Van Andel Institute

10/29/2025

It is our distinct honor to announce that Dr. Jonathan D. Licht has been selected as the next president and chief scientific officer of Van Andel Institute, effective January 2026.

Dr. Licht brings to VAI an extensive track record of developing successful, high-impact research programs. He will succeed Dr. Peter A. Jones, who is returning to full-time work in his lab at VAI.

Read more: https://www.vai.org/article/eminent-physician-scientist-dr-jonathan-d-licht-to-serve-as-next-president-and-chief-scientific-officer-of-van-andel-institute/

10/28/2025

Tau is a protein best known for its role in Alzheimer’s disease. Now, VAI scientists and collaborators have found that an unstructured layer surrounding tau, called the “fuzzy coat,” plays a critical part in recruiting other proteins to misfold in Alzheimer’s progression.

“Our work reframes how we think about tau aggregation,” said the study’s corresponding author, Dr. Michael Henderson. “It’s not just the core — it’s the interaction between the core and the fuzzy coat that drives this process. Additional work will be necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms of this interaction, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

Read more:

Read about Not just a harmless accessory, tau’s ‘fuzzy coat’ contributes to Alzheimer’s progression on Van Andel Institute – Stay updated on the latest research and groundbreaking discoveries in science and health.

10/27/2025

Last month, our Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease symposium and Rallying to the Challenge meeting, hosted in partnership with Cure Parkinson's, brought together hundreds of scientists, clinicians and people with Parkinson’s to explore the latest research.

Check out highlights from the event:

Read about Highlights from Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease 2025 on Van Andel Institute – Stay updated on the latest research and groundbreaking discoveries in science and health.

10/24/2025

Our Hope on the Hill Gala returned in style for its 25th year last night with “Casino Royale” 🎲 Thank you to all who joined us for this exciting night in support of our research and education programs!

10/23/2025

A new study led by scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Van Andel Institute suggests that a protein called midkine may help prevent brain plaques that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

“One of the biggest problems in Alzheimer’s treatment is that still we don’t have an effective way to prevent or clear out these harmful plaques,” said VAI’s Dr. Yang Yang. “Our research shows that the presence of midkines interferes with the formation of plaques. Although we’re still in the early stages, I’m hopeful that our work will help inform new treatment strategies that address one of the root issues in Alzheimer’s.”

Read about Midkine proteins prevent Alzheimer’s-related plaques on Van Andel Institute – Stay updated on the latest research and groundbreaking discoveries in science and health.

10/22/2025

A star on and off the runway. 🌟 Huge thanks to Max Alexander for bringing his incredible designs to Couture for a Cure in support of science education at Van Andel Institute for Education. His creativity, craftsmanship and passion lit up the stage and reminded us how creativity and curiosity work together to spark breakthroughs.

10/17/2025

We're still thinking about this night! ✨👗 Our 20th Couture for a Cure was one to remember. From Leigh's to Max Alexander, the runway didn’t miss. Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating fashion and philanthropy in support of science education. 💙🔬 Van Andel Institute for Education

10/10/2025

Lights. Camera. Fashion. Check out this sizzle reel from our 20th annual Couture for a Cure!

We were honored to have the fabulously talented Max Alexander join us, along with our longtime partners Leigh's and Amway, to celebrate two decades of bringing together stunning fashions with heartfelt philanthropy.

Stay tuned for more video and photos!

09/26/2025

Organization is important — especially when it comes to our DNA. Research by VAI scientists helps explain how DNA is packed into "active" and "inactive" compartments, a process that affects health and disease.

“Studying DNA organization helps us better understand the basis of disease and find ways to fix problems,” Dr. Gerd Pfeifer said. “These processes happen out of sight and out of mind, but they are incredibly important parts of sustaining health.”

Read more: https://www.vai.org/article/dna-organizer-helps-cells-store-and-access-genetic-information/

09/23/2025

Congratulations to Drs. Patrick Dischinger, Lauren Duimstra, Leena Kariapper, Alysa Kasen, Vladimir Molchanov, Brandon Oswald and Alfredo Reyes Oliveras, who recently earned their Ph.D.s in molecular and cellular biology from Van Andel Institute Graduate School. This milestone achievement is an exciting step toward impactful careers in science.

08/28/2025

We are thrilled to welcome 16 students into Van Andel Institute Graduate School's 19th student cohort!

They are, in alphabetical order: Sophia Agrusa; Laura Brasseur; Morgan Canfield; Eric Cheung; Michelle Dykstra; Katie Ernst; Lyric Johnson; Faith Kaluba; Jin Kim; Ying Fei Liew; Miguel Martinez; Mireya Mota; Audrey Nguyen; Sanskriti Saxena; Kelly Sokol; Yangzhou (Suzanne) Su.

08/26/2025

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Maulik Patel to Van Andel Institute as an associate professor in our Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming. He will explore how cells maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and investigate what happens when this critical process breaks down.

Read about Van Andel Institute welcomes metabolism expert Dr. Maulik Patel on Van Andel Institute – Stay updated on the latest research and groundbreaking discoveries in science and health.