At Banner Research, our Fluid Biomarker Program is a research and clinical initiative focused on identifying, developing and validating biological markers in bodily fluids - such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine or saliva - for diagnosing diseases, monitoring progression and evaluating treatment response. These programs play an important role in precision medicine, supporting the early detection of conditions like neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders. By analyzing proteins, metabolites, nucleic acids and other molecular signatures, fluid biomarker programs help improve outcomes through noninvasive or minimally invasive testing, guiding more targeted and effective treatments.
Our Michael T. Zuendel Family Biomarker Laboratory conducts high-quality evaluations of various spinal fluid and blood tests from national and international research studies and clinical trials. The lab characterizes and compares their performance, using findings to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these diseases.
Based at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, the program brings together researchers and clinicians from both the institute and Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.
The program is led by Nicholas Ashton, Ph.D, a world leader in the development, validation and use of fluid biomarkers in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Doctors can now determine - through what are called biomarkers - whether someone has the protein hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in their brain. This can often be determined years before memory problems appear.
Until recently, medications for Alzheimer's were taken orally and focused on minimizing symptoms. Cognitive improvement was often unpredictable, and success was viewed differently by the medical community, patients and their families.
Now, by using biomarkers to identify whether someone likely has Alzheimer’s, newer infusion-based drugs (delivered slowly into a vein) can help slow the progression of early disease—not just manage symptoms.
One of the key biomarkers for Alzheimer's is a protein called amyloid, which forms plaques, or clumpy deposits, between the brain's nerve cells, known as neurons. New intravenous medications can help clear these plaques over time and delay the disease’s advancement.
Meet our Fluid Biomarker Program team.
Learn how you can help support our program.
To learn more about our program, please call 623-832-6628.
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