Research staff will expand osteoporosis research and clinical operations
Grand Rapids, Mich. (Feb. 3, 2010) – Van Andel Institute (VAI) announces the hiring of two new staff members: Jim Mason, Ph.D., has joined VAI as senior scientific investigator heading the Laboratory of Orthopaedic Cell and Tissue Mechanics and John Bender, Pharm.D., was recently named Clinical Operations Director. Dr. Mason’s position is a joint appointment between VAI and Spectrum Health, which is helping to fund the Translational Orthopaedic Research Program to foster long-term solutions for patients in the area of orthopaedics.
 
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Dr. Mason will work with Dr. Bart Williams of VAI, Dr. Clifford Jones of Orthopedic Associates of Michigan and Spectrum Health to develop a bone program that will enhance VAI’s interaction with the clinical research community and find ways to help patients with bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Dr. Mason previously held several leadership positions at Zimmer, Inc., most recently as Associate Director for Trauma Research. Prior to that, he was a professor at the University of Notre Dame and president and founder of Granger Engineering, LLC. Dr. Bender’s background in the assessment, development, and commercialization of therapeutics and will play a key role in the development of a Phase I oncology program within the newly established Center for Clinical Sciences at VAI that accelerates investigational drug and translational clinical research studies in Grand Rapids. Dr. Bender served as Director, Clinical Research - Oncology at Pfizer (Parke-Davis) for over 20 years. Early in his career, Dr. Bender worked for five years as a clinical pharmacist with the National Cancer Institute where he was heavily involved in clinical trials. Dr. Bender most recently served as Senior Vice-President of Research and Development at Lpath, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of antibodies targeted against bioactive lipids for the treatment of cancer. |
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About Van Andel Institute
Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute (VAI) is an independent research and educational organization based in Grand Rapids, Mich., dedicated to preserving, enhancing and expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education and the learning process. VARI, the research arm of VAI, is dedicated to probing the genetic, cellular and molecular origins of cancer, Parkinson and other diseases and working to translate those findings into effective therapies. This is accomplished through the work of over 200 researchers in 18 on-site laboratories, in laboratories in Singapore and Nanjing, and in collaborative partnerships that span the globe.
