Discovering Effective Treatments & A Cure for Fragile X Syndrome
Your support enables FRAXA Research Foundation to fund groundbreaking research and life-changing clinical trials.
How Does FRAXA Help?
FRAXA’s mission is to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X syndrome. We directly fund research grants and fellowships at top universities around the world. We partner with biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, large and small, to bridge the gap between research discoveries and actual treatments.
Every member of our staff and Board of Directors is a parent of one or more children with Fragile X, making our commitment to this cause deeply personal.
Treatments for Fragile X are likely to help people affected by autism, Alzheimer’s, and other brain disorders.
What is Fragile X Syndrome?
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disabilities. It affects 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 8,000 girls worldwide.
Fragile X syndrome occurs when a single gene on the X chromosome shuts down. This gene makes a protein needed for normal brain development. In FXS it does not work properly, the protein is not made, and the brain does not develop as it should.
Symptoms of Fragile X syndrome can include developmental delays, social anxiety, and learning disabilities, which vary between individuals.
The Latest from FRAXA
Bridging Naturalistic Behavior and Nucleus Accumbens in Fragile X Syndrome
How do sex and gene dosage interact to shape brain function and behavior in Fragile X syndrome? The team aims to uncover why symptoms differ between males and females.
Opening the Gate: BK Channel Modulation as a Promising Treatment Strategy for Fragile X Syndrome
Fragile X syndrome research is opening the door to BK channel therapies that may calm hyperexcitable brain circuits and improve key symptoms.
Targeting Serotonin 1a Receptors to Reverse Neurobehavioral Phenotypes
Neurolixis’ new drug targets serotonin 1A receptors (aka 5-HT1A), showing promise in preclinical studies for Fragile X syndrome, funded by a FRAXA grant for future clinical trials.
FRAXA's Impact to Date
$38.5M
Direct Investment in Fragile X Research
38
Teams Actively Researching Fragile X Syndrome
34
Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Partners
697
Fragile X Research Grants Awarded