NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Translational Genomics Research Institute and The Van Andel Research Institute will no longer operate under a single umbrella but will continue their collaborations, according to VARI.
The alliance between Phoenix, Ariz.-based TGen and VARI, which is located in Grand Rapids, Mich., was forged in 2009 and aimed to pull together complementary resources and talent to advance research into cancer and other medical conditions and to translate new discoveries into clinical applications.
"While VARI will continue to affiliate with TGen, the institutes will no longer operate under a single umbrella," VARI said in a statement on Friday.
The change will be "more technical than operational," and the institutes plan to continue and encourage "inter-organizational collaborations," VARI said. "The relationships forged between our scientists have proven invaluable to each organization and going forward will set the example of what we can achieve together. Both entities look forward to a continued affiliation in the years ahead."
The alliance involved combining "many of the scientific, educational, financial, and business potentials of TGen and VARI," and was also aimed at enhancing economic development in Arizona and Western Michigan, TGen President and CSO Jeffrey Trent said at the time the partnership was launched.
VARI said Friday that the partners sought to "establish lasting scientific collaborations, and leverage additional resources for both institutes."
"We accomplished that, and so, as we enter our third year, we have chosen to modify the nature of the alliance to more precisely meet the goals of our respective missions, while at the same time, supporting the continued growth and success of both TGen and VARI."