HARRIS
HOLLIN IS NOMINATED TO THE PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION
ON PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
We are
delighted that the Fragile X Community has selected
Harris Hollin to be referred for the nomination
to the President’s Commission on Persons
with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID). Conquer
Fragile X Foundation, FRAXA Research Foundation,
and the National Fragile X Foundation have together
submitted Harris’ name for this position.
In addition, a number of Congressmen, Senators
and others have also submitted letters of support.
Harris truly deserves this recognition by the
Fragile X Community and we sincerely hope that
he is successful among the other nominees. Harris
also serves on the steering committee of the University
of North Carolina’s Newborn Screening Initiative
and the Johns Hopkins University Medical School
Advisory Board on Aging. Harris is a tireless
advocate for fragile X research always, and we
wish him good luck for his PCPID nomination.
NEW TECHNION/UCAL-DAVIS COLLABORATION
In
their ongoing efforts to understand the mechanism
of depression of FMRP synthesis by the expanded
(CGG) tract, and to seek reagents that may alleviate
this block, Dr. Mickey Fry, a longtime CFXF researcher
at the Technion-Israel Institute for Technology,
and his team of scientists, have established a
collaboration with Dr. Paul Hagerman of the University
of California, Davis, School of Medicine. A graduate
student in the Hagerman lab, Anna Ludwig, has
been developing vectors to study the regulation
of translation. She and Dr. Hagerman generously
agreed to provide these vectors to Dr. Fry as
part of a collaborative effort. The scientists
feel that this may be a most fruitful project
and are very eager to launch it using the reagents
developed by the Hagerman lab. Dr. Fry and his
long time associate, Dr. Pnina Weisman-Shomer,
and a bright and productive MD/PhD student, Samer
Khateb will be working on this project in Israel.
We are delighted to see this type of efficient
international cooperation among fragile X researchers.
CFX works at all levels to stress the importance
of this type of collaboration as a critical component
to the search for a cure for Fragile X. We wish
Drs. Fry and Hagerman well and know they will
inform us of their progress.
SARAH POWELL RUNS THE LONDON MARATHON FOR CFX
CFX is fortunate
to have wonderful supporters like Sarah Powell!
Sarah Powell, a good friend of Andrew Jacques, a
long-time CFX supporter and parent, will run in
the London Marathon on April 17 for the benefit
of Conquer Fragile X. Sarah writes, “Ever
since a conversation I had last year with my good
friend Andrew Jaques, I have had my heart set on
running the Marathon to raise money for this very
worthy cause.” The Jacques’ son, Henry,
6, is affected with fragile X. Sarah’s employer,
Man Group, through their trust, Man Group Charitable
Trust, will match the first $1,000 raised by an
employee for charity.
Let’s
all help Sarah make her run to Conquer Fragile
X as profitable as possible. The marathon will
be run on April 17, 2005. You can pledge any amount
directly to Sarah via email at SPowell@maninvestments.com.
Or, if you prefer to pledge by mail, her address
in the UK is, 3 Sutherland House, Royal Herbert
Pavillions, Shooters Hill Road, London SE18 4PS.
Thank you, Sarah, from all of us, and Good Luck
in your marathon.
NEW TECHNION/UCAL-DAVIS COLLABORATION
In
their ongoing efforts to understand the mechanism
of depression of FMRP synthesis by the expanded
(CGG) tract, and to seek reagents that may alleviate
this block, Dr. Mickey Fry, a longtime CFXF researcher
at the Technion-Israel Institute for Technology,
and his team of scientists, have established a
collaboration with Dr. Paul Hagerman of the University
of California, Davis, School of Medicine. A graduate
student in the Hagerman lab, Anna Ludwig, has
been developing vectors to study the regulation
of translation. She and Dr. Hagerman generously
agreed to provide these vectors to Dr. Fry as
part of a collaborative effort. The scientists
feel that this may be a most fruitful project
and are very eager to launch it using the reagents
developed by the Hagerman lab. Dr. Fry and his
long time associate, Dr. Pnina Weisman-Shomer,
and a bright and productive MD/PhD student, Samer
Khateb will be working on this project in Israel.
