Congratulations to Dr. Minjie Shen, postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Xinyu Zhao, who received a second year renewal of a highly competitive postdoctoral fellowship from Fragile X Research Foundation (FRAXA).
Fragile X is the most common known cause of autism worldwide, occurring when the single gene FMR1 on the long arm of the X chromosome shuts down and fails to produce a protein, FMRP, which is vital for normal brain development.
Since FRAXA was launched in 1993, the Fragile X field has grown tremendously. Along with funding research, FRAXA runs scientific meetings, advises pharmaceutical companies large and small, and provides education on college campuses, community settings, and international conferences. Families can reach out to FRAXA for resources, guidance, referrals, and an international community of support.