[Source: Charles Kelly, Arizona Republic] — No, the sliced brains weren’t all that icky. Actually, they were fascinating for many of the 25 Dysart Unified School District students who toured Sun Health Research Institute last week in connection with the “Apple a Day” educational program. “My favorite part was the brains,” said Desiree Boniface, 18, a senior at Willow Canyon High School. “Just to see the different things they (the scientists) do.”
Researchers at the institute studying Alzheimer’s disease and other maladies showed the students, among other things, how they segment brains and slice brain tissue as they investigate the body’s secrets. Austin Nichols, 17, also a senior at the high school, was already familiar with the institute at 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City. Nichols has been one of Sun Health’s summer interns at the institute for the past two years. Scientists there are doing exciting work, he said. “With the research I helped with, we are getting pretty close to getting a good medication to treat it (Alzheimer’s) and prevent it,” Nichols said. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]