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Van Andel Institute appoints
Connie Chang as board trustee

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 15, 2023) — Van Andel Institute has appointed Connie Chang as a board trustee at its meeting held May 15, 2023.

Connie Chang, MBA

Chang brings deep knowledge and a diverse experience of academia, scientific research, life science industry and non-profit advisory leadership. She is currently the chief operating officer of ONL Therapeutics in Ann Arbor, leading strategy and operations for the biotech organization focused on vision and retinal disease. She has spent the last four years of her career in early-stage biotechs, building upon her earlier experience in large pharma and academic research. Chang also currently serves the Michigan-Pittsburgh-Wyss Regenerative Medicine Resource Center as a member of the governing body for interdisciplinary partnership between University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, and the Wyss Institute at Harvard.

“While at the University of Michigan, I spent some time at Van Andel Institute exploring areas for collaboration, sharing insights and research,” Chang said. “I am very excited to effectively bridge conversations between operational leaders and scientists and help VAI make future strategic decisions.”

She joins board chair David Van Andel, and trustees John Kennedy and Mark Meijer. “We are thrilled to add Connie Chang and her perspective to our board of trustees,” Van Andel said. “She has proven to be a key driver of initiatives that have advanced medicine and science globally.”

Originally from Michigan and currently residing in Ann Arbor, Chang earned her bachelor’s in psychobiology and MBA in business administration and management from Harvard University. Previously, Chang was the vice president of corporate affairs at Millendo Therapeutics, a biotech focused on endocrine diseases and the founding managing director for Fast Forward Medical Innovation at Michigan Medicine.

ABOUT VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE

Van Andel Institute (VAI) is committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations through cutting edge biomedical research and innovative educational offerings. Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1996 by the Van Andel family, VAI is now home to more than 500 scientists, educators and support staff, who work with a growing number of national and international collaborators to foster discovery. The Institute’s scientists study the origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translate their findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies. Our educators develop inquiry-based approaches for K-12 education to help students and teachers prepare the next generation of problem-solvers, while our Graduate School offers a rigorous, research-intensive Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology.