The Conquer Fragile X Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board is a distinguished group of some of the most highly respected and experienced genetic researchers in the world. The CFXF scientific advisors serve as the Foundation’s eyes and ears in the research world. We rely on these important people for guidance, insight and advice on many issues, including the grants we award and the projects we fund.
So that you may know these fascinating and dedicated people and their work, the CFXF newsletter will feature one member of the Scientific Advisory Board in each issue. Dr. Randi Hagerman is our featured Advisor in this issue.

RANDI J. HAGERMAN, M.D.

Randi Jenssen Hagerman, MD is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician and the Tsakopoulos-
Vismara professor of Pediatrics at the University of California at Davis, Medical Center. Dr. Hagerman is the Director of the MIND Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopment Disorders) at UC Davis and has become internationally known as a Fragile X clinician and researcher. As the Director of the MIND Institute, Dr. Hagerman is at the helm of one of the country's primary clinics for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of neurodevelopment disorders including Autism, Asperger's and Fragile X. Her husband, Paul, joined UC Davis in the Department of Biological Chemistry and as an associate researcher with the M.I.N.D. Institute.

A founding CFXF Scientific Advisor, Dr. Hagerman has been quoted previously in this newsletter as having told the U.S. Congress that "Fragile X is a 'research portal' for other brain disorders. It is the leading-edge candidate for a breakthrough in understanding many other diseases, especially autism". This fact of Fragile X as a 'portal' is most attractive to researchers such as Dr. Hagerman who recognize its potential to unlock the mystery of disorders that affect millions of people around the world. Dr. Hagerman has spent over 20 years on Fragile clinical work and research, particularly in molecular clinical correlation and treatment endeavors. Dr. Hagerman is the chairman of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Committee of the National Fragile X Foundation and is a scientific reviewer for the FRAXA Foundation. The third edition of Dr. Hagerman's book, Fragile X Syndrome: Diagnosis, Treatment and Research, will be published in 2002 by the Johns Hopkins University Press.

COALITION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH 2001

We are very excited to share with you the recent invitation for The Conquer Fragile X Foundation to join the Coalition for Children's Health, 2001, a network of selected organizations dedicated to children's health issues. The primary function of the Coalition is to advise members of Congress and their staff on the development of effective federal support for very important research on disorders such as fragile X. CFXF is delighted to actively participate with other children's health groups to ensure that the Children's Health Act is fully funded and that fragile X research remains a priority at all levels. Look for more information on CFXF and the Coalition in our next newsletter.

PUBLISHED PAPER BY DR.GIDEON DREYFUSS

Dr. Gideon Dreyfuss, who is a member of our Scientific Advisory Board, is an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute & Professor with Departments of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He has co-written the following paper, providing new insights. “Characterization of dFMRI, a Drosophila melanogaster Homolog of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Program,” Lili Wan, Thomas C. Dockendorff, and Thomas A. Jongens and Dr. Gideon Dreyfuss. “MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY, Nov. 2000, p. 8536-8547.
More information at our website www.cfxf.org.

CFXF & AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY HOSTS A VISIT FROM DR. MICKEY FRY

Conquer Fragile X Foundation and American Technion Society will be hosting a visit from Dr. Fry in Palm Beach and other Florida venues during the week of February 12, 2002. Many interesting programs and
events are being planned. So make a note on your calendar.

DR. MICKEY FRY: MULTIPLE GRANTS RECIPIENT

$27,971 was recently awarded by CFXF to Dr. Mickey Fry, a participant in our virtual Fragile X Research Center, for his second year of a three-year grant. In addition, Dr. Fry has been approved for grants from the U.S. - Israel Binational Science Foundation, the Chief Scientists Israel Ministry of Health, and The Israel Science Foundation for a total sum of over $350,000!!! Along with Drs. Howard Cedar, Aharon Razin and Menahem Segal, our research scientists are considered top scientists, worldwide, in the area of fragile X research. Congratulations Dr. Fry!!