UC Riverside to test protein candidates for Fragile X in mice
Published in Brain Activity, Brain/Neurology, Diseases!, Drugs development & discovery.
Published October 11, 2026. UC Riverside announced on October 9 a one-year, US$100,000 FRAXA Research Foundation grant to test a protein-based approach to Fragile X syndrome in mice.
Devin Binder’s laboratory will evaluate candidates from Bowen’s FX Therapeutics intended to replace the function of FMRP, a protein missing or impaired in the disorder. According to Binder, the engineered proteins are designed for systemic administration and passage across the blood-brain barrier.
The researchers will use electroencephalography (EEG) to assess whether treatment changes abnormal brain activity in Fragile X knockout mice. Existing EEG measurements will provide a baseline for comparison.
Research stage: This is a funded preclinical pilot, not a human trial or an announcement of treatment efficacy. The study will not directly test improvements in learning or memory; potential cognitive and behavioral benefits remain a hypothesis.