Administrative Core

University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

Investigators

Abstract

Administrative Core Abstract: The Administrative Core will provide support for three projects organized across four centers to address the mechanisms by which FMR1 premutation disorders manifest while advancing therapeutic development in this space with a focus on Fragile X tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) and Fragile X associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI). The proposed Center integrates the substantial talents of research groups at University of Michigan School of Medicine (Michigan), Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Rush University Medical Center (Rush) and Emory University School of Medicine (Emory). These groups have a significant history of collaborative interaction, and their common interests will lead to robust findings that will suggest additional therapeutic approaches to Fragile X associated Conditions (FXaCs) FXTAS, FXPOI and possibly Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). To accomplish the goals of our Center, the Administrative Core will 1) support and integrate center Investigators’ efforts aimed at defining mechanistic roles for FMR1 repeats in premutation conditions, 2) facilitate efforts by the Executive Advisory Board (EAB) to evaluate and help set Center research directions and operations, 3) provide for timely communication between Center Investigators and Project Staff, NIH officials, the FXS community of scientists and the broader audience of basic science researchers, clinicians, and trainees, and the general public, and 4) coordinate training, education and outrach opportunities. Our well- defined leadership and management plan will oversee all research endeavors to ensure the success of the proposed work and will allow all four groups to achieve the Center’s goals in a timely and efficient manner. Responsibility for leadership will be shared by Drs. Todd and Nelson under a multiple PI plan, but significant and frequent discussion with investigators at Rush and Emory will provide well informed decisions. We envision that the Michigan-BCM-Rush-Emory Fragile Research X Center will be a nexus of exciting scientific research, training and preclinical endeavors focused on development of novel therapeutics for FXaCs.