February 6, 2026- Banner Health marked a major milestone in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions with the ribbon cutting and open house of its new state‑of‑the‑art research laboratories at the Banner Sun Health Research Institute.
The newly opened facilities—the Michael T. Zuendel Family Biofluid Lab and the Kuhle Family Biomarker Discovery Lab—are designed to accelerate breakthroughs in blood‑based biomarker testing that could transform how these diseases are diagnosed and treated.
Unlike traditional diagnostic methods that rely on costly brain scans or invasive spinal fluid tests, the research underway aims to deliver highly accurate results from simple blood draws—even as easy as a finger prick. Researchers hope these tests will make early detection more accessible and affordable for patients worldwide.
Nicholas Ashton, PhD, senior director of the Fluid Biomarker Program, emphasized the global potential of the new labs, calling them a “destination center” for scientists focused on early detection and clinical implementation of novel diagnostic tools.
Critical philanthropic support helped bring the labs to life, with two families contributing $1 million each to the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation in 2025 to fast‑track research efforts.
Among the ambitious goals of the research program are the development of first‑of‑their‑kind blood tests for Lewy body disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)—conditions that have proven difficult to diagnose early with existing methods.