Reelin protein in Fragile X syndrome
Official title: Reelin and Fragile X Syndrome
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11253286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team is testing whether boosting a brain protein called Reelin can improve brain connections and help people with Fragile X syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | January 3, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $225,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS141304-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11253286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a confirmed diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome (FMR1 mutation) or caregivers of such individuals would be the primary group most likely considered for related future clinical efforts.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Fragile X syndrome or whose symptoms are due to other genetic or acquired conditions are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has Fragile X syndrome, this project looks at whether adding or increasing Reelin can fix the disrupted brain signaling that underlies learning, anxiety, and hyperactivity. Researchers will use viral vectors and laboratory models to deliver Reelin and then measure changes in brain synapses and behavior that relate to cognition and social interactions. The effort follows earlier gene-therapy work that restored missing FMRP but often did not correct behavior, so this approach targets synaptic function as an alternative path toward symptom improvement. Results would guide whether Reelin-based therapies should move toward human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new approach that improves learning, social behavior, and other core symptoms in people with Fragile X syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Previous gene therapies that restored FMRP often failed to rescue behavior, and Reelin-based strategies are relatively new with encouraging preclinical signs but no proven benefit in humans yet.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nash, Kevin Ron — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Nash, Kevin Ron
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Fragile X Syndrome: How it progresses and affects daily life
A long-term study using existing Fragile X data to map how the condition changes over time in children and young adults, including how autism, race, and location influence outcomes.
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Sleep and mood links in Fragile X Syndrome
A short, patient-friendly study to understand how sleep problems relate to mood and depressive symptoms in people with Fragile X–linked autism.
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Connecting 3D genome misfolding to gene silencing in Fragile X syndrome
A study in people with Fragile X syndrome focuses on how 3D genome folding errors may turn off important genes, contributing to the condition’s features.
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Cortical circuit problems in Fragile X mice and people
Researchers are studying how brain circuits go awry in Fragile X syndrome by comparing mice and people to understand why certain brain rhythms and responses are altered.
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Brain biology in fragile X syndrome: how brain signals unfold and vary in patients
This grant supports research to understand brain signals and why symptoms vary in people with fragile X syndrome, aiming to translate findings into better care.
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Brain research on Fragile X Syndrome to improve therapies
A multi-year program studies brain function and differences in Fragile X Syndrome to help develop better treatments for people with FXS.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.