Diogo Pinto,  —

Pilot Study Finds Behavioral Training Can Improve ‘Social Gaze’ Skills in Boys with Fragile X

Poor “social gaze” skills, or an inability to make and hold eye contact during a social interaction, is a common problem for fragile X syndrome patients but can be improved with  standard behavioral training, according to the results of a proof-of-concept study. The study, “Improving social gaze behavior in fragile…

Tool Reactivates Gene in Stem Cells Harboring Fragile X Mutation, Study Shows

Using a gene editing tool, researchers successfully reactivated the FMR1 gene — which is silenced in fragile X syndrome patients — in human stem cells. The study, “Targeted reactivation of FMR1 transcription in fragile X syndrome embryonic stem cells” was published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is…

FRAXA, Healx Collaboration Identifies Therapies that Could Be Repurposed for Fragile X

A collaboration between startup company Healx and nonprofit FRAXA Research Foundation is moving forward with preclinical testing after identifying a list of existing therapies that hold the most promise for treating fragile X syndrome. In late 2016, Healx, based at the University of Cambridge in England, received a…