Van Andel Institute and Spectrum Health Form Joint Venture

Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids, MI, USA) and Van Andel Institute (VAI; Grand Rapids, MI, USA) have announced a US$6 million joint venture that will offer 21st century molecular technologies for investigation of complex diseases like cancer, heart disease, mental illness, and other conditions at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels.

The Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), which is being created by these two companies, will provide West Michigan with a laboratory that will aid in early diagnoses and enhance personalized medicine. The Center will also attract new opportunities for diagnostics and pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials in a medical and clinical research environment.

Located in the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Cook-DeVos Center for Health Studies, the CMM combines Spectrum Health's clinical, laboratory, and research resources, and VAI's research expertise and intellectual property with the latest in molecular biological technology.

"To fulfill the mission of the Institute, we must move our findings from the research laboratory to the clinical laboratory. The Center for Molecular Medicine will allow us to do this in an accelerated fashion and positively impact human health,” said David Van Andel, chairman and CEO of Van Andel Institute. We have the research expertise and Spectrum Health has a large patient population which allows us to apply what we're learning directly into the clinical setting.”

"The Center for Molecular Medicine is an investment in the future of health care,” said Richard C. Breon, president and CEO, Spectrum Health. "It accelerates the drive toward personalized medicine--the tailoring of treatment based on molecular make-up.”


Related Links:
Spectrum Health
Center for Molecular Medicine