Finding a Cure for Fragile X
Within the past month, FRAXA Research Foundation has signed on to join the Friends of of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), asking for an increase government funding to research disorders such as Fragile X syndrome.
Read more
In November 2020, a phase II clinical trial reported extremely successful results. This clinical trial of a PDE4D inhibitor from Tetra Pharmaceuticals was conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Berry-Kravis at Rush University Medical Center and funded by FRAXA Research Foundation. In this Simons Foundation lecture, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis traces 30 years of Fragile X research, from identifying its cause, through finding dozens of treatment targets, through a series of disappointing clinical trials.
Read more
Thank you Talk Fragile X for having FRAXA’s cofounder Katie Clapp as a guest on your podcast! It was a pleasure to share why FRAXA got started and our motivation for finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X syndrome.
Read more
2020 was a year we will never forget. Because of this incredible community and dedicated supporters, we were able to pull through the most difficult year most of us have experienced.
Read more
FRAXA plans to fund $1 million for a generous number of Fragile X research grants and fellowships in 2021. Our mission is to find specific treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X syndrome. We aim to bring practical treatment into current medical practice as quickly as possible; we prioritize projects that have a clear practical application and the results of which will be shared in a timely fashion.
Read more
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. In a year filled with so much uncertainty, you truly rose to the occasion. From creating Facebook fundraisers to sharing why you give back, each one of you made a difference. With the help of our dedicated supporters and gifts from over 150 amazing donors, FRAXA Research Foundation raised $70,047 on #GivingTuesday.
Read more
As many of you might have guessed, the 2020 FRAXA Biotech Games had to shift this year to a virtual event. However, the commitment was still there. Throughout the month of September, 39 teams of 4 took time out of their busy schedules to come together every Thursday to connect and show their support for Fragile X research.
Read more
Long-term, but not short-term, treatment with bryostatin-1 — Neurotrope’s lead investigational therapy — arrested such behavioral and cognitive symptoms as hyperactivity, difficulties with daily life activities, and learning and memory deficits in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome.
Read more
Allos Pharma Inc, a late-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders, has announced the exclusive license rights on IP and documentation for arbaclofen in fragile X syndrome (FXS).
Read more
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced funding for three Centers for Collaborative Research in Fragile X. The centers will receive $25 million over the next 5 years. Funding for the centers comes from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Read more
We are sad to report that Doris Buffett passed away at the grand age of 92. Doris Buffett donated more than $100 million in her own money to help people who need it. Sister of billionaire Warren Buffett, Doris called FRAXA “The Gold Standard” in grass roots charities.
Read moreA huge thank you to Talk Fragile X for having FRAXA’s program coordinator Ellen Skala as a guest on your podcast! She got to talk about FRAXA’s upcoming virtual event, Step Up for Fragile X!
Read more
This year, on Fragile X Awareness Day, a growing number of buildings, bridges, and monuments — including Niagara Falls — will be illuminated in teal to spread the word about Fragile X and celebrate our community. Although we may not be able to gather in groups this year, we still encourage you to briefly visit or drive by lighting displays and share your experience with us.
Read more
Thank you Talk Fragile X for hosting FRAXA Research Foundation’s very own Dave Bjork as a special guest on your podcast! We greatly appreciate the opportunity to share who we are and what we are doing to advance Fragile X research.
Read more
As many of you know, FRAXA’s mission is to find effective treatment options and ultimately a cure for Fragile X. Right now though, we know that we have to pivot. The Fragile X community has always been the center of our mission and today, there are other ways we can be helpful. We would like to host virtual gatherings that will benefit the Fragile X community and help us all feel connected.
Read more
We recognize that with the constantly changing COVID-19 situation around the world, this is an unprecedented time for everyone — a time that, for many, is filled with uncertainty. Like many of you, we have children or adults at home with Fragile X syndrome. We truly understand what a great challenge this can be and are here to lend a hand.
Read more
Tetra Therapeutics and Shionogi announced plans to expand their partnership supporting BPN14770, a treatment candidate for disorders marked by cognitive and memory deficits, including Fragile X syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. The agreement builds on an earlier collaboration between the two companies, and aims to further accelerate BPN14770’s development and potential marketing. It is currently in clinical testing in both Fragile X and Alzheimer’s patients.
Read more
In this double-bill episode of The Genetics Podcast, Dr. Patrick Short talks to two key rare disease researchers in the field: Dr. Bruce Bloom, CCO of Healx, and Dr. Mike Tranfaglia, CSO of FRAXA. Both draw on their wide-ranging personal and professional experiences to discuss the successes and opportunities of drug repurposing, the power of using machine learning, and the work they’ve been doing to aid in finding effective treatments for Fragile X.
Read more
All of us here at FRAXA were very sad to learn that Mary Higgins Clark passed away on January 31, 2020, at the age of 92. Mary Higgins Clark was a tireless champion for Fragile X research. Mary put FRAXA on the map in 1997 when she made a $1 million donation over five years to solve the mystery of Fragile X (her words).
Read more
To say we are thankful would be an understatement. Before 2019 came to a close, FRAXA Research Foundation set an ambitious goal of $750,000 to raise by the start of the New Year. We knew that it would require all hands on deck, and we knew that those of you who believe in our mission would rise to the occasion. The turnout we received was beyond what we could have hoped for.
Read more
With the help of our resilient supporters and the gifts of over 130 amazing donors, FRAXA Research Foundation raised $50,500 on #GivingTuesday. With a matching gift of $45,000 we were able to raise a total $95,500 to advance Fragile X research, funding two year-long research grants!
Read more
First Healx secured $56M in new financing to launch a global Rare Treatment Accelerator program to tackle Fragile X syndrome and 39 other rare diseases. Now they have built a partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim worth millions. It all started with a small FRAXA grant to Healx to repurpose available drugs for Fragile X.
Read more
FRAXA Program Coordinator, Elle Skala, and long time FRAXA supporter and previous Board Member, Mary Beth Busby, traveled to the National Institutes of Health earlier this week. The timing of this meeting was perfect because the National Institutes of Health (NIH) just released their long-anticipated Strategic Plan for Fragile X Syndrome, FXTAS, and FXPOI. It will guide federal Fragile X research funding for at least the next five years and open the door for continued funding of the Fragile X Research Centers of Excellence.
Read more
As we get closer to the holiday season and the end of the year approaches, we start to reflect on what we have accomplished throughout the year. Did we keep our New Year’s Resolution? Did we spend more time with family and friends? We at FRAXA want to remind you that there is no better time than the present to make a difference. Before the year ends, you can have an impact.
Read more
Healx has secured $56M in new financing to build a clinical-stage portfolio for rare diseases, including treatments for Fragile X syndrome, and to launch a global Rare Treatment Accelerator program. Where the traditional drug discovery model takes more than a decade and can run into the billions of dollars, Healx’s AI-driven approach makes the process faster, more efficient and cost-effective.
Read more