Can a chronic stomach infection influence #Parkinsons disease risk? Recent findings by VAI’s @mxhend.bsky.social and colleagues reveal how infection by the H. pylori bacterium may influence the risk and progression of Parkinson’s.
www.vai.org/article/can-...
This #WorldCancerDay, learn about four areas to watch for breakthroughs in cancer research:
-Exploring epigenetics
-Investigating the immune system
-Harnessing diet and metabolism
-Collaboration and team science
Hello from our new CSO! With Dr. @jdlicht.bsky.social 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: www.vai.org/article/hell...
Exciting times at the 2026 #SU2CScientificSummit @su2c.bsky.social! Delighted to share that I’ve joined my friend Dr. Peter Jones as co-leader of the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team, which moves promising potential combination therapies for cancer into clinical trials.
Drug-resistant fungal infections like Candida auris and Cryptococcus neoformans are on the rise. Recently, a team of scientists from VAI and @mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social identified a natural substance that may help a group of low-toxicity antifungal drugs work better. www.vai.org/article/flip...
In 2025, VAI continued to build scientific momentum and drive discoveries that deepen our understanding of human health. Check out our year of research highlights! www.vai.org/article/refl...
Modestly limiting calories promotes the formation of ketones, which act as “fuel” for T cells, reports a study in @natmetabolism.nature.com by Dr. Rusty Jones & colleagues. The findings pave the way for developing diets to boost the effects of cancer immunotherapies.
www.vai.org/article/stud...
VAI & @cureparkinsons.org.uk are thrilled to announce that we have renewed a funding agreement to support the International Linked Clinical Trials Program, the world’s largest drug repurposing clinical trial initiative for #Parkinsons disease.
Read more: www.vai.org/article/van-...
2026 VAI Epigenetics Symposium, May 11-13, 2026
🧬🪰🐀🪱🧑🤝🧑Join me and my co-organizers @andrewpospisilik.bsky.social @nickburton.bsky.social Derek Jannssens and Piroska Szabó for the 2026 VAI Epigenetics Symposium @vai.org.
The meeting is centered around phenotypic plasticity and variation.
For more specific topics check:
www.vai.org/event/2026-v...
Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Michael Dahabieh recently earned a prestigious award for his work on immunotherapies. His research aims to improve these treatments by identifying new ways to re-energize immune cells in their battle against cancer.
Read more: www.vai.org/article/harn...
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...
VAI Graduate Student Yanqing Liu works to outsmart cancer by exploring the molecular tricks cancer cells use to survive. She recently received a prestigious award to support her research and contribute to the development of improved therapies. www.vai.org/article/figh...
I am excited to announce that after a decade of service to the U of Florida during which the @ufhealthcancer.bsky.social received NCI designation, in January 2026 I will be assuming the role of President and Chief Scientific Officer of the @vai.org.
www.vai.org/article/emin...
Van Andel Institute PhD program- App Deadline soon
Innovative curriculum/personalized academic support/generous financial support: $44,635 stipend, tuition waiver, health insurance coverage, laptop computer, $2,500/year for scientific conferences, relocation allowance.
www.vai.org/graduate-sch...
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.
Read more: www.vai.org/article/emin...
A study by @mxhend.bsky.social and collaborators found that an unstructured layer surrounding the Alzheimer’s-related protein tau plays a critical role in recruiting other proteins to misfold in Alzheimer’s progression. The findings were published in @natcomms.nature.com. www.vai.org/article/not-...
A study led by @stjuderesearch.bsky.social & VAI scientists, published in @natsmb.nature.com, reports a protein called midkine may help prevent brain plaques that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. www.vai.org/article/midk...
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.
This National Postdoc Appreciation Week, we’re inspired by stories like Dr. Agot Aleer’s. Her journey shows exactly what our postdoctoral program aims to be: a place where passion and opportunity come together to advance science. #NPAW25
www.vai.org/article/find...
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...
Another graduate student defended! Congratulations, Dr. Goralski!
Cure Parkinson’s and Van Andel Institute (@vai.org) are delighted to announce Dr Matt Farrer as the winner of the 2025 Tom Isaacs Award, which honours researchers who closely collaborate with the Parkinson’s community.
Find out more: buff.ly/a003fQj
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!
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Maulik Patel to VAI as an associate professor in our Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming. He will explore how cells maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and what happens when this process breaks down. www.vai.org/article/van-...
A new study, led by VAI’s Dr. Russell Jones and published in @cp-cellmetabolism.bsky.social, reveals that glucose, long known as a vital fuel for immune cells, also plays a key role in helping cancer-fighting T cells communicate and function effectively. www.vai.org/article/swee...
Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease brings together hundreds of scientists, clinicians and people with Parkinson’s to learn, connect and shape the future of research.
Join us Sept. 9–10, 2025 at Van Andel Institute.
Learn more and register: grandchallengesinpd.org
🚀 Our new study is out in Nature Metabolism!
We used single-embryo metabolomics and transcriptomics to map the earliest metabolic transitions in Drosophila development, including the onset of zygotic metabolism.
Explore the dataset & findings:
🔗 rdcu.be/eAH12
#DevBio #metabolomics #Drosophila
