Grant renewal supports Arizona’s leadership in early detection, prevention of disease
PHOENIX (Sept. 18, 2026) – Arizona-based scientists will reinforce their status as national leaders in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders research with a grant expected to total nearly $22.5 million from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The five-year renewal of this prestigious award will support the continued work of the Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, or ADRC, which has been advancing efforts in the early detection and prevention of the disease in Arizona for 25 years.
In 2001, Arizona became the NIA’s first statewide Alzheimer’s Center and the nation’s most extensive statewide collaboration in Alzheimer’s research. The center has been continuously funded since its inception. The network has grown to now include 37 such centers across 25 states. Arizona’s ADRC is unique in that it unites researchers from six leading institutions across the state to support seven cores and components. Banner Health serves as the applicant organization, with participation from Arizona State University, Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), and the University of Arizona. The renewed ADRC grant, awarded through a highly competitive review process, reflects the standing of Arizona-based scientists as national leaders in Alzheimer’s research, care, community engagement, and education.
“We are honored that our center’s impact and collaborative spirit are recognized with this renewal,” said Arizona ADRC Director Jessica Langbaum, PhD, senior director of Alzheimer’s prevention at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. “Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders imposes an enormous toll on patients, families, and communities — and Arizona has spent 25 years building the science and the partnerships needed to change that. The continued support from the NIA reflects the groundbreaking work made by Arizona scientists to detect, treat and hopefully soon prevent the disease, while also addressing the care and support needs of patients and their families.”
The renewal provides Arizona researchers with the opportunity to advance five goals: advancing blood tests and brain imaging for the early detection, diagnosis, and prevention of Alzheimer’s and related disorders; developing innovative therapeutic strategies and clinical trials; providing an interdisciplinary environment to train future researchers and clinicians; offering extensive community engagement, education and resources; and providing a foundation for researchers within and outside of Arizona to make important scientific discoveries.
About Banner Health
Banner Health’s mission is to make health care easier, so life can be better. As one of the nation’s largest fully integrated nonprofit health systems, we are pioneering a sustainable care model that prioritizes prevention, manages chronic disease, and reduces health spending – succeeding when patients stay healthy, not when they get sick. We operate 33 hospitals and more than 400 sites across six states, delivering seamless care from primary to quaternary medicine, including health insurance, physician networks, world-renowned specialty services, and behavioral health. Accountable to the communities we serve, we reinvest every dollar into advancing care, research, and facilities, providing more than $1 billion each year in community benefit. Through our partnership with the University of Arizona, we drive clinical discoveries across more than 800 trials and train more than 1,300 residents and fellows annually. Headquartered in Arizona, we serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among Arizona’s top-performing by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/about.