2025 Van Andel Institute Forum on Cancer and Parkinson’s Disease
Van Andel Institute cordially invites you to our Forum on Cancer and Parkinson’s Disease, which will highlight breakthrough research and clinical initiatives designed to better understand and treat these difficult diseases.
VAI Chairman and CEO David Van Andel will deliver welcome remarks and exciting Institute updates. Guests will also hear from Dr. Peter A. Jones, VAI’s president and chief scientific officer, and Dr. Darren Moore, chair of the Department of Neurodegenerative Science, about discoveries from VAI labs and what’s next in our efforts to create a healthier future.
Suggested Attire: Business Casual (ties are not required).
President and Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Peter A. Jones is a pioneer in epigenetics, a growing field that explores how genes are regulated and provides new avenues for developing therapies for cancer and other diseases. His discoveries have helped usher in an entirely new class of drugs that have been approved to treat blood cancer and are being investigated in other tumor types. Dr. Jones is a past president of the American Association for Cancer Research, a Fellow of the AACR Academy, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Chair & Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science; Director, MiND Program; Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Disease Research
Dr. Darren Moore seeks new diagnostic and treatment approaches for Parkinson’s by investigating the inherited form of the disease, which comprises 5% to 10% of cases. He aims to translate the understanding of these genetic mutations into better treatments and new diagnostic tools for Parkinson’s, both inherited and non-inherited. Discoveries from Dr. Moore’s lab routinely elucidate the faulty molecular interactions that transform healthy, functioning neurons into diseased ones.
Paul Becker & Eve Rogus
Dave & Karen Custer
Mike & Lynette Ellis
Dr. Martin & Peggy Greydanus
Mike & Sue Jandernoa
Dr. Peter & Veronica Jones
Tim & Kim Long
Gary & Vicky Ludema
John & Therese Rowerdink
Duke & Karen Suwyn
David & Carol Van Andel
David & Beth VanPortfliet
Dr. Les & Jane Wong
- 6–7 p.m. Guest arrival and strolling cocktail hour
- 7 p.m. Welcome remarks by Tim Long, Co-Chair, VAI Board of Governors
- 7:05 p.m. Invocation by Carol Van Andel, Executive Director, David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation
- 7:10 p.m. Dinner is served
- 7:30 p.m. Remarks by David Van Andel, Chairman & CEO, Van Andel Institute VAI Video Presentation
- 7:45 p.m. Lecture by Dr. Peter A. Jones, President & Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Institute
- 8 p.m. Lecture by Dr. Darren Moore, Chair & Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science; Director, MiND Program; Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Van Andel Institute
- 8:15 p.m. Open Q&A with audience led by Dr. Peter A. Jones & Dr. Darren Moore
- 8:45 p.m. Closing remarks by Vicky Ludema, Co-Chair, VAI Board of Governors
- 8:50 p.m. Conclusion of event
