Banner-ASU Partnership

Banner-ASU Partnership

On June 10, 2015, Arizona State University and Banner Health announced a new research alliance to advance the scientific study, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The partnership between Arizona State University (ASU), one of the nation’s largest public research universities, and Phoenix-based Banner Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems, included the launch of a new Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center housed at the Biodesign Institute on ASU’s Tempe campus. 

This effort capitalizes on Banner’s internationally recognized programs in Alzheimer’s disease research and patient care and ASU’s rapid ascension as a world-class research university. It also leverages Banner’s close working relationships with other research organizations in Arizona.

“This extraordinary research alliance will help galvanize the search for answers to degenerative brain diseases,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “This is yet another example of how institutions in Arizona are leading the way for groundbreaking research in age-related diseases. This new effort will be a magnet to attract more researchers, more businesses and more resources to this urgent fight.”  

Barring any significant treatment breakthroughs, the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease could more than triple to 16 million in the U.S. by 2050, at a health care cost of more than $1.2 trillion annually. Parkinson’s afflicts up to 10 million people worldwide, and an estimated 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year, while thousands of cases go undetected. Other Neurodegenerative diseases continue to take a devastating toll on patients and family.

Together, Banner and ASU receive nearly $65 million in current research funding in the neurosciences. That number is expected to rise significantly with the recruitment of new researchers and funding.

 

Banner Health

Banner Health’s mission is to make health care easier so life can be better. With this new focus, Banner is creating a new model that answers America’s health care challenges. Inspired to change the health care landscape in our communities – big and small – our talented and passionate teams care deeply about individuals who are responsible for the needs of their extended families. 
 
Banner Health is the leading nonprofit provider of health care in Arizona and in many communities in the western region of the United States. Banner operates 28 hospitals and health care facilities in six states and employs more than 50,000 people. In Phoenix, Banner operates numerous acute care medical centers and health care clinics that provide a comprehensive range of services, including cardiology and cardiac care, high-risk obstetrics, Alzheimer's research and treatment, organ and bone marrow transplants, emergency and trauma, imaging, home care and hospice, and urgent care centers. Banner is also a national leader in innovations to make patient care safer and more efficient, using electronic medical records, simulation training, and electronic monitoring of patients. 
 
Banner hospitals consistently rank in the top of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals in Metro Phoenix. Banner was named one of the top 15 large health systems by Truven Analytics, a leading provider of health care information. For our patients, this means better long-term outcomes, higher patient satisfaction and fewer complications. 
 
Since its inception, Banner has ensured that our community has access to high-quality health care, regardless of a patient's background or financial standing. In 2016, Banner provided $64 million in charity care and $753 million in community benefits. 
 
Banner’s nonprofit mission is made possible by the unwavering support and commitment of its employees, physician partners, thousands of volunteers and many cherished donors who so generously give of their time, talent and treasure.

Established in 2001, Banner Health Foundation secures and stewards charitable contributions to advance Banner Health’s mission. Contributions are invested locally to support patient care programs and services operated by Banner’s many hospitals and health care facilities across Arizona. 

For more information on Banner Health, please click here.

 

ASU Biodesign Institute

The Biodesign Institute is a place unlike any other. Imagine hundreds of scientists working together. Biologists, physicists, chemists, engineers, mathematicians—asking questions, learning from one another in state of the art research laboratories, and crossing all boundaries to discover new ways to help people everywhere thrive.

Whether it’s seeking a cure for Ebola, removing toxic chemicals from air and water, or developing a diagnostic tool to assess widespread radiation exposure, the scientists at the Biodesign Institute take their cues from people and nature.

The Biodesign Institute addresses today's critical global challenges in health care, sustainability and security by developing nature-inspired solutions for global impact.

Established in 2003, the Institute is organized into 16 world-class Research Centers lead by scientific leaders and staffed with exceptional faculty and staff from all over the world, dedicated to providing real world solutions to today’s global challenges. 

For more information on ASU Biodesign Institute, please click here.