Adelheid (Heidi) Lempradl Archives

September 4, 2025 A clearer view: How a commonly studied gene impacts more than eye color in fruit fly research

Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are more like us than you might think.

For example, they share 65%–75% of disease-causing genes with humans, making them important…

August 18, 2025 Study offers high-resolution look at ‘metabolic handoff’ from fruit fly mothers to embryos

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Aug. 18, 2025) — Understanding how fruit fly embryos assert metabolic independence from their mothers may help scientists better understand the earliest stages of…

October 7, 2022 Van Andel Institute, The Scientist launch podcast mini-series on health and the environment

How do our environment and diet set the stage for future health? That’s one of the big questions Van Andel Institute and The…

August 4, 2022 Graduate Student Spotlight: Investigating the impact of maternal diets on brain development

Every other month, we highlight one of Van Andel Institute Graduate School’s doctoral students. This month features Ellen Griggs, a student in the lab of…

December 27, 2018 10 exciting things that happened at VAI in 2018

As we gear up for a busy new year, we’re taking a look back at 10 stand-out moments from 2018.

Finding a possible starting point…

September 18, 2018 Van Andel Research Institute launches metabolism and nutrition research program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 19, 2018) — Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) has launched the most comprehensive metabolism and nutrition research program of its kind,…

September 18, 2018 Explainer: What is metabolism?

The Institute has launched a new program in metabolism and nutrition. Here’s why that’s important.

Earlier today, we announced the launch of a…