GRAND RAPIDS ? Van Andel Institute announced Monday the appointment of Peter A. Jones Ph.D., D.Sc. to the position of Director of Research, Chief Scientific Officer of Van Andel Research Institute. Jones begins officially on February 17, 2014.

Jones is an internationally renowned researcher with more than 40 years? experience in academia in the field of biomolecular research. Originally from South Africa, Jones began his career as a research officer/chief research officer in his native land, and was a National Institute of Health Post-Doctoral Fellow at Children?s Hospital Los Angeles.

?The appointment of Dr. Jones is a proud day for the advancement Van Andel Research Institute and is the culmination of much thoughtful planning,? said David Van Andel, Chairman and CEO, Van Andel Institute. ?We have found a visionary leader in biomedical research, whose experience will bridge basic and translational research and inform the national expansion of the Institute for many years to come.?

Jones? recent research has focused on Epigenetics and how epigenetic therapies might benefit those living with cancer. His pioneering research uncovered basic mechanisms of DNA methylation and its role in cancer. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene activity which are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence Epigenetics has recently become a hot-button research focus, and it is responsible for new and innovative approaches to personalized cancer therapy. Jones is interested in how current therapies reorganize the epigenome to switch genes on in order to develop improved therapies. Dr. Jones helped develop the International Human Epigenome Consortium, an organization focused on mapping thousands of human epigenomes to better understand their role in cancer and chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes and certain mental health disorders.

Jones plans to continue his work on the translational research aspects of Epigenetics while at Van Andel Institute, bolstering the Institute?s impressive portfolio of cancer and disease research. While in this role Dr. Jones plans to further define Van Andel Institute?s strategic plan, build a robust clinical program and recruit additional scientists to the Institute?s four research centers.

?It is an honor to join Van Andel Research Institute ? an organization dedicated to changing the course of biomedical research,? said Jones.