Congrats to Dr. Russell Jones for being named to this year’s @clarivate.com Highly Cited Researchers list — a distinction marking him as a leader in his field.

Read more: vai.org/hcr-2025
#HighlyCited2025 @clarivateag.bsky.social

Could a molecular “adhesive” help make a common antibiotic more effective? New findings published in @natcellbio.nature.com from Dr. Huilin Li and collaborators may pave the way for optimizing neomycin for broader use.
Read more: www.vai.org/article/a-st...

Research led by VAI scientists, published in @natcomms.nature.com, reveals the role of SMCHD1 in organizing our genetic code into “active” and “inactive” compartments. This process can have profound effects on health and disease.
www.vai.org/article/dna-...

Congratulations to our largest group of graduates to date! Seven incredible students 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.

It's National Postdoc Appreciation Week! We are proud to recognize our stellar postdocs, whose curiosity and dedication help drive our mission to improve health and enhance lives. Thank you for your outstanding work! 💙 #NPAW2025
www.vai.org/research/pos...

Congratulations to Dr. J. Timothy Greenamyre, recipient of the 2025 Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research! Dr. Greenamyre received the award today at the Grand Challenges in Parkinson's Disease symposium: www.vai.org/2025-jva-award

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

Van Andel Institute scientists have developed an improved technique to comprehensively profile DNA methylation in single cells, an advance that will help researchers better study the role of epigenetics in cancer and other diseases.‬ www.vai.org/article/van-...

It is our pleasure to announce Eric L. Sturdy as Van Andel Institute’s Vice President of Philanthropy! Eric brings to this role more than 25 years of strategic fundraising leadership across community-based nonprofits, healthcare and higher education. Read more: www.vai.org/article/van-...

Congratulations to Joe Floramo, Ph.D., and Nathan Spix, Ph.D., who recently earned their Ph.D.s in molecular and cellular biology from Van Andel Institute Graduate School!

Congratulations to VAI's Dr. Peter Jones, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins and VAI’s Dr. Stephen Baylin, and Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Dr. Andrew Feinberg, who will receive the Harvey Prize for their groundbreaking work in cancer epigenetics! Read more: vai.org/harvey-prize

New anti-cancer ‘degrader’ targets protein essential to infant leukemia: This side-by-side shows an untreated bone marrow sample (left) and a bone marrow sample after treatment with the cancer-fighting compound MS-41 (right).
Read more: www.vai.org/article/new-...

Please join us in celebrating Van Andel Institute Graduate School's 18th student cohort!
They are, in alphabetical order: Braelyn Binkowski; Maxwell Frye; Ali Gamal; Yixiong Han; Renee Hoffman; Ava Jensen; Dahlya Kamarudin; Noah Lubben; Vinny Sartori; Ashlin Slanger; Le Tran; and Anika Weekes.

Findings from VAI’s Henderson Lab, published in Nature Communications, identified a molecular “fingerprint” that marks brain cells vulnerable to Lewy bodies, key hallmarks of #Parkinsons & Lewy body dementia. The image depicts cells in yellow & pathology in magenta.

www.vai.org/henderson-le...

For us, World Parkinson's Day means hope in action. Scientists at VAI and around the world are working hard to better understand the mechanisms behind the disease to develop treatments and improve quality of life.

Learn more about PD research at VAI: www.vai.org/parkinsons-d...