Using Fenobam to Reduce APP and Abeta in Fragile X Mice

James Malter, at University of Wisconsin-Madison, FRAXA research grant

With a $130,000 grant from FRAXA Research Foundation over 2008-2009, Drs. James Malter and Cara Westmark at the University of Wisconsin studied the relationship between the Fragile X protein FMRP and APP, a protein important to the pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease. APP may also contribute to the pathology of Fragile X, and its major metabolite, Aß, may contribute to abnormal protein synthesis via a positive feedback loop. This project sought to restore normal dendritic protein synthesis in Fragile X mice by breaking into this loop.

Read more

FRAXA Contributes $10,000 to NIH grant to Seaside Therapeutics

Randall Carpenter, MD, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, FRAXA research grant

Randy Carpenter, MD Principal Investigator with Mark Bear, PhD, MIT Co-Investigator (2007) conducted a clinical development of mGluR5 antagonists to treat Fragile X Syndrome and Autism. Seaside Therapeutics received a major grant from the NIH, with additional funding from FRAXA and Cure Autism Now (CAN) to develop STX107, a selective mGluR5 antagonist, as a treatment for Fragile X. Unfortunately, Seaside has since discontinued development of STX107.

Read more

Electrophysiological, Biochemical and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Kv3.1 in Auditory Brainstem Nuclei in the Fragile X Knockout Mouse

Leonard Kaczmarek, PhD

With $80,000 in funding from FRAXA over several years, the Yale University team of Leonard Kaczmarek, PhD showed that loss of FMRP leads to an increased Kv3.1 potassium currents. This change impairs timing of action potentials in auditory neurons (and likely others throughout the brain).

Read more