ABOUT DR. MICHAEL ( MICKEY) FRY

Dr. Michael (Mickey) Fry was born in Hadera, Israel in 1941. He is married, with two daughters and now lives in Haifa, Israel. A well known and well respected basic genetic scientist with a special interest in fragile X, Dr. Fry earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Hebrew University and Hadassah School of Medicine In Jerusalem in 1971.

A well loved faculty member, Dr. Fry is a Professor in the Unit of Biochemistry, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. Dr. Fry is also a visiting Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, WA.

Including his curiosity about Fragile X, some of Dr. Fry's special research interests include, metabolism of RNA in bacteria and bacteriophages, animal cell DNA, polymeases and DNA binding proteins; unusual structures of DNA, and molecular mechanisms of aging in animals.

In addition to the funding provided by Conquer Fragile X Foundation, Dr. Fry's lab has also been awarded grants by the US-Israel Binational Science Fund and the Israel Science Foundation, among others. Among the many awards Dr. Fry has received are the Taub Research Prize and the Outstanding Teacher Award - Technion.

CFXF is very grateful for an ally such as Dr. Fry, so obviously dedicated to his students and his work. His input and advice are invaluable and his scientific skills contribute greatly to what we all hope will one day be a cure for fragile X, and possibly other diseases.

DR. MICKEY FRY & AMB. ASHER NAIM VISIT SOUTH FLORIDA

As a special guest of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Dr. Mickey Fry recently visited South Florida and spent some valuable time with Harris and Sande Hollin and with our CFXF Parent Group members.

Over lunch on February 12th with parents and family members, Dr. Fry discussed his cautious optimism about the potential for a cure. Dr. Fry explained to parents that fragile X research falls into two basic categories; gene level research that focuses on the mutation and looks for a cure that may come from the reversal of the mutation, and FMRP research into the protein product, and why and how it affects the nervous system as it does. In this area there is promise from a psychopharmacological source that may manipulate the synthesis of the protein. Dr. Fry's work falls into the first category, that of gene level mutation research. The Dr. explained how both types of research, although very different, are complementary in that a cure will most likely be found as a result of the science in both areas.

Parents were grateful for the opportunity to meet a scientist of Dr. Fry's stature, to see and hear his level of dedication to a cure for the disorder that afflicts their loved ones. Dr. Fry explained that although scientists generally conduct their research in the complete absence of emotion, he has been helped by knowing the parents and learning about the lives that are touched by fragile X. We are very grateful to all
those from the Technion, especially Ileane Kaufman, who helped get Dr. Fry here for this visit. That same evening, CFXF president Harris Hollin hosted a reception for parents and supporters of Conquer Fragile X Foundation at the Tower Restaurant in Palm Beach. Dr. Fry and .

CFXF ADVISOR GURIN KICKS-OFF WEIZMANN GALA

A recent Gala Dinner honoring CFXF Advisor Mr. Joseph Gurwin kicked off the Global Gathering in Palm Beach of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. This meeting was the first at which the newly elected president of the Weizmann Institute, Prof. Ilan Chet addressed the membership. The Global Gathering was a mix of science and socializing, and included some of the Institute's leading scientists. We hope that in the future, Dr. Menahem Segal, a CFXF grant recipient and Weizmann scientist, will be featured at this event.

CFXF'S JONATHAN DORING CARRIES OLYMPIC TORCH

The Doring family has always done all it could to support Jonathan, a fragile X-e affected young man, lead as happy and productive life as possible. In order to increase Jonathan's opportunities for competition, in 1988 the family became active with the Special Olympics; Jonathan was eight years old. Over the years Jonathan has won many medals and competed in a number of events. Most recently, Jonathan was selected as an Olympic torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

In 2000, Jonathan underwent an intense three-day training seminar to become an official Sargent Shriver Global Messenger for Special Olympics Florida. As a Global Messenger, Jonathan visits schools, civic groups and businesses for the purpose of recruiting new athletes, coaches and volunteers and educating the public about the abilities of people with mental retardation. Since that time, Jonathan has said the athlete’s oath at several competitions and speaks at fundraisers on behalf of Special Olympics. Jonathan is also an Athlete Leadership Program member and has run in the Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Jonathan has been invited by the National Fragile X Foundation to speak at their 8th International Fragile X Conference in Chicago in July, 2002. In addition to being a featured speaker on "Living with Frax-e", Jonathan will be a panelist on the Recreation and Sports Panel.

CFXF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

On February 12, 2002 the CFXF Board of Directors met at the Palm Beach’s Tower Restaurant to conduct business. Action taken by the board included:

• The addition of Rosalie Davison, Randy Green and Jonathan Hollin to the Board of Directors.

• The creation of a grants executive committee which will convene periodically during the year to approve mid-period grant applications and renewals. This committee will comprise three members, Ms. Davison, Harris Hollin and Dr. Giovanni Neri, who has graciously agreed to add this committee to the already numerous ways he serves CFXF and its international efforts.

• The Board approved the continued affiliation of CFXF with the Coalition for Children's Health and also approved the efforts of CFXF to involve international partners in the establishment of the NIH Fragile X Research Centers.