With a snip of their scissors across a DNA helix-shaped ribbon, co-founder Jay Van Andel and Institute Chairman and CEO David Van Andel ushered in a new era of scientific discovery in Grand Rapids.
Dozens gathered on May 10, 2000, for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Van Andel Institute’s new, Rafael Viñoly-designed building at 333 Bostwick Ave NE. Former President Gerald R. Ford and then-Michigan Gov. John Engler were there, among community leaders and members who were the Institute’s earliest and most ardent supporters.
The ceremony was the culmination of years of planning and construction, and helped launch what is known today as Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile. It was not, however, the end of the road. The building that opened that day was Phase I; seven years later, as the Institute grew at a steady clip, the building began expanding with the construction of Phase II.
The Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Dinner & Award Presentation celebrates individuals, businesses and organizations whose exceptional commitment strengthens and elevates VAI’s work and mission. We are deeply grateful for the support of our community, whose generosity makes impact possible.
Please join us in celebrating this year’s honorees:
🪽Dawn Anderson (dec.)
🪽NPF Investment Advisors
🪽Railside Ladies Purple Community Golf Outing
🪽Thomas & Mary Stuit
🪽West Michigan Woman Magazine
Donna Rosa showcased resilience from the day she was born. Her mother noticed Rosa had difficulties crawling, and a trip to the doctor led to the discovery of a hip injury from birth. Later in life, a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis would add additional movement difficulties. Yet, you would often find Rosa getting up and down, digging in the dirt, and traversing the trails of her favorite place: the garden.
She brought her passion everywhere she went — even using her green thumb to care for the gardens at her nearest community park.
“There was little that ever held her back. Even if movement was hard, she always went on a walk, spent time outside and found ways to do what she loved,” said her friend Jackie Meester.
Through her estate, Rosa chose to support Parkinson’s research at Van Andel Institute, extending her impact beyond her lifetime and helping move research forward.
“She truly believed in making the world better, and I think this was one way she could plant a seed for the future,” Meester said. “We both saw VAI as a place where individuals can hope for the better, and I pray my friend’s generosity can be part of that future.”
Learn more about VAI's Parkinson's disease research and ways to get involved at vai.org/parkinsons or at the link in our bio. #ParkinsonsAwarenessMonth
For the first time, scientists have used a variant of CRISPR — a modern tool for editing DNA — to distinguish tumor DNA from healthy DNA by targeting subtle chemical differences present in cancer cells.
The study, published today in Nature, is an early but promising step toward a cancer therapy that targets and destroys tumor cells with high precision.
The work was led by VAI’s Dr. Hong Li and Wageningen University and Research’s Dr. Jon van der Oost.
Read more at the link in our bio.
@uniwageningen
What’s on the horizon in Parkinson’s disease research?
For #ParkinsonsAwarenessMonth, VAI’s Dr. Darren Moore highlights five areas to watch for breakthroughs in the coming years.
Read more at the link in our bio.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Grand Rapids Griffins Purple Community Game! We hope you had as much fun as we did during this special night. Because of you, we can continue to fuel discoveries that help build a better future. 💜🏒
Tuberculosis is a serious disease that primarily affects the lungs but also can damage the kidneys, spine and brain. Although it is treatable, it remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.
VAI scientists are working to better understand the bacteria behind TB. New research from Dr. Huilin Li and collaborators shows that a key energy processing enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is structured differently than expected.
This specialized enzyme may help TB bacteria adapt to stressful situations and survive, offering new insights that could guide the development of more effective treatments. #WorldTBDay2026
Read more at the link in our bio.
From high school to hands-on research. Last summer, six recent high school graduates stepped into Van Andel Institute labs for an immersive eight week research experience. Working alongside VAI scientists, they learned essential lab techniques, explored scientific questions and presented their own research projects at the program’s conclusion.
For Mae Rydingsward, the experience became a turning point. After completing the program, she continued her work at VAI and now holds a part time position in the Grainger Lab while pursuing her college degree. The fellowship helped her gain confidence in the lab and clarify her path in biomedical research.
Applications for the summer 2026 program are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. Learn more about the High School Graduate Research Program and Mae's experience at the link in our bio.
For 21 years, VAI’s annual Winterfest Celebration has brought together friends, philanthropists and scientists to celebrate the power of community and drive progress in biomedical research. Through this generous support, VAI continues to pursue breakthroughs, from understanding how and why Parkinson’s begins and progresses to supporting groundbreaking clinical trials that evaluate promising potential therapies.
Our sincere thanks to the Sharpe family for their remarkable commitment as event chairs. Their vision and dedication helped establish Winterfest as a cornerstone event in support of Parkinson’s research and laid a strong foundation for continued growth and impact for years to come. ❄️
Hello from our new CSO! With Dr. Jonathan D. Licht stepping into the role of president and chief scientific officer, VAI is focused on growth, collaboration and scientific impact. Here are a few areas you’ll see shaping our work.
Read more at the link in our bio or visiting vai.org.
Drug-resistant fungal infections are on the rise. How can we stop them?
Fungal infections are a serious public health concern that cause millions of deaths globally each year. Among the most worrying are Candida auris and Cryptococcus neoformans, two fungi that are growing increasingly resistant to existing therapies. Candida auris cases are spreading across the U.S., with more than 7,500 cases reported in more than two dozen states in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Recently, a team of scientists from Van Andel Institute and @mcmasteru identified a natural substance called butyrolactol A (shown in pink above), which may help a group of low-toxicity antifungal drugs known as echinocandins work against drug-resistant fungal infections, including Candida auris and Cryptococcus neoformans.
“Fungal infections are evolving, so our strategies must advance faster,” said Dr. Huilin Li, the Ralph and Grace Hauenstein Chair in Structural Biology at Van Andel Institute, who co-led the study. “By revisiting natural compounds to enhance the efficacy of echinocandins, we’re one step closer to developing stronger, more resilient antifungal therapies.”
Read more at the link in our bio or by visiting vai.org.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for A Conversation About Metabolism and the Immune System hosted by Carol Van Andel! This annual event continues to be a meaningful opportunity for our community to connect and deepen their understanding of the research happening at VAI.
This year, Dr. Russell Jones and Dr. Connie Krawczyk gave an inside look at how different nutrients power our immune cells, how metabolism interacts with other systems to support health and how we can leverage new breakthroughs to better prevent and treat disease.
Discover more about our Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming at vai.org.
