National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and Eric S. Lander, Ph.D., founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Collins gave the keynote address during the Institute’s Translational Strategies for Neurofibromatosis Type 1 symposium in April 2015. Prior to becoming director of NIH, Collins was an investigator at the University of Michigan and led the team that discovered the gene responsible for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic neurological disease. The symposium featured several talks on the latest basic and clinical NF1 research and also was as a celebration of Grand Rapids–based surgeon-scientist Matthew Steensma, M.D., being named as one of the inaugural winners of the Francis S. Collins Scholars Program in Neurofibromatosis Clinical and Translational Research by Johns Hopkins University’s Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic
Acceleration Program (NTAP). Steensma is a scientist at the Institute and a practicing physician at Spectrum Health. Lander, a leader in the field of human genomics and one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project, received the 2015 Han-Mo Koo Memorial Award for his outstanding scientific achievements and contributions to the improvement of human health. Awardees are selected based on their scientific achievements Eric S. Lander, Ph.D. and peer recognition and, importantly, that their contributions to human health and research align with the scientific legacy of Han-Mo Koo, one of the Institute’s founding investigators.
VARI SCIENTISTS AND THE WORLD’S BRIGHTEST X-RAY LASER ILLUMINATE DRUG TARGET Using the brightest X-ray laser in the world, a team led by Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) Professor Eric Xu, Ph.D., determined the structure of a molecular complex that is an important pharmacological drug target for many human diseases.
Xu and collaborators from more than 25 institutions around the globe, including VARI’s Karsten Melcher,
Left to right: Karsten Melcher, Ph.D. and Eric Xu, Ph.D.
Ph.D., uncovered the structure of a signaling protein called arrestin while it was bound to the receptor rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a part of a molecular family known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are targeted by more than 30 percent of drug therapies currently on the market and has great promise for future drug development. The determinations of the structure of an arrestinGPCR interaction may provide scientists with a roadmap for more selectively targeting pathways for drug treatment, as well as more effective therapies with fewer side effects for diseases such as cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders.
VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
19
20
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
WE ARE LEADING A NATIONAL REVOLUTION IN SCIENCE
EDUCATION BY UNIQUELY EMPOWERING TEACHERS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS TO THINK AND ACT LIKE SCIENTISTS. WE DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH THROUGH AN INTENSE PROBLEMFOCUSED PH.D. DEGREE IN CELLULAR, MOLECULAR AND GENETIC BIOLOGY. VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
21
NEXGEN INQUIRY® SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR THE NEW CENTURY The students of today will discover the lifechanging cancer and Parkinson’s treatments of tomorrow. When young minds are empowered to think creatively, love learning and embrace the joy of discovery, a world of opportunity opens. Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI) is at the forefront of a movement to improve the efficacy and impact of science education. VAEI’s inquiry-based education model gives students the opportunity to think and act like scientists, and to discover a mode of learning that is selfdirected and engaging. The Institute’s Science Academy works with students across the country, and its teacher development programs give thousands of teachers the chance to grow and thrive as educators. In 2015, the Institute launched NexGen Inquiry, a web-based science education program designed to take the Institute’s inquirybased education platform to an international audience. NexGen Inquiry provides students and teachers with access to learning tools, 21st century skills and innovative technology in a format that encourages collaboration and problem solving. Using NexGen Inquiry, students and teachers can collect data, conduct experiments,
22
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
develop predictions and share information in a web-based program. Jim Nicolette, associate director of VAEI’s Science Academy, is confident that NexGen Inquiry is the future of science education and a significant step forward in realizing the Institute’s educational mission. Nicolette also views NexGen Inquiry as an efficient tool for developing the skills students need to step into scientific careers. NexGen Inquiry ushers in a new era of educational product development for the Institute and will continue to make a powerful impact on the future of science education.
“Our ultimate goal is to develop the scientific habits of mind that are directly connected to 21st century skills. The modern workforce needs people who can think creatively, are problem solvers and are prepared to step into tomorrow’s scientific careers.” —Jim Nicolette
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: JIM NICOLETTE,
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE’S SCIENCE ACADEMY
"Philanthropic support for our student programs provides a direct impact on our community. Students enrolled in our programs experience the wonder and excitement of doing science. This can have a life-long impact on young lives, and grows the intellectual capacity of our community. Because of our donors, we have been able to grow our programs and provide access to students who might otherwise not have the means to participate. Support for teacher programs and professional development (particularly through NexGen Inquiry®) helps to expand our reach to thousands of students. When we work with teachers to change their classroom practice, they, in turn, change the learning experience for every student they come in contact with throughout their teaching career."
1,750 NexGen Inquiry
sign-ups representing 50 states and 7 countries ®
VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
23
Arthur Joseph Jabury believed in the power of biomedical research and science education to benefit humanity, and he wanted to have an impact.
THE POWER OF GIVING: ARTHUR JOSEPH JABURY In 2015, Van Andel Education Institute received an incredibly generous donation of $3 million from the estate of Arthur Joseph Jabury, a meticulous and successful investor, who earned his first dollar as a shoeshine boy in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jabury, who passed away in 2014, was born in 1927 and raised in Grand Rapids’ Lower West Side. As a teen, he worked shining shoes on one of the city’s many cobblestone streets. Jabury served in the U.S. Army, graduated from the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and worked at the General Motors Fisher Body plant. Throughout his life, he studied the stock market and kept records of all his successful investments. Over time, Jabury quietly amassed a small fortune. Jabury became interested in Van Andel Institute's mission and its role in helping establish Grand Rapids’ thriving medical corridor known as the Medical Mile. He believed in the power of biomedical research and science education to benefit humanity, and he wanted to have an impact. Jabury decided that a significant portion of his fortune would be given to the Institute to support science education programs that encourage students to explore the vibrant world of scientific discovery. Mr. Jabury’s gift will support the Education Institute’s programs that are revolutionizing the very nature of science education.
24
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
TRAINING TOMORROW’S PHYSICIAN-SCIENTISTS Completing a Ph.D. or a medical degree on its own is a difficult road. Earning both is even tougher. That’s exactly what students do who take part in the M.D.-Ph.D. program spearheaded by Van Andel Institute Graduate School (VAIGS), in partnership with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU-CHM) or Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Students who participate in this program earn their Ph.D. from VAIGS and their M.D. from either MSU-CHM or Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. These programs train students to be physician-scientists who take a unique approach to studying and treating disease. Physician-scientists typically employ a “bench to bedside and back again” approach, in which they investigate clinical observations in the lab and use insights garnered in these studies to develop new therapies. This reciprocal relationship gives physicianscientists a first-hand perspective into the diseases they treat and study. For students like VAIGS graduate Donald J. Scholten, Ph.D., the physician-scientist program offered a great opportunity to get top-tier, inquiry-based training as a research leader as well as an intensive and exceptional medical education. Scholten earned his Ph.D. from VAIGS in 2015 and is now completing his medical education and clinical rotations through MSU-CHM. The Graduate School’s M.D.-Ph.D. program breaks down the barriers between the lab and the clinic, providing students like Scholten the foundation for a successful career as a physician-scientist.
“Because I was interested in both research and medicine, I liked being able to see first-hand how my work in the lab would impact treatment options and decisions for patient management.” – Donald J. Scholten VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
25
THE TEACHER AS SCIENTIST Teacher professional development is one of the cornerstones of Van Andel Education Institute’s (VAEI) mission. Through a variety of programs, the Institute helps teachers discover new ways to motivate students and to improve the quality of science education. Heather DeJonge, a high school teacher in Lowell, Michigan, with more than 25 years of experience, participated in her first year of VAEI’s Partners in Science program in 2015. The unique, two-yearlong program gives teachers the opportunity to work alongside scientists in one of Van Andel Research Institute’s biomedical research labs. DeJonge spent her summer working with Jeremy Van Raamsdonk, Ph.D., in the Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science. Van Raamsdonk’s lab specializes in uncovering new insights into aging and understanding its role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. While working with scientists in the lab, DeJonge used
cutting-edge technology to collect data and conduct complex experiments. Her lab experience has helped inform her teaching techniques and changed the dynamic of her classroom.
“The Partners in Science Program is the best professional development I have ever had, and it has changed the way I approach teaching. After participating, I started using the inquiry-based model in my classroom, and I’ve seen such a change in the enthusiasm of my students.” —Heather DeJonge
26
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Motivated by DeJonge’s dedication and passion for science, Institute employees voted to provide microscopes and other equipment for her classroom through an employee giving program. She and her students are using the equipment to conduct experiments, and collect and analyze data that will be used by the Van Raamsdonk lab. Programs like Partners in Science bring the excitement of biomedical research into the classroom and empower teachers like DeJonge to inspire the next generation of great scientific minds.
“I am thankful for organizations like Van Andel Institute that have chosen to make a commitment to this community.” – Bea Idema
THE POWER OF GIVING: BEA ALDRINK IDEMA FOUNDATION Through the generous support of the Bea Aldrink Idema Foundation, Van Andel Institute Graduate School (VAIGS) offers fellowships that provide financial support to students interested in pursuing careers as physicianscientists. The training received in this program prepares ambitious students for careers that span biomedical research and clinical practice. Bea Idema, wife of William Idema whose family cofounded Steelcase, formed the family foundation with the purpose of supporting education, health and general community welfare. Idema supports VAIGS because she believes in education’s power to shape individual destiny. “I am thankful for organizations like Van Andel Institute that have chosen to make a commitment to this community by training and developing the careers of great researchers and doctors,” Idema said. Because of the leadership and vision of the Bea Aldrink Idema Foundation’s philanthropic efforts, the Physician-Scientist Training Fellowship can continue to invest in students who will one day change the course of human health.
THE MEIJER FOUNDATION The Meijer Foundation is shaping the next generation of scientists and physicians through its ongoing support of the Van Andel Institute Graduate School’s Summer Internship Program. Since 2001, the Frederik and Lena Meijer Summer lnternships have helped 200 students from 40 different undergraduate institutions gain valuable hands-on research experience working with Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) scientists. The Summer Internship Program familiarizes undergraduate college students with the use of state-of-the-art scientific equipment and technology and teaches them valuable interpersonal and presentation skills. In this past year, the Meijer Foundation grant supported 19 interns who engaged in an intense 10-week research experience. Students gained an understanding of the latest research methods and testing procedures, while learning how to design experiments and see how their test results can contribute to a large research project. At the end of their internship, students presented their research projects to VARI scientists and staff during a symposium. This exceptional program, funded by the Meijer Foundation, continues to propel students into advanced degrees that result in careers in either biomedical research or medical practice. VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
27
28
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE’S
DONORS AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS COME FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT THEY 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 INNOVATIVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION. VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
29
PURPLE COMMUNITY 5K RACES TOWARD SUCCESS Purple Community, Van Andel Institute’s grassroots fundraising organization, hosted the very first PC5K in 2015. In its inaugural year, more than 400 participants showed their support for biomedical research and science education and raised more than $42,000 to benefit the Institute’s mission. The event benefitted from an outpouring of community involvement and corporate sponsorships. Consumer’s Credit Union served as the event’s Title Sponsor and their generosity contributed directly to the event’s success.
30
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Race committee members included representatives from the West Michigan Whitecaps, Hello West Michigan, Meijer State Games of Michigan, GR Outdoor, Sage Hospitality, Discovery Financial, Old National Bank, Consumer’s Credit Union and YMCA-Downtown Grand Rapids.
Thank you
to the Purple Community 5K planning committee, volunteers and sponsors!
THE POWER OF GIVING: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND TROOPER MOTORCYCLE CLUB, NABSTMC Bikers have a special kind of bond. It’s a bond that stems from a genuine connection to their bikes and a love for the freedom of the open road. The bikers in the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Trooper Motorcycle Club, NABSTMC, appreciate the power of their vehicles and embrace the spirit of adventure, but they also have a strong commitment to leaving the world a better place than they found it. Named after the African American cavalry regiments that served with distinction following the Civil War, the Buffalo Soldiers have a strong sense of purpose and are involved with a number of community outreach activities. The club’s chapters, spread across the United States, mentor and tutor at-risk youth, provide annual scholarships and work with senior citizens and low-income families. In honor of Cherry Cooperwood, president of the Grand Rapids Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, who passed away from cancer, 13 chapters and 110 riders from the national motorcycle club hosted a charity ride to support cancer research. Following the event, in the summer of 2015, more than 80 bikers traveled from across Michigan to present the Institute with a check for $3,000 on behalf of their fellow rider and friend. President of the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Trooper Motorcycle Club, NABSTMC, Michigan Chapter, Arthur “Chop” Samuels, is proud to support biomedical research that might one day benefit those living with cancer. “The National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Trooper Motorcycle Club, NABSTMC, is an organization dedicated to serving the community, educating about the
From left to right: Bart Williams, Ph.D., members of the Buffalo Soldiers and Trooper Motorcycle Club and Casey Droscha, B.S.
rich history of the Buffalo Soldiers all while enjoying the sport of motorcycling. Cherry “Yells Gal” Cooperwood demonstrated her dedication to the Grand Rapids community by serving as president of the NABSTMC Grand Rapids Chapter. She had a passion for life. A life that was cut short by cancer. The NABSTMC is proud to support cancer research and donate to Van Andel Institute on Cherry’s behalf.” – Arthur “Chop” Samuels
thousands of people to the Institute’s mission and has brought about a host of significant philanthropic events. David and Carol Van Andel were presented with a check totaling over $49,000 at the 2015 B-93 Birthday Bash—West Michigan’s largest country music festival. The impressive donation was collected during B-93’s Country Kicks Cancer radio marathon and a benefit concert with country music artist Frankie Ballard.
THE POWER OF GIVING: B-93 Music is a powerful medium—it brings people together and can be a call to action. America’s largest country music radio station, B-93 is an incredible supporter of Van Andel Institute. Their partnership continues to introduce
Thank you, B-93 FM, for your support! VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
31
VAI’S HEALTH ADVOCACY FOCUSED EVENTS INSPIRE AND INFORM In 2015, Van Andel Institute hosted several health advocacy events that connected the community with experts in Parkinson’s disease, men’s health issues and depression. Scientists and clinicians shared their latest advancements in research and medicine and engaged in proactive discussions with panelists during these health advocacy–focused events.
GET IN THE GAME
Parkinson’s disease affects up to one million people in the United States and brings with it a range of physical and neurological challenges. Facing Off Against Parkinson’s Disease, held in February 2015, featured a keynote presentation by Brent Peterson, a former Red Wings player, National Hockey League coach and chairman of the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s. Peterson shared his experiences as a person with Parkinson’s and life after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Operating similarly to a pacemaker, a DBS implant helps treat motor symptoms of the disease by sending electrical charges through the brain.
Professional quarterback Kirk Cousins had a simple message for the audience when he visited Van Andel Institute (VAI) in 2015—get involved. Cousins, a native of Holland, Michigan, a Michigan State From left to right: Kirk Cousins and Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D. University football star and now a National Football League quarterback, gave A Conversation About Depression — hosted the keynote address during Get in the Game, a by Carol Van Andel, which included a panel of men’s health event focused on prostate cancer. expert scientists and clinicians specializing in Cousins was joined by a panel of experts from the depression. One of these experts, Lena Brundin, Institute, Spectrum Health and Born Preventative M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in VARI’s Center Health Care Clinic, who discussed advancements for Neurodegenerative Science, discussed in prostate cancer research and treatment, and insights into her research about the relationship fielded questions from the audience. between depression and inflammation in the human body. Her work provides important discoveries into ways to mitigate this inflammation A CONVERSATION ABOUT DEPRESSION and, ultimately, to better treat depression. — HOSTED BY CAROL VAN ANDEL
In addition to Peterson, Darren Moore, Ph.D., associate professor in the Van Andel Research Institute’s (VARI) Center for Neurodegenerative Science, as well as medical experts in the neurosciences, gave presentations on
Health concerns can be difficult to discuss openly. This is especially true for mental health issues, in particular depression, which carries an unfortunate social stigma that often prevents much-needed discourse. To raise awareness, the Institute held
FACING OFF AGAINST PARKINSON’S DISEASE
32
advancements in Parkinson’s disease research.
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
The Institute’s health advocacy events raise awareness of issues that touch millions of lives and lead to better informed communities of scientists, clinicians, caregivers and patients.
NATIONAL EVENTS AND VIBRANT NEW AUDIENCES The Institute’s message of hope strikes a profound chord with people who are looking to support innovative biomedical research and leading-edge science education. In 2015, the Institute hosted a number of events that brought the Institute’s mission to vibrant new audiences across the country.
HOPE & DENIM - NASHVILLE Renowned pop and country star Sheryl Crow rocked Marathon Music Works in Nashville in 2015. More than 400 people were in attendance to enjoy a fabulous night of awareness-building and fundraising in support of the Institute’s mission. Other notable participants included emcee Blair Garner, host of “America’s Morning Show with Blair Garner” on Nash FM; host Phillip Fulmer, College
Football Hall of Fame coach; and hosts Brent and Tami Peterson, founders of the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s. Sponsors included 95.5 Nash Icon, Cumulus, the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s and Regal Financial Group.
DRIVING TOWARD A CURE FOR PARKINSON’S – DEARBORN, MICHIGAN The Institute joined forces with the KiMe Cure Neurological Disorders Fund (KiMe Fund) to host a purposeful evening in support of Parkinson’s disease at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI). The event was a powerful first step in the development of a beneficial relationship between the Institute and the KiMe Fund. Jack Krasula, Detroit radio personality and host of
“Anything is Possible” on WJR AM-760, emceed the event, and Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., director of VARI's Center for Neurodegenerative Science, delivered the keynote address. Driving Toward a Cure for Parkinson’s highlighted the Institute’s work in neurodegenerative disease research and helped foster new and dynamic philanthropic relationships to benefit the Institute’s mission.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
33
THE POWER OF GIVING: FIFTH THIRD BANK AND HOPE ON THE HILL
Since 2000, Hope on the Hill has raised more than
$7million
The Institute’s Hope on the Hill gala brings together hundreds of donors, business leaders, government officials and philanthropists to celebrate the mission of Van Andel Institute. Hope on the Hill is not only an event but also a time to celebrate the power of community, philanthropic generosity and the power of biomedical research and science education. The event’s incredible success is due in part to the commitment and generosity of Hope on the Hill’s Title Sponsor, Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third’s sponsorship is the product of the organization’s deep sense of community engagement and attachment to the Institute’s mission. Tom Welch, regional president of Fifth Third Bank West Michigan, is proud of the organization’s partnership with the Institute. “Van Andel Institute’s mission gives hope to millions of people who are looking for the next discovery that will change the way cancer and diseases like Parkinson’s are treated. We are proud to partner with an organization committed to finding cures for diseases that impact all of us. Their commitment is unwavering,” said Tom Welch, regional president of Fifth Third Bank West Michigan. Fifth Third Bank, for more than 15 years, has been a committed community partner and friend of the Institute. Business partnerships with organizations such as Fifth Third Bank create important threads of connection that create a lasting community of support.
34
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
ART OF FASHION & RESEARCH – TROY, MICHIGAN In 2015, Neiman Marcus at Somerset Collection, partnered with the Institute for the Art of Fashion & Research. The event featured a champagne reception, fashion show, luncheon and exclusive shopping opportunities. Carol Van Andel, executive director of the David and Carol Van Andel Foundation, gave a moving speech regarding the importance of philanthropic support for biomedical research and science education. The Institute’s special events team worked directly with Neiman Marcus’ Renee Janovsky, general manager, and Ken Dewey, style advisor, who were instrumental in making this incredible event a success. The Institute’s nationally-focused events would not be possible without the generosity and passion of the hosts and sponsors who give energy and vitality to our mission.
2015 Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award recipients, Rebecca Wierda and the Leigh's team.
THE CAROL VAN ANDEL ANGEL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD The Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Institute through volunteer service, philanthropy, special event support, innovation or scientific support. The annual dinner and award presentation was hosted by Carol Van Andel, executive director of the David and Carol Van Andel Foundation, and the Institute’s Board of Governors.
The 2015 Angel of Excellence honorees included Leigh’s, a women’s specialty store located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and members of the Sharpe family, Grand Rapids–based entrepreneurs and owners of the Sharpe Collection automotive dealerships. Leigh’s has played an instrumental role in the success of the Institute’s Couture for a Cure event, and the Sharpes chair Winterfest, an event that has cumulatively raised more than $1 million for Parkinson’s disease research at the Institute.
generosity from sponsors such as Warner, Norcross & Judd LLP and the Sharpe Collection.
Every year, philanthropists, volunteers and community leaders discover new and innovative ways to support the Institute’s mission. The Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award serves as a powerful way to honor their efforts.
WINTERFEST Winterfest, Van Andel Institute’s (VAI) premier gala benefiting Parkinson’s disease research, celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2015. Since the event's inception, it has raised more than $1 million to support Parkinson’s disease research in Van Andel Research Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science. The event is made possible by donors and a select group of community leaders, like Blair and George Sharpe, Jr. The Sharpes are Grand Rapids–based entrepreneurs who have a direct connection to Parkinson’s. In 2009, their father George was diagnosed with the disease, and since his diagnosis, the family has rallied together to help support the Institute’s Parkinson’s research initiatives. The brothers along with their wives have served as co-chairs of the event for the past three years. The brothers were invited to chair the event by VAI Board of Governors member Tony Asselta, who had organized the event for more than eight years. Winterfest is one of the most popular Parkinson’s disease fundraisers in West Michigan because of the
COUTURE FOR A CURE When the creative energy of high fashion meets the generous spirit of philanthropy at the Institute’s annual Couture for a Cure event, a bit of magic happens. For 10 years, Couture for a Cure has showcased some of fashion's most notable designers and raised necessary funds for the Institute’s biomedical research and science education initiatives. The event is supported by a host of sponsors, including Amway. Couture for a Cure began in 2006 as the concept of Carol Van Andel, executive director of the David and Carol Van Andel Foundation, and Rebecca Wierda, owner of Leigh’s, a West Michigan–based women’s speciality store. Through the efforts of Van Andel and Wierda, the event has grown from a small cocktail affair into one of the foremost fashion events in West Michigan. This year’s event, highlighting the work of luxury outerwear designer Dan Sharp, welcomed more than 400 guests to the Institute for a spectacular night of creativity and philanthropy.
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
35
DONORS Sources of Funding for Research and Education
Sources of Funding for Operating and Overhead Expenses
7%
24%
Private Philanthropy
Grant & Contract Revenue (Indirect)
23% Grant & Contract Revenue (Direct)
70% Endowment Income
Jay and Betty Van Andel John H. and Nancy L. Batts Peter C. and Pat Cook
Sidney and Joanne Jansma Fred and Lena Meijer $1,000+ DONORS Abbvie US, LLC AbiliLife Inc. Acorda Therapeutics Inc. Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Martin and Sue Allen Amore Trattoria
336 6
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Eric and Tracy Anderson
Bluewater Technologies
Aon Risk Services
Chuck and Chris Boelkins
Applied Imaging
Bon Jovi Management
Aquinas College
John and Sharon Bouma
Forrest and Dorothy Armstrong
James H. Bouwhuis Memorial Fund
VAN AN D EL I N S T I T UTE FO U N D ER S
Ralph and Grace Hauenstein
Endowment Income & Other Revenues
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
Amway
Richard and Helen DeVos
76%
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Because of your generosity, we are accelerating our research and finding innovative way to translate our laboratory results into patient treatment options faster and more efficiently. Every day in laboratories and classrooms, we see your support making an incredible difference. Thank you for partnering with us.
Tony and Kathleen Asselta Auditrax Steven and Kathryn Bandstra Foundation
Patrick and Kristine Brady Patrik and Lena Brundin Kerry and Laurie Buettner
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Mark and Jennifer Bugge
Kevin and Michelle Bassett
Bill and Jackie Bylenga
Regena Bassett
Carol L. Bylsma
Philip and Shirley Battershall
Greg and Carlin Bylsma
Battle Creek Community Foundation
Byron Center Public Schools
Batts Foundation
Cadillac Asphalt
BDO USA, LLP
Calamos Advisors
Bea Aldrink Idema Foundation
Caledonia Lacrosse Association
Belwith Products, LLC
Gerald and Suzanne Callahan
Bengtson Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Calvin College
Berends Hendricks Stuit Insurance Agency Inc. Matthew and Shari Berger Betz Industries Gregory and Rajene Betz
Buist Electric
C S Athletic Boosters
Lis B. Campbell Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western MI, PC John and Marie Canepa Car City
Kenneth and Judy Betz
Cardiff School of Health Sciences
David and Jill Bielema
CARNEVALE
Biogen Idec
Mike and Kim Carnevale
Don and Bridget Bittner
Cascade Rental Center
Blanche E. Ash Trust
Arnie Chance Chandler Wood Academy
Chemical Bank West
Douglas and Sandra Dekock
Ernst & Young LLP
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Janyce and John Huff
Blake and Mary Krueger
Chippewa Valley Schools
Deloitte
Eurest
Zachary Dennis
Jim and Gail Fahner
J.C. Huizenga and Tammy Born-Huizenga
L & V Development
The Chop House
Grand Rapids Community College
Chuck Heiney Photography
Desserts by Lori
Fastsigns
Grand Rapids Griffins
Humana
Lake Michigan Credit Union
CityFlats Hotel CitySen Lounge
Detroit Red Wings
Ferris State University
Grand Valley State University
Allen and Helen Hunting
Lake Trust Credit Union
Ed DeVilbiss
Granger Group
Ralph and Melissa Iannelli
Lakeside Camp Park, LLC
The Stephen M. Coffman Charitable Trust
Robert and Carol DeVilbiss
Ferris State Univ.-GR/Kendall College-Art & Design
Greenville Public Schools
Ice Sculptures, Ltd.
Lakeside Surfaces Inc.
The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation
Fifth Third Bank
Martin and Margaret Greydanus
The ICN Foundation
Ray and Jeannine Lanning
First National Bank of Michigan
J. Scott Grill Trust
Ilitch Charities
Joseph and Amanda Lanser
The Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation
Margaret Fondren
H.T. Hackney Co.
ImmuSmol SAS
Herbert and Sharon Lantinga
Forest Hills Public Schools
Timothy Haak
Incyte Corporation
The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation
Kenneth Larm
Foundation for Advanced Cancer Studies
Jana Hall
JosĂŠ and Sue Infante IOS Press
Law Firm of Foley and Robinette, P.C.
Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation
Eileen DeVries
Hamilton Community Schools
Founders Bank & Trust
Dewaal Properties
Harvey Automotive
Win and Kyle Irwin
Legg Mason
Bo and Jennifer Fowler
Cook Holdings
Estate of Arthur Joseph Jabury
Leigh's
Thomas and Mickie Fox
Ron and Lori Cook
Marvin and Jerene DeWitt Foundation
Hatmaker Insurance Agency State Farm
Carl and Kelly Jandernoa
Leo's
Ralph Hauenstein
Paige Cornetet
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Peter and Lisa Foy
Michael and Sue Jandernoa
Paul and Sheryl Haverkate
Sidney and Sharin Jansma
Lighthouse Insurance Group, Inc.
Covenant Christian High School
Bill Dinkelmann
Fred L. Hansen Corporation
Divani
David and Judy Frey
Karl-Heinz Hellner Mark and Valerie Henderson
The Crown Jewel Spa & Salon
Jeffrey and Mary Dixon
Frey Foundation
Rob Johnson and Lynne Jarman-Johnson
Wayne Lobdell
Crowe Horwath LLP
Herman Miller
Peter and Veronica Jones
Kimberly and Timothy Long
Crystol Crum
DK Security
Joseph and Jennifer Friesl
Robert and Barbara Herr
Richard Jove
Lord, Abbett, & Co. LLC
Mimi Cummings
Eileen Droscha
Yoshiyuki Fukui
Paul and Rose Heule
John and Deb Kailunas
LPiTsolutions
Cumulus Media, Inc.
Nick and Susan Duesbery
Dan and Lou Ann Gaydou
John and Gwen Hibbard
David and Nancy Kammeraad
Gary and Vicky Ludema
Cumulus Nashville
The John Dykema and Michele Maly-Dykema Family Foundation
Gazelle Sports GE Foundation
Dan and Diane Hickey
Kappes Landscapes
Colliers International Love Collins The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Consumers Credit Union
Custer Workplace Interiors Dave and Karen Custer Cygnus27 Czech Holdings LLC Dan Sharp Europe Davenport University Jerry and Karen DeBlaay James and Joy DeBoer Douglas and Margaret DeCamp Jack and Linda Dekkinga
Lacks Enterprises, Inc.
Ray Loeschner
GE Healthcare
Philip and Sharon Hoekstra
Katie K Team
Dr. Jack and Katy Lukens Family Fund
Edelweiss Club of Grand Rapids
Charles A. Geenen
Dirk Hoffius
KB Productions Inc
Lund University
Genentech
Kentwood Office Furniture
Lundbeck Research USA, Inc
Eli Lilly and Company
Genuine Parts Company
Mark and Wendy Parr Holtvluwer
Craig and Debra Kinney
Don and Peg Luy
Michael and Lynette Ellis
Robert and Paula Geyer
Donald Klopcic
Macatawa Bank
Ellis Parking Company
Gene and Tubie Gilmore
Homewatch Caregivers of West Michigan
Steven Klotz
Scott and Beth Macgregor
Steven and Karen Ender
Gordon Food Service Inc.
Knights Basketball
Jeff and Shannon MacKeigan
Barbara Erhards
GR Outdoor
Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP
Kohl's Department Stores
Mager Scientific
Erhardt Construction
Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools
David and Chris Konyndyk
McAlvey Merchant & Associates
Hope College Howard Miller Company
Al and Robin Koop
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
37
DONORS CONTINUED McDonnell Investment Management, LLC
Mark and Elizabeth Murray
McShane & Bowie, PLC
Redstone Commercial Investments LLC
Southwest Michigan Innovation Center
David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
Regal Financial Group LLC
Special Events Party Rental, Inc
Medawar Fine Jewelers
LG & Helen Myers Charitable Remainder Trust
Henry Rempe
Spectrum Health
The Steve Van Andel Foundation
Medtronic, Inc.
Tim and Denise Myers
David and Anne-Lise Whitescarver
N VINT
John and Judy Spoelhof Foundation
Philip and Patricia Van Baren
Meijer
Renaissance Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Michael and Michelle Van Dyke
Scott and Rebecca Wierda
The Meijer Foundation
Chris and Terry Renker
SSJ Group, LLC
Renovo Neural
Robert and Susan Stafford
Daniel and Ann Marie Van Eerden
Steven and Juliana Wilkening
Hank and Liesel Meijer
National Assoc of Buffalo Soldiers/ Troopers Motorcycle Club
Mark and Mary Beth Meijer
Jim and Christine Nicolette
RES.COM Electric Inc.
Stamos Capital Partners
Robert Van Essen
Greg and Meg Miller Willit
Merck & Co. Inc.
Neiman Marcus
Reserve Wine and Food
Willard Van Essen
Brad Wiltz
Mercy Health
Neurophage Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Ridgeview Industries
State Farm Insurance - Marsha Veenstra
Donna Van Haren
Wolverine Worldwide, Inc.
Tom and Brenda Rinks
Steelcase Inc.
Gordon and Mary Van Harn
Aaron and Amanda Wong
Norris, PernĂŠ and French LLP
Jeffery Wm Roberts
Randy and JoAnn Van Hoven
Yvonne Woodrick
Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC
Northern Jet Management
Dale and Sonja Robertson
Subway Development of Tennessee
Dave and Beth Van Portfliet
Mr. and Mrs. John M Nowak
Roche
Duke and Sue Suwyn
John and Kathleen Workman
Metro Health
Jean and Edward VanSweden
ODL, Inc.
George and Dot Vande Woude
Michigan Media Network, LLC
Juan and Mary Olivarez
Rottman Family Charitable Foundation
Tami Sytsma
XS Energy
Michelle Lunn Hope Foundation
Renee Tabben
Brian and Lori Vander Baan
Liam Sullivan and Linda Zarzecki
Michigan Paving & Materials Co
Osteria Rossa
John and Therese Rowerdink
Taconic Charitable Foundation
Allen Vander Laan
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
PageWorks
Rowerdink, Inc.
Team Hannah
John Palmer
San Chez, A Tapas Bistro
Tennis and Golf Co.
Duke & Lori Vanderark Foundation
David and Kathleen Mihelick
Richard Pappas
Jacquolyn Sawyer
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Jamie Varen Horst
Michael and Cindy Schaap
Thoroughbred Fulfillment
Varnum LLP The Veldheer, Long, Mackay & Bernecker Group of Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch - Bank of America Corporation
Mika, Meyers, Beckett & Jones, PLC
My Auto Center
Teresa Payne
Scott Group Custom Carpets
Mike Schaap Builders
Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's
Marilyn Titche
Peter and Joan Secchia
Todd Wenzel Buick GMC
Howard and Lisa Miller
Bruce and Rebecca Pienton
Secrest Wardle
Townsquare Media
Jack H. Miller
Sharpe Collection
Steve and Laura Triezenberg
Lee and Paulette Miller
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Truist
Pitsch Companies
George and Linda Sharpe
Steve Millman
TSFR Apple Venture, LLC
Jamie Mills and James Nichols
James and Kathleen Ponitz
George and Missy Sharpe
Twisted Rooster
The Mitten Brewing Company
Rebecca Postma
Nicholas and Karen Sherman
U.S. Bank National Association
Modern Day Floral
Preusser Jewelers
Budge and Marilyn Sherwood
UCB, Inc.
Louis and Nancy Moran
Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation
six.one.six
Mike and Rachel Mraz
Prothena Biosciences Inc.
Brent and Diane Slay
Universal Fire & Casualty Insurance Company
The MSJ Foundation
Quality Air Service, Inc.
David Muilenberg
38
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Slows BarBQ Southland Enterprises, Inc.
Universal Forest Products Inc. US WorldMeds, LLC
Veolia Energy Grand Rapids LLC Lonnie Vis Phil and Kathleen Vogelsang Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Wells Fargo Advisors Wells Fargo Foundation Wells Fargo N.A. West Michigan Aviation Academy West Michigan Hockey, Inc.
Peter and B.J. Whigham Whitecaps Community Foundation
Williams Kitchen & Bath
WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: LENA BRUNDIN, M.D., PH.D. "Philanthropy serves several important functions. First, it may serve as the financial platform needed to start up a pilot experiment, doing something that no one has ever done before. Such innovative projects are also high risk, meaning that the results are hard to predict but they might be of great importance. It is difficult to secure federal funding for high-risk projects. Philanthropy from individual donors can serve as a platform to conduct such experiments. Second, philanthropy is very important because it connects the researcher to the local community. It is inspiring and rewarding for a researcher, who works in a laboratory environment, to have input from individuals and families their research impacts."
TRIBUTES THESE GIFTS HONOR A FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE WITH A CONTRIBUTION TO THE INSTITUTE IN 2015. Rod Andres Mary Andres
Abby Greer Laura Ritchie
John Maslonka Dawn Masselink
Clarence Suelter Carl and Jenifer Nelson
Lynda Armstrong Paola Andrade
Kathryn Hall Dwane and Joyce Baumgardner
Gayle Miranti Susan Miranti
Lori Swan David and Elaine Kooy
Barbara and William Bradley Douglas and Michele Bradley James and Sheral Bradley
Teresa Hendricks-Pitsch Arlene Pitsch
Stacy Nyland Joanne Weir
Lilliana Tanis Elanore Thompson
Elizabeth Hubbard Richard M. Hubbard
Larry Pattison Carole Yost
James Tassoni Accuracy Temporary Services
Sister Mary Kay Jarema Arline Dzwonkowski
Jody Paulson Donna Burns
Carol Van Andel Dave and Deborah Wurfel
Marguerite Bown Susan Formsma
Janes Jewells Jane Velthouse
David Van Andel David and Jill Bielema
Jim DeBruyn Ruth Kemp
Jean Khouri MaryAnn Maloley
Andrew and Christine Pawl Matthew Holwerda Daniel Laidlaw
DeVos Children's Hospital Staff Scott and Joann Boeve
Erin Lamb Peter and Lisa Foy
Julie Fennema Kevin and Jill Mahoney
Jeff MacKeigan's Lab David and Anne-Lise Whitescarver
Janet Foy Peter and Lisa Foy
Donald Maine Laura Pickard
Ralph Gibbons Shelley Gibbons
Julie Malefyt Richard and Joan Broersma
Rachel Bolger Marcia Bird Matt Bolger and Maureen Watson - Bolger
George Sharpe, Sr. Herr Construction Inc Mark and Megan Schrieber Jack B. Smith Steve Hutchison Ben A. Snoeyink Rachel Granstra Carl and Sandra Gronsman John and Elaine Keeley Dean and Carol Vanbruggen Wayne and Helen Wentzheimer
David and Carol Van Andel Czech Holdings LLC Jim and Gail Fahner Neiman Marcus Bill Van Regenmorter Roy and Ann Marie Axford Christopher and Mary Banner Willard and Grace Berkenpas Dale and Shirley Bordewyk Dave and Nancy Bos Conrad and Helen Bult Karl and Gladys Carlton Gary and Deanna Cowden
Helen Deady Merideth DeVries Anita Droog Gerald and Gwendolyn Ellens Floyd and Sherryl Fleetham Gordon and Judith Haan Alberta Hoekwater Gerrit and Jean Huitsing Tena Kooistra John and Joyce Leeth Herbert and Elaine Marsman James and Joanne Oudbier Floyd and Ruth Postma Jay R. and Beverly Pruim Bruce and Esther Robbert Louis and Carla Schut Randall and Elizabeth Smith Roger and Sharon Sneller William and Rosemary Stevenson Sunset Manor, Inc. Marvin Van Emst Neil and Mary Van Regenmorter Robert and Carolyn Van Regenmorter Victoria Vande Streek Thelma Vandehoef Wilbert and Barbara Venema Lois Visser Jacob and Abbey Vriesman Steven and Sheryl Vriesman Wayne and Barbara Vriesman
George Vande Woude Kevin and Michelle Bassett Anne-Lise Whitescarver Roger and Marcia Beutner Deb Wolfe Felice Williams Rachel Worst Ann Barrenger Cal Wulf-Marvin Paula Gaylord Marc Zuppke Beverly Niedelson
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
39
MEMORIALS For our friends who have lost a loved one, we mourn with you. We appreciate your trust in us to fight disease in memory of your family and friends—with the hope for a healthier tomorrow. Ali Aardema Steven and Julie Aardema Rose Akin Timothy Haak William Alexander Harvey and Susan Powers Harold G. Anderson John and Ruth Fisher Phillip and Juanita Hood Evelyn Steele Evelyn Steele John and Ruth Fisher Phillip and Juanita Hood Lynda Armstrong Joseph Arebalo Linda Auer Marion Coughlin Donna Crupi Dolores Farkas Dale Fiet Stephen and Arlene Hagendorf Phillip and Stacey Kostis Peter Lambert Diane McCallion-Maguire Jolene McCarthy William and Patricia Meess Mark Press Allan L. Arnoys Gordon and Marjorie Arnoys Joanne Arnoys
40
Marlan and Alida Arnoys Roland and Jeanne Barchinger Gregg and Jane Bareman William and Mary Berry Roger and Connie Brummel Bruce and Sharon Defouw Allen and Vivian DeJonge Jeanell Drow David and Sheryl Engbers Ellen Fowler Carl and Sandra Gronsman Holly Harms Howard and Betty Jansen Arthur and Marilyn Kraai Roderick and Virginia Kroeckel Stephen and Donna Miller Carolyn Morren Grace Nyenhuis Jacob and Leona Nyenhuis George and Mary Rykse Donald and Jean Scott David and Carolyn Setsma Peter Stougaard Roger and Dolores Stouwie Peter Tigchelaar David and Karen Van De Wege Henry and Phyllis Vandervliet Arlene Warners Lutkes Farms Dora Atkinson Kenneth and Elizabeth Foster Mary Badanek Katherine Sanders Joan Bailey Sarah Sowles Patricia A. Baker Heath and Jennifer Carew Jane Neumeg Stephen Pell Lori Steffes Markelle Thompson Robert I. Baker Andrew and Susan Baker Kevin Baker Jane Neumeg Stephen Pell
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Royal Technologies Corporation Lori Steffes Duke and Sue Suwyn Keith Bassett Regena Bassett John H. Batts Bissell Inc. John and Janet Boyles Jim and Donna Brooks Paul Brown Barbara Bunbury Donatic Henry Fox Thomas S. and Mickie Fox Roger and Anne Gamache Joan Hoffs Lester and Vivian Hoogland Win and Kyle Irwin Thomas and Margy Jones Mary Ann Keeler Victoria Kimball Arend and Nancy Lubbers Troy and Claudia Scharlow Robert and Virginia Vallee L. J. Verplank Michael and Lisa Warren Mary White Harlan Berens Bleeker's Excavating, LLC Keith Bergsma Marvin and Betty Bergsma Nicole Beuschel Sue Baar Roberta Black James and Cheryl Blanchard Wallace Boelkins Kimberly Hilton Richard Bonney Joseph Popiel Louis Bortolon Peter and Judy Titta
Shane Brickey David and Beth Anne Russell
Bert Docter Al and Joyce Docter
Michael Brockway Lyle and Roberta Brockway
Kathleen Drennan Patrick and Kristine Brady
Esther Bulgarella Mr. and Mrs. Frank Amodeo
Robert Dubes David and Donna Hockstra
Robert Burch John and Susan Burch
Bud and Ruth Elve Mark Elve
Peter Bylsma Carol L Bylsma
J. Fred Erhards Barbara Erhards
Frank Campbell Lis B. Campbell Paul and Lynn Getzin
Arlene Faber Cynthia DeBoer Florence DeBoer Grand Rapids Firefighters Retirees Association Daniel and Cathy Wisniewski
Kathy Caouette Robert Bytwerk and Shirley Ann Swaney Debra Clem Kelli Du Lude Bridget Flynn Dianne Kams Jan Polinskey Ranir, LLC Robert and Carol Speirs David W. Clonan Trust Mary Carnevale Mike and Kim Carnevale Betty Congdon Robert A. Congdon Cherry "Yella Gal" Copperwood National Assoc of Buffalo Soldiers/ Troopers Motorcycle Club Karl Daniels Joel and Molly Vanderiet Jay DeBoe Michael DeBoe Ward De Went Mary Lou De Went
Lisa Olson Fair Steven and Teri Olson Lora Fletcher Gordon and Joanna Grant Terri Handlin James Fox Phyllis Fox Jim Fox Jason and Cindy Dawes Betty J. Frederick Ambassadors Class American Sewing Guild of Grand Rapids Barnabas Foundation Craig and Mary Kay Bethune Florence Bouwman Harold and Myrtle Brunt Sarah Daugherty Barbara Dennis Raymond Frederick Tom and Shirley Frederick David Gander Paul and Maria Hesse James and Paula Kidder
Bruce Klanderman Valerie Kozikowski Jeff and Jean Kraai Chuck and Diane Lobbestael Diane Lobbestael Shirley Lobbestael Melissa and Michael Lojek Michael and Jane Maslyn Ellen Montle Marsha Potter James and Marie Preston V.G. and Jacquelyn Proffitt Shirley Rath Larry Robson Robert and Mary Ann Schrag Linda Stafford Carol Steele Billy and Betty Taylor Marilyn Titche Robert and Colleeen Tobin Phyllis Van Andel Carole Van Dam Connie VanBelois Jerry Ward John and Marge Wiersma Marianna Frontera Theresa Fodale Teresa Marchetti Trudence Marchetti Ralph Garlick Jean Swaney Dorothy Gieseman Karin and Stephen Waterbury Eileen Gifford Steven Klotz Norma J. Girod R. George Mickel John and Beverly Scranton Thelma and Harry Gohlke Keith Gohlke Ray Goodsell G & S Mini Storage Mitch and Karen McDonald
George Greer Philip and Barbara Conlin Chad and Elissa Cumiskey David and Nancy Flower Dean and Judy Gibson Tim and Maryln Kapala Lake Michigan Dental Ervin and Donna Miller Steven and Marie Mogg William and Shelli Otten Frank and Antonietta Polsinelli Emil Stecki Lindsay Villasenor Mike and Sandy Waller James and Anne Whitford Mary Noreen Gruchala Mike and Lori Borgeld Linda H Brianne Sieting Janet Haight James A. Lindgren Warren Hall Paul and Charlene Fitzpatrick Bernice Hansen Timothy and Beverly Held Dean Hanson Sara Taylor James Hoekstra William and Yvonne Van Ee Laura Hartley David and Sharon Slobodnik Rosemarie Haviland Denise Fedko Sonny Heeren James and Janice Heeren Norman Heileman Ronald and Frances McKellar Jim Hickey Catherine Amodeo
Steven Hertel Antoinette Hertel Jackie Hogendyk David Kaliniak Keith and Paula Sanders Joanne Snell Bea Horton Robert Horton Marian Katzenstein Forrest and Dorothy Armstrong Stanley Kaye Anonymous Gift Linda Kehm Paul and Charlene Fitzpatrick Elizabeth Klopcic Donald Klopcic David Kosten Michael DeBoer Donald Kozal Karen Best Anne Kozal Donald M. Kranenberg Rosemary Bennett David and Marilyn Dunn Thomas S. and Mickie Fox Lawrence and C. DeClarke Kramer Stella Williams Wayne Kreitner Nancy Baiers Cynda Burke James and Carolyn Chipman Harold and Dorothy Christiansen Coloma Lioness Club Dan Dibble John and Jill Drury Peter and Cynthia Enbody Debra Friday Robert and Ruth Gearing Michael and Barbara Hurst Harry and Laura Johnson
Kip and Andrea Krause Esther LaMothe Darwin and Margot Mason Lynnwood Mast Robert and Kellie Milligan Ervin Moore Bruce Nitz Richard Perrin Sherry Turner Lloyd and Marcia Walker James and Marguerite Walls Martha Jackson Bruce Jackson Roy Lakanen Rick and Allison Clay Henry Schein, Inc. Andrew Gumieny Karen Robinson Michael and Kim Smith Catherine H. LaLonde Earl Guyton
Bette Brailey David and Barbara Decker Sharon Dinley Carol Gleason Rick and Monique Grice Stephen and Sherry Osborn Jeff and Chris Palmer Janet Phelps Ms. Lee Riedl-Celebrant Gail Schuiling Berdean Walcott Linda Walthorn Drew and Terri Wilson Laura Zaagsma Jessie Marcellino Lennette Wright Cindy Matthews Shirley M. Hoogeboom Robert McCoy Robert Hollman
Leah Meldrum Elizabeth Anthony Deanna Brown Bobbie Jones Brian and Christine Knight Joseph Maggini McShane & Bowie, PLC Gary and Leanne Meinema Deskin and Carol Miller Margaret Miller James and Lois Snell Warren and Deborah Westerhuis Susan R. Miller Jean Swaney Moose Mills Valerie Bomar Mari J. Meyer Elsa Dykema Marcia Ratliff Meghan Sanxter Terry Mitchell Colleen Terwilliger Todd and Ellen Sutton
Donald L. Lindeman Allen and Gloria Bomers Norma Davis Greg and Meribeth Diekema Thomas and Jane Eggebeen Carla Ryan Sheldon Meadows Living Center, LLC Karynn Sikkema
Robert McDowell Tony and Ellen Abar George and Margaret Burby William and Mindie Burch David and Karen Enlow Garfield Condominiums Condo Association Richard Hillman and Barbara BurbyHillman Donald and Sheila Kyle Karen and Robert McDowell Gene and Laetta Meyers Gloria Novak Kevin Oler Todd Renker David and Barbara Riedel Kenneth and Kathy Sahli Allen Samuels Julie Shaw
Allan C. Lowe, Jr. Allan and Barbara Lowe
Catherine Lucille McGraw Linda Mills
Karen Newell William Stewart
Marvin Lyon Patricia Adams James and Colleen Ambrose
Olive McGuire Paul and Charlene Fitzpatrick
Zola Mae Noordyke Jacqueline Kozal
Charles Laufer Jean Swaney Troy Lenderink Thomas and Sally Lenderink Frank Lenz Peter and Regina Alexeas
Mildred Muczynski Frances Homrig Mary Kampfschulte Gregory and Kristine Mundt Molly Potterack Michael Whalen Nicole Myers Bonnie Neuenfelt Terry Nawrocki Timothy and Jennifer Nawrocki Neil Nelson Ryan Nelson
Clarence and Julia Nyenhuis Patricia Ter Haar Donald J. and Donna M. Oleniczak Steven and Juliana Wilkening Suzanne Oleszczuk Emeline Oleszczuk Vera Overholt Arlene Sabaitis West Side Community Council, Inc Jennie Paavola Kim and Robin Paavola Robert Pearson Karen Kamerschen Denise Picardat Bethany Mulligan Brian Picardat John O. Plummer, Jr. Lynn Trestrail Leona Powney Roy Freville Karen Randolph Cathy Mathews David Ravitch Carlotta Korson Leo Reardon Jim Jaynes David Rossi Anne Rossi Marilyn Rotman Nelson and Kay Rotman Dorothy Ryskamp Forest Hills Bus Drivers Assoc. Debbie Sammons Angela Royce
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
41
MEMORIALS CONTINUED Dwight Sawyer Jacquolyn Sawyer Stanley Scarborough Paul and Charlene Fitzpatrick Margaret Schab Homewatch Caregivers of West Michigan George Schachermeyer James and Carol Schachermeyer Katherine Schaffer Allegan Area ESA Bryan and Marlene Hull Marcia Lapham-Phelps Mark and Sharon Ryan James and Char Schierbeek Jerry Broersma James Schmalz Leslie Schmalz Sandra Schoemaker Peter and Judy Titta Jon Schutter Carol Schutter Michael Schwark Charles Anderson Stacy Baldini Robert and Karrie Bishop Robert and Louise Bishop Cathy Branch David Brenner Kerry and Laurie Buettner Stuart Citron Michael and Sherryl Despres Lorraine Dolley James and Tina Duran Angela Ejsmont Sandra Havens Joseph and Melissa Hutchinson Nancy Iannelli Zacha James and Andrea Karsten Jane Magrady Martin Majchrzak
42
James and Deborah Marosi Barbara Paneral Bruce and Rebecca Pienton Ross and Kara Poll Randy and Lori Saliers Steven Seely Michael and RenĂŠ Sherman Nicholas and Karen Sherman Mickel and Michelle Simons Tamara Smith Guy and Laura Staples Douglas and Melissa Stob Nate and Alyssa Terpstra U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Nathan and Lisa Verbeek Vicky Weber Wells Fargo Advisors David Westphal David and Karri Young Ruth Ann Scripps Jennifer Barr Michael Serne Joann Serne Marvin Severn Jason and Cindy Dawes Donna Sivaraman Narayan Sivaraman Clarence J. Slachter Paul Boelkins Ronald and Delores Day Donald DeRuiter Deb Dotson Margaret Eefsting Michael and Carmen Froehle Roberta Hagen Ida Nelson Barbara Slachter Margaret Snieder Randall and Amber Jack and Grace Vruggink Bruce and Jo Ann Wisner Tobey Sorensen Terry TenBrink
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Frederick Sparks John and Catherine Cole Mike and Katie Cuncannan Michael and Suzanne Denny Elmer's Crane and Dozer Inc. Audra Halprin Lawrence and Karen Hamelink Donald and Mary Herzog Dorothy Kampfschulte Phillip Kauppi Kathleen Lauria Kenneth and Mary Marklevitz Donna Mileski Celeste Mills Marilyn Murray Jerry and Janice Peterson Barbara Plachecki Mary Ritchie Michael Shields John and Mary Ann Sparks Mary Ellen Sparks Brian and Sally Stephenson Katrina Van Howe Harry Spearin Margaret Spearin Melba Stampohar Carlotta Korson John Steed Paul and Charlene Fitzpatrick Arlene Stolk Douglas and Cynthia Wesler Billy Swaney Clayton and Claire Kelly Hardon Rusty Swaney Tom and Sue Swaney Family Joanne Tabels Janet Hawkinson Daryl Ter Haar Patricia Ter Haar Chris Felty Tulppo Karen Felty
Carol Van Dellen Rosemary Bennett Byron and Joann Bossenbroek Irene Callaway Lori Feenstra Evelyn Pastoor Kenneth and Dana Proffer James and Mary Catherine Schumar Shores Rheumatology Patrick and Sandra Tierney Daniel and Betsey Tinkham Robert Van Dellen Susan Van Dellen Gordon and Margaret Van Wylen Lois Van Dyke Wendy Berbas Bible Baptist Church Jack and Donna Boukma Greg and Meribeth Diekema Kimberly Jakubiak David Kraker Julie Mattson Sarah Miller Robert and Nancy Morgan William and Sharon Navarre Reyelts Construction, Inc. Louis and Sue Robach Paul and Ruth Smeenge Jerome and Emilie Zeboor Margaret Van Dyke Wendy Berbas Greg and Meribeth Diekema Robert and Nancy Morgan Paul and Ruth Smeenge Donald Van Valkenburg Ruth Van Valkenburg Dorothy Verberg Rick Verburg Marlene Vis Lonnie Vis J. Roger Vos Matthew and Shari Berger
John Wagenaar Waterfront Condominium Association Evelyn Wagner Boyd and Sue Corrigan Donald and Nancy Haga Kevin and Barb Koopmans Kathleen Vanderweide Jim and Mickey Wagner Rosemarie Ward Maria Ward Edward A. Weber Thomas Chrisman Alan and Carol Dick David Rapp Norman and Mary Vansickle Amy Wilcox Lee Welch Paul and Charlene Fitzpatrick Dee Westenbroek Jean Swaney Darren White Amy White Warren Wierenga Wayne and Mary Jo Beld Donatic Peter and Victoria Fifelski Jerry and Cheryl Glashower Mark and Robin Meyers Morgan Composting Regina Winograd Daniel Fredericks Nona Wirt Howard Wirt Margaret Witt Orville and Annette Brown North Kent Women's Pool League Robert Wuld V. Pauline Hons
Joseph Yagel Internal Medicine Associates of Frankfort, P.S.C. Steve Jennings Irene Riney George and Julia Steinhardt Gene Yost Carole Yost Vincent Zakarzecki Arline Dzwonkowski Barbara Zanger Vicki Hill Herb Zeitter Shirley Zeitter Phillip Zimmerman James and Lori Swatzell Jan Earlywine Charles A. Zurface George and Roselyn Becker Thomas and Diane Brighton Lee and Belinda Carmichael Alan and Theresa Freeman Christopher and Anne-Marie Hammond John and Bonnie Holm Darin and Trina Hooker Lois Morris Randall and Judith Schaefer John and Diane Scott D. J. Stapler Weddle Brothers Construction H. E. and Mary Jane Wilcox Beverly Zurface
SIGNATURE SPECIAL EVENT SPONSORS We are fortunate to have extraordinarily dedicated signature event sponsors. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting our mission throughout the year. Amway Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Aon Risk Services
Consumers Credit Union
Fifth Third Bank
Mike and Sue Jandernoa
Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation
First National Bank of Michigan
Jeffery Roberts Design
Crown Jewel Spa & Salon
Foot & Ankle Specialists of West Michigan
Crowe Horwath LLP Mimi Cummings Cumulus Broadcasting Cumulus Nashville Custer Inc. CWD Real Estate Cygnus27 Czech Assett Management
Fred L. Hansen Corporation
Kappes Landscaping Katie K Team Keeler Kentwood Office Furniture
Frey Foundation
Craig and Debra Kinney
Furniture City Creamery
Al and Robin Koop
Dan and Lou Ann Gaydou
Lake Michigan Credit Union
GR Outdoor Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Ray and Jeannine Lanning Joseph and Amanda Lanser
Applied Imaging
Dan Sharp Europe
Grand Rapids Community College
BDO USA, LLP
Davenport University
Grand Rapids Griffins
Leigh's
Jerry and Karen DeBlaay
Grand Valley State University
Leo's
Steven and Kathryn Bandstra Foundation Battershall Family Matthew and Shari Berger David and Jill Bielema Chuck and Chris Boelkins Buist Electric Calvin College Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western MI, PC CARNEVALE
Deloitte Desserts by Lori Detroit Red Wings Aaron and Afton DeVos The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation Eileen DeVries Divani
Cascade Rental Center
DK Security
Chemical Bank
Ellis Parking Company
The Chop House
Erhardt Construction
Chuck Heiney Photography CitySen Lounge Colliers International Love Collins
Ernst & Young LLP Eurest Ferris State Univ.-GR/ Kendall College-Art & Design
Granger Group Martin and Margaret Greydanus H.T. Hackney Jana Hall Harvey Automotive Hatmaker Insurance Agency - State Farm Herman Miller The Hilton Family
Legg Mason
Lighthouse Insurance Group, Inc. LPiTsolutions Gary and Vicky Ludema Macatawa Bank McAlvey Merchant & Associates Meijer Doug Meijer Mercy Health
Hope College
Metro Cars of Grand Rapids
Houlihan's
Metro Health
Howard Miller
Michigan State University - College of Human Medicine
Huizenga Group i Understand Ice Sculptures, Ltd. The ICN Foundation
Michigan Urological Clinic Mika Meyers PLC Mike Schaap Builders
Jamie Mills and James Nichols Modern Day Floral Modern Luxury Aspen Modern Luxury Atlanta Modern Luxury Chicago Modern Luxury Dallas Modern Luxury Los Angeles
San Chez, A Tapas Bistro San Francisco Magazine Peter and Joan Secchia Secrest Wardle The Sharpe Collection Sheryl Crow
The Steve Van Andel Foundation Dave and Beth Van Portfliet The Veldheer, Long, Mackay & Bernecker Group of Merrill Lynch Veolia Energy Grand Rapids LLC
six.one.six Slows BarBQ Southland Auto Wash
Waddell & Reed
Special Events Rental
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
Mike and Rachel Mraz
Spectrum Health
Wells Fargo N.A.
My Auto Import Center
Robert and Susan Stafford
Williams Kitchen & Bath
Naples Art Association
Stamos Capital Partners
Neiman Marcus
State Farm Insurance Marsha Veenstra
Greg Willit and Meg M. Miller Willit
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Norris, PernĂŠ and French LLP Northstar Commercial
Tom and Mary Stuit
Osteria Rossa
Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe
Pepsi Co. Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Pitsch Companies Preusser Jewelers Quality Air Service, Inc. Regal Financial Group ResCom Electric Inc. Reserve Wine and Food The Rehmann Group Tom and Brenda Rinks Rowerdink, Inc. John and Therese Rowerdink
Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. Women's Lifestyle Magazine
Steelcase Inc.
Aaron and Amanda Wong XS Energy
Taconic Charitable Foundation Tennis and Golf Co. Thornapple River Group LLC Todd Wenzel Buick GMC Townsquare Media The Tupper Group – Merrill Lynch Twisted Rooster US Bank Universal Forest Products Inc. David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
43
LEADERSHIP TEAM
David Van Andel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Van Andel is Chairman and CEO of the 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 the Van Andel Institute and co-founder of Amway Corporation, he is currently a member of Amway’s Board of Directors and serves on its Executive, Governance and Audit committees. Prior to leading the Van Andel Institute, he had been in 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 the Amway business activities in North America and 22 European and 11 Latin American affiliates.
44
Jerry Callahan, Ph.D., M.B.A. Vice President, Innovations & Collaborations
Jana Hall Chief Operations Officer
Peter Jones, Ph.D, D.Sc. Van Andel Research Institute Chief Scientific Officer
Steven J. Triezenberg, Ph.D. President and Dean of Van Andel Institute Graduate School
David Whitescarver Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Linda Zarzecki Vice President of Human Resources
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Timothy Myers Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
BOARD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
Van Andel Institute Board of Trustees
Van Andel Research Institute Board of Trustees
Van Andel Education Institute Board of Trustees
David Van Andel
John Kennedy
David Van Andel
James B. Fahner, M.D.
David Van Andel
James E. Bultman, Ed.D.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
President and Chief Executive Officer, Autocam Corporation
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
Chief of Hematology and Oncology at DeVos Children's Hospital
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
Former President, Hope College
George Vande Woude, Ph.D.
Ralph Weichselbaum, M.D.
Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
Distinguished Scientific Fellow, Van Andel Research Institute
Professor & Chairman of the Department of Radiation and Head of the Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research at The University of Chicago
Mark Meijer President of Life E.M.S. Ambulance
(Not pictured)
President, Aquinas College
Donald W. Maine Former President, Davenport University (Not pictured)
Gordon L. Van Harn, Ph.D. Emeritus Provost and Professor of Biology, Calvin College
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
45
BOARD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUED Van Andel Institute Board of Governors Co-Chairs (pictured left): Tim Long Vicky Ludema Alice Andrews Tony and Kathleen Asselta Nancy Batts David and Jill Bielema Charles and Christine Boelkins James and Martha Bultman John and Marie Canepa Mike and Kim Carnevale Ron and Lori Cook David and Karen Custer Mark and Mary Jane de Waal Robert and Carol DeVilbiss Douglas and Maria DeVos Richard and Helen DeVos Daniel and Pamella DeVos
THANK YOU, BOARD OF GOVERNORS As members of the Van Andel Institute Board of Governors, your support of the Institute helps advance our efforts to improve the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations. Thank you for being our partners, serving as our ambassadors and contributing significantly to our success.
Dick and Betsy DeVos Randall and Terri Disselkoen Michael and Lynette Ellis Jim and Gail Fahner David and Judy Frey Dan and Lou Ann Gaydou Gene and Tubie Gilmore Martin and Peggy Greydanus Jim and Kathy Hackett Jana Hall Ralph Hauenstein Paul and Rose Heule
46
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Dirk Hoffius J.C. and Tammy Huizenga Allen and Helen Hunting Bea Idema JosĂŠ and Sue Infante Michael and Sue Jandernoa Sidney and Cate Jansma Peter and Veronica Jones John and Deb Kailunas David and Nancy Kammeraad John and Nancy Kennedy Craig and Debra Kinney John Knapp Diane Kniowski Ray Loeschner Tim and Kimberly Long Gary and Vicky Ludema Dona and Peg Luy Mark and Mary Beth Meijer Hank and Liesel Meijer Lena Meijer R. George Mickel
Lewis and Teresa Hendricks-Pitsch Dale and Sonja Robertson John and Therese Rowerdink Martin D. Sass Mike and Cindy Schaap Peter and Joan Secchia Blair and Michelle Sharpe George and Missy Sharpe George and Linda Sharpe Budge and Marilyn Sherwood Brent and Diane Slay Jack and Carol Smith Robert and Susan Stafford Peter Stamos and Soonmee Cha Tom and Mary Stuit Duke and Sue Suwyn Renee Tabben Dave and Carol Van Andel Steve Van Andel Michael and Michelle Van Dyke
Jack H. Miller
Daniel and Ann Marie Van Eerden
Jamie Mills and James Nichols
Gordon and Mary Van Harn
Louis and Nancy Moran
George and Dot Vande Woude
Mark and Elizabeth Murray William and Sandi Nicholson
Stuart and Nelleke Vander Heide
Juan and Mary Olivarez
Michael and Gayle VanGessel
Richard Pappas
John Veleris Greg and Meg Miller Willit
JBoard Ambassadors Co-Chairs (pictured left): Heidi Campbell Rachel Mraz Zeke Alejos Natalia Alejos Lisa Alles Timothy Alles Jennifer Baldini Lindsay Benedict Angie Bissell Brandon Bissell Brian Blodgett Heidi Campbell Scott Campbell Don and Heather Carlson Heather Christman Natalie Cleary Matthew Cook Paige Cornetet
THANK YOU, JBOARD MEMBERS
Aaron DeVos
As JBoard members, 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 fight disease and advance our mission every day.
Afton DeVos Christa Disselkoen Stephen Disselkoen Lindsey Dubis
Bo Fowler
Tim Steit
Jennifer Fowler
Amber Sturrus Hoover
Linsey Gleason
Justin Swan
Andrew Grashuis
Kaitlyn Disselkoen Swan
Nicole Haglund
Charity Taatjes
Jennifer Humphries
Trevor TenBrink
Brandi Huyser
Sarah Tupper
Eric Jones
Jesse Van Andel
Eric Kovalak
Aaron Van Andel
Michael Lomonaco
Kyle Van Andel
Kimberly Loomis
Chris Van Andel
Alyssa Ludema
Daniel VandenBosch
Geoff Ludema
David Vanderveen
Phillip Mitchell
Sarah Vanderveen
Mike Mraz
Marc Veenstra
Rachel Mraz
Alison Waske Sutter
Matt Osterhaven
MeiLi Wieringa
Gregory Paplawsky
Lisa Wolf
Alexandra and Lee Perez
Nathaniel Wolf
Laurie Placinski
Brian Yarch
Deidre Remtema
Courtney Yarch
Jeff Remtema
Lisa Zigterman
Lindsay Slagboom
Megan Zubrickas
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
47
BOARD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUED Van Andel Research Institute Board of Scientific Advisors
Van Andel Research Institute External Scientific Advisory Board
Michael S. Brown, M.D.
Tony Hunter, Ph.D.
Tony Hunter, Ph.D. (Chair)
Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D.
Rudolf Jaenisch, Ph.D.
Paul J. Thomas Professor of Genetics and Director of the Jonsson Center of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas
Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory; American Cancer Society Professor; Renato Dulbecco Chair; Director, Salk Institute Cancer Center
Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory; American Cancer Society Professor; Renato Dulbecco Chair; Director, Salk Institute Cancer Center
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs; Dean of Medicine, University of California Irvine
Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT
Richard Axel, M.D.
Philip A. Sharp, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurosciences, Columbia University
Professor of Biology and Head of the Cancer Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D.
Kristian Helin, Ph.D. Marie-Francoise Chesselet, M.D., Ph.D. Charles H. Markham Professor of Neurology; Distinguished Professor of Neurology and of Neurobiology, Reed Neurological Research Center
Director, Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC); Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Chairman of the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas
Distinguished Professor of Oncology; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine; Founding Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer CenterCancer Center
Van Andel Education Institute Advisory Council
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Board of Directors
David Van Andel
Joseph Krajcik, Ph.D.
James Fahner, M.D.
Michael J. Imperiale, Ph.D.
Lynn Matrisian, Ph.D.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Van Andel Institute
Professor, Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University
Chief of Hematology and Oncology, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Director, Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology; Associate Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan
Vice President, Scientific and Medical Affairs, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Carol Van Andel, B.A.
Thomas Haas, Ph.D.
Executive Director, David and Carol Van Andel Foundation
President, Grand Valley State University
Nancy Ayres Former General Manager, Flexco James Boelkins, Ph.D. Former Provost, Hope College
48
Max S. Wicha, M.D.
GIVE TODAY AT VAI.ORG/GIVE
Gordon Van Harn, Ph.D. Pamela Kidd, M.D. Hematopathologist and Medical Director of the Hematology and Flow Cytometry Laboratories, Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Emeritus Provost and Professor of Biology, Calvin College
333 BOSTWICK AVE NE GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 W W W. VA I . O R G