Today, I enthusiastically begin my work as president and chief scientific officer of Van Andel Institute.
I’ve long admired VAI’s commitment to discovery, collaboration and innovation. With a talented team of faculty and staff, an infrastructure focused on breakthroughs, and unparalleled resources and support, the Institute’s impact continues to grow.
In 2025, the Nature Index ranked VAI no. 5 among North American nonprofit research organizations in biological sciences. Globally, the Institute ranked no. 17. This is a tremendous achievement, made even more impressive when you consider that the Institute was founded only 30 years ago.
Since day one, VAI has relentlessly pursued its mission: to improve the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations. This singular dedication, fueled by strategic vision, helped grow the Institute into a research powerhouse.
Today, VAI is home to exceptional research in cancer, epigenetics, metabolism, neurodegenerative diseases, cell biology and structural biology, all supported by outstanding Core Technologies and Services. Discoveries made by our scientists are helping us better understand the foundations of health, pinpoint what goes wrong in disease and pave the way toward improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies.
In the coming years, we hope to further strengthen our existing programs while also strategically expanding our work in complementary areas of science.
We won’t be doing this alone. From local partnerships here in Grand Rapids to large-scale clinical trial programs with collaborators in the U.S. and abroad, the Institute brings together scientists, physicians, advocates and industry partners to accelerate progress and make a real difference. To date, more than 7,500 people have participated in clinical trials supported by VAI and our collaborators. I look forward to engaging with organizations in Grand Rapids and beyond to further build on the excellent work already underway.
Learn more about Dr. Licht’s work ➔
As we take the next steps toward our future, I would like to recognize and celebrate my friend and outgoing President and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter Jones for more than a decade of exceptional leadership of the Institute. I am delighted that he will be remain on the faculty, continuing his research and co-leading the Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer® Epigenetics Dream Team.
I am deeply grateful to the Van Andel family, VAI’s trustees and VAI’s leadership for this incredible opportunity. I’m also excited to connect with our exceptional community of supporters who make the work we do possible.
Since moving here from Florida in January, I’ve been familiarizing myself with VAI and getting to know Grand Rapids — from picking up a set of snow tires to cheering on the Grand Rapids Griffins as they scored a hat trick. I’m already starting to feel at home.
It’s clear that West Michigan and VAI are special. Reflecting on all that the Institute has achieved and the opportunities ahead, I’m excited for and inspired by what we will accomplish in the years to come.
Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., is an internationally recognized physician-scientist who studies blood and other cancers in the pursuit of innovative therapies. As an expert in epigenetics, Dr. Licht’s research explores how problems with the instructions for gene regulation contribute to the onset and progression of cancer. Dr. Licht has held numerous leadership roles in national cancer research organizations and scientific journals and, in 2023, led the University of Florida Health Cancer Institute to become a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians, and an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2026, he joined Van Andel Institute as president and chief scientific officer.