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Van Andel Institute

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Coordinates: 42°58′10″N 85°40′01″W / 42.9695°N 85.667°W / 42.9695; -85.667
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Van Andel Institute
Formation1996
HeadquartersGrand Rapids, Michigan
CEO
David Van Andel
Staff>500
Websitewww.vai.org

Van Andel Institute (VAI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan. VAI was founded by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996.[1]

The institute's research focuses on cancer epigenetics and Parkinson's disease. Its educational efforts support teacher development and science education from early elementary through the doctoral level.

David Van Andel, son of Jay and Betty, has been CEO and chairman since 1996.[2]

Research

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Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) scientists study the epigenetic, genetic, cellular and structural basis of cancer and Parkinson's disease as well as osteoarthritis, neurofibromatosis type 1, Alzheimer's disease, prion diseases, Ewing sarcoma and other conditions.[3]

As of 2023, Van Andel Institute has more than 500 employees.

Center for Epigenetics

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The Center for Epigenetics[4] was established in 2014 and is led by Peter Jones.[5] Scientists in the Center focus on identifying epigenetic mechanisms in health and disease states, and translating their findings into new treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Center for Neurodegenerative Science

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The Center for Neurodegenerative Science was established in 2012.[6] The center primarily investigates the underlying causes of Parkinson's disease.[7]

Center for Cancer and Cell Biology

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The Center for Cancer and Cell Biology[4] is led by Bart Williams.[8] It is the largest center at the institute.[4]

Core Technologies and Services

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The institute's laboratories are supported by a Core Technologies and Services group that comprises eight shared scientific services:[9]

In 2017, the institute established the David Van Andel Advanced Cryo-Electron Microscopy Suite as part of an expansion of its structural biology program.[10][11] The $10 million investment included the installation of an FEI Titan Krios cryo-electron microscope, a Talos Arctica cryo-electron microscope and a Tecnai Spirit G2 BioTWIN screening microscope.[10]

The institute also houses a College of American Pathologists-accredited Biorepository[12] that contains more than one million formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks.

Large-Scale Collaborations

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Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) was founded in 2010 by Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley State University. Much of GRAM's initial funding was through angel investment that generated $5 million in 2010 and another $2 million in 2013.[13]

In September 2014, the institute partnered with The Cure Parkinson's Trust on its Linked Clinical Trials initiative, which investigates repurposed drugs for use as disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson's.[14] LCT has supported trials in ambroxol, exenatide, simvastatin, liraglutide, and others.[15]

In October, the institute announced a partnership with Stand Up To Cancer to form the VARI–SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team, a multi-institutional collaboration to translate potential epigenetic treatments for cancer into clinical trials.[16][17] The team is led by Jones and Stephen Baylin, M.D co-head of the Cancer Biology Program at Johns Hopkins University's Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. It has launched six clinical trials in cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer, and bladder cancer.

Research Leadership

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In 1999, George Vande Woude, joined VARI[18] as its founding research director. He previously was director of the Basic Research Program at the Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center as well as the director for the Division of Basic Sciences at the National Cancer Institute. In the early 1980s, Vande Woude's laboratory discovered the human MET oncogene, which is now an important target in the development of anti-cancer drugs.[19] He stepped down from his post as research director in 2009 to devote more time to his research. He was a Distinguished Scientific Fellow at VARI and was a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[20]

Vande Woude was succeeded by Jeffrey Trent, who had a dual role as research director at VARI and at Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona.[21] Trent founded TGen in 2002[22] after 10 years at the National Human Genome Research Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health. He left VARI in 2012 to lead TGen full-time.[23]

In 2013, Peter Jones, was named as the institute's chief scientific officer after 37 years at the University of Southern California, where he most recently was director of USC's Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center from 1993 to 2011.[24][25][26] Jones's work helped established the field of epigenetics, particularly his seminal 1980 discovery that DNA methylation impacts gene expression and cellular differentiation.[5] He is past president of the American Association for Cancer Research[27] and is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences,[28] the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,[29] the American Association for the Advancement of Science[30] and the American Association for Cancer Research Academy.[31] Jones also is director of the institute's Center for Epigenetics.

Education

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Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI), founded in 1996,[32] provides kindergarten to 12th-grade inquiry-based science education programs for students, and sustained professional development programs and instructional tools for educators.

Leadership

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Gordon Van Wylen was appointed director of VAEI in 1996.[33] Before workthis, Van Wylen was elected dean of the Engineering Department at the University of Michigan in 1965[34] and later served as president of Hope College in Holland, Michigan, from 1972 to 1987.[35]

Gordon Van Harn was appointed director of VAEI in 2001 and worked in this capacity until 2009.[36] Van Harn was also an emeritus provost and professor of biology at Calvin College[37] in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Marcia Bishop was appointed associate director of VAEI in 2004.[38] She was in this role until 2011 when Jim Nicolette was appointed to the position of associate director.[39]

Steven J. Triezenberg was director of VAEI between 2009 and 2015. Triezenberg previously was a faculty member of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University for more than 18 years.[40]

Terra Tarango was appointed director of VAEI in 2016.[41] Tarango previously held the position of president of Staff Development for Educators (SDE), a professional development company in New Hampshire, from 2012 to 2016.[41] Tarango also designed print and digital curriculum for kindergarten through 12th-grade students at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.[41]

Student programs

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VAEI's student programs for kindergarten through 12th grade students include:[42]

  • Summer Camps
  • Field Experience
  • High School Journal Club
  • Out of-School Time Cohort
  • Science on Saturday

Teacher professional development

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VAEI designs and provides professional development workshops and instructional tools for kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers.[43] Materials include downloadable lesson plans, interactive student journals, and classroom resources.

Science education tools

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In 2015,[44] VAEI launched NexGen Inquiry, a web-based instructional tool designed to help students and teachers meet Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as well as other state benchmarks, and provides teachers with the tools they need to incorporate inquiry-based learning in their classrooms.[44]

Van Andel Institute Graduate School

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Van Andel Institute Graduate School (VAIGS) offers an accredited program in cell and molecular genetics that is designed to foster problem-based thinking and research leadership. VAIGS also offers an M.D./Ph.D. program in partnership with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine[45] and Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. Medical School.[46]

VAIGS was founded in 2005[33] under the leadership of then-VAEI director Gordon Van Harn, . The first graduating class was in 2012. VAIGS was accredited by the HLC on November 12, 2013.[47] Steven J. Triezenberg, was named the founding dean in 2006.[33]

Purple Community

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Purple Community, founded in 2009,[48] is Van Andel Institute's grassroots community awareness and fundraising program. Purple Community helps individuals and organizations create fundraising events to support biomedical research and science education at Van Andel Institute.[48]

Architecture

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Van Andel Institute is located on the Grand Rapids Medical Mile. Its 400,000 square foot building[49] was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly and was constructed in two phases;[50] the first phase was completed in 2000[51] and second phase opened in December 2009.[52] It includes 27,500 square feet of laboratory space, 71,000 square feet of laboratory support space, a demonstration lab, an auditorium and on-site cafeteria. The institute's Phase II was awarded Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum status by the United States Green Building Council in 2011.[53]

The lobby features a 14-foot tall glass sculpture called "Life"[54] created by Dale Chihuly designed to be an artistic representation of a DNA double helix.

References

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  1. ^ "Van Andel Institute". West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  2. ^ "Highlights of Hope 20th Anniversary Edition". issuu. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  3. ^ "Media Kit | Van Andel Institute". issuu. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Labs - VARI". VARI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Viegas, Jennifer (November 29, 2016). "Profile of Peter A. Jones". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113 (48): 13546–13548. doi:10.1073/pnas.1617318113. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 5137708. PMID 27872276.
  6. ^ "For Van Andel Institute's new lead scientist in Parkinson's research, fight against disease is personal". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  7. ^ Chaudhuri, K. Ray; Bhidayasiri, Roongroj; van Laar, Teus (December 2016). "Unmet needs in Parkinson's disease: New horizons in a changing landscape". Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 33 Suppl 1: S2–S8. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.11.018. ISSN 1873-5126. PMID 27932224.
  8. ^ "Homepage - Bart Williams - Williams Laboratory". Williams Laboratory. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  9. ^ "Core Technologies and Services - VARI". VARI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Van Andel Institute installs world class microscope to help fight cancer". Fox17. April 5, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  11. ^ "Van Andel Research Institute installs world-class microscopes to enable discovery of the molecular basis of disease - VARI". VARI. March 28, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  12. ^ Institute, Van Andel. "Van Andel Institute, Saint Mary's Health Care And Mercy Health Partners To Expand World Class Biorepository In West Michigan". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  13. ^ Martinez, Shandra. "Ex-Perrigo VP promoted to CEO of Grand Rapids medical supplier".
  14. ^ "Van Andel Research Institute joins The Cure Parkinson's Trust to accelerate development of new Parkinson's disease treatments - VARI". VARI. September 23, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "New Parkinson's Clinical Trial Will Evaluate Drug Already Approved for Respiratory Conditions - Parkinson's News Today". Parkinson's News Today. February 24, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  16. ^ "Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team continues with $7.5 million funding from Van Andel Research Institute - VARI". VARI. October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  17. ^ "Linked Clinical Trials Initiative". VARI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  18. ^ "Van Andel Institute's George Vande Woude in prestigious first class honored for cancer research". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  19. ^ Bottaro, D. P.; Rubin, J. S.; Faletto, D. L.; Chan, A. M.; Kmiecik, T. E.; Woude, GF Vande; Aaronson, S. A. (February 15, 1991). "Identification of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor as the c-met proto-oncogene product". Science. 251 (4995): 802–804. Bibcode:1991Sci...251..802B. doi:10.1126/science.1846706. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 1846706.
  20. ^ "Lead Investigator Bio - Vande Woude Laboratory". Vande Woude Laboratory. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  21. ^ "Van Andel Institute partners with TGen of Phoenix, hires new research director". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  22. ^ "Jeffrey Trent -". www.tgen.org. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  23. ^ "Van Andel Institute and TGen end alliance". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  24. ^ "Peter Jones to Step Down From Cancer Center Post". Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  25. ^ "Vision for Van Andel Institute: Lead scientist details plan for internationally known research center". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "Lead Investigator Bio - Jones Lab". Jones Lab. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  27. ^ "Appointment of Peter-Jones, Editor-in-Chief at CE". Cancer Epigenetics Society. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  28. ^ "Peter Jones". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  29. ^ "Newly Elected Fellows". www.amacad.org. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  30. ^ "Jones, Peter". AAAS - The World's Largest General Scientific Society. August 1, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  31. ^ "Peter A. Jones, PhD, DSc". Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  32. ^ "Van Andel Institute: Private Company Information - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  33. ^ a b c "History and Legacy - VAI". VAI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  34. ^ "Appointed Dean | Faculty History Project". www.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  35. ^ "Presidents of Hope College – Digital Holland, Michigan". digitalholland.org. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  36. ^ "Van Andel Education Institute director Gordon Van Harn to retire". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  37. ^ "Institute Trustees - VAI". VAI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  38. ^ "Van Andel Education Institute Growing a Culture of Young Scientists". Rapid Growth. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  39. ^ "Former West Ottawa Schools official named associate director of the Van Andel Education Institute". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  40. ^ "Lead Investigator Bio - Triezenberg Laboratory". Triezenberg Laboratory. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  41. ^ a b c "Van Andel Institute taps SDE president to lead its education initiative". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  42. ^ "Student Programs - VAEI". VAEI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  43. ^ "Professional Development - VAEI". VAEI. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  44. ^ a b "VAEI releases web platform for science education". Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  45. ^ "MD/PhD Program - Department of Medicine - Michigan State University". mdadmissions.msu.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  46. ^ "MD-PhD Programs | WMed". med.wmich.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  47. ^ "Van Andel Institute Graduate School receives institutional accreditation - VAI". VAI. November 19, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  48. ^ a b "Purple Community hits $1M fundraising milestone". Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  49. ^ "Building Van Andel Institute – From 1996 to 2016". VAI. July 22, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  50. ^ "Van Andel Institute architect Rafael Viñoly visits Grand Rapids to see nearly completed design". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  51. ^ Duesbery, N. S.; Teh, B. T. (2007). "Cancer: biology and therapeutics – A tribute to George Vande Woude". Oncogene. 26 (9): 1258–1259. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210257. ISSN 0950-9232. PMID 17322909.
  52. ^ "With opening of addition, Van Andel Institute prepares to expand into new areas of research, speed delivery of results to West Michigan". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  53. ^ "Van Andel Institute earns highest green building award". MLive.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  54. ^ "Erhardt Construction - Commercial & Office Projects". www.erhardtcc.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
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42°58′10″N 85°40′01″W / 42.9695°N 85.667°W / 42.9695; -85.667

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