University of California at Riverside Archives • FRAXA Research Foundation

Targeting Serotonin 1a Receptors to Reverse Neurobehavioral Phenotypes

January 14, 2023

Neurolixis’ new drug targets serotonin 1A receptors, showing promise in preclinical studies for Fragile X syndrome, funded by a FRAXA grant for future clinical trials.

Cannabinoids as a Treatment for Fragile X Syndrome

November 4, 2021

This team uses EEG to study sensory hypersensitivity in Fragile X. By testing drugs in mice, they aim to find treatments that calm brain overactivity.

Cholesterol-Dependent Changes in Fragile X Astrocytes

May 6, 2020

Astrocytes and cholesterol metabolism are altered in Fragile X. This research uncovers how these changes affect the brain and may reveal new treatment targets like lovastatin.

Dr. Jonny Lovelace and Dr. Khaleel Razak

Results Reported: Using EEG Responses to Sound for Fragile X Drug Discovery

February 6, 2020

Jonathan Lovelace, a FRAXA funded Postdoc at UC Riverside, has made some exciting EEG findings over the past few years studying auditory hypersensitivity in mice and therapeutic drug treatments. A big obstacle in FXS research has been establishing reliable, unbiased, and translation relevant biomarkers that can be used to determine the effectiveness of therapies. One of the most important discoveries they have made is the striking similarity in EEG biomarkers between mice and humans.

Devon Binder, PhD; Iryna Ethell, PhD, Patricia Pirbhoy, PhD, at UC Riverside School of Medicine

Understanding and Reversing Hypersensitivity to Sounds in Fragile X Syndrome

June 20, 2018

This FRAXA grant studied why people with Fragile X are overly sensitive to sound and tested drug strategies to calm the brain’s overactive auditory circuits.

Funding opportunities - FRAXA investigators

Combinatorial Drug Treatment in a Model of Fragile X Syndrome using Novel Biomarkers

October 3, 2017

University of California researchers Khaleel Razak, PhD, and Jonathan W. Lovelace, PhD, explored drug combinations to limit hypersensitivity to sounds in Fragile X mice.

Iryna Ethell UC Riverside, FRAXA researcher

Fragile X Syndrome Treatment Target: MMP-9

July 24, 2014

Dr. Ethell was awarded FRAXA Research Foundation funding from 2008-2011 and 2012-present. This latest work shows that human Fragile X tissues have elevated levels of the extracellular enzyme MMP-9, as well as an increase in the active fraction of that protein (like most enzymes, MMP-9 can exist in an inactive form which can be switched on rapidly; this kind of regulation is important in most biological pathways.)

Effects of minocycline on vocal production and auditory processing in a mouse model of Fragile X

June 2, 2013

With FRAXA funding, Dr. Khaleel Razak and Dr. Iryna Ethell explored robust biomarkers relevant to the FXS and the efficacy of minocycline treatment.

Iryna Ethell, PhD, at University of California

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-9) in Fragile X

February 2, 2009

With a $220,000 FRAXA grant, Dr. Iryna Ethell’s team at UC Riverside uncovered MMP-9’s role in Fragile X—leading to a major treatment strategy using minocycline.