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.
Under the direction of Dr. Ashton, Banner’s biomarker research program is advancing the future of testing for neurodegenerative diseases. Our goal is to provide the latest in biomarker discovery and testing in a high-throughput, rigorous way that serves both academic and industry partners.
The program includes two complementary laboratories:
The Zuendel Family Biomarker Laboratory provides high-quality evaluations of spinal fluid and blood tests from national and international research studies and clinical trials. By characterizing and comparing test performance, the team helps improve the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The lab also serves as a centralized resource for implementing fluid-based biomarkers in clinical settings.
The Kuhle Family Biomarker Discovery Laboratory is dedicated to innovation and discovery. Its mission is to uncover the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases and develop new tests for unmet clinical needs. Insights from this work move forward into real-world application through the Zuendel Family Laboratory, supported by infrastructure that enables studies from early discovery and validation through to clinical implementation.
Together, these laboratories represent a full spectrum of biomarker research - from discovery to clinical application - helping to bring new hope to patients and families facing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
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.
Sign in to Patient Account
