Hi Cure,

2023 is in full swing now, and we’re already introducing new staff to the community, supporting exciting research, and kickstarting the 2023 CAN fundraising campaign!

If you have updates you would like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please email us at info@cureangelman.org.

We have a robust, strategic Roadmap to a Cure 2.0 and as part of our 2022 Global Science Summit, we broke our strategy down for the community into four pillars for easy comprehension because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

In 2023, we look forward to sharing with the community how FAST is investing in each of these pillars, leaving no stone unturned, as we continue to work towards our mission: to cure Angelman syndrome. 

Keep an eye out in the newsletter over the coming weeks as we break down each of these pillars!

Watch the presentation from Dr. Allyson Berent, FAST's Chief Science Officer at the 2022 Global Science Summit in Miami to learn more about the four pillars:

Individuals with Angelman syndrome often have gastrointestinal (GI) issues ranging from reflux, constipation, and swallowing abnormalities. In an effort to understand how the loss of functional Ube3a may affect the GI system, a FAST-funded study, led by Drs. at both University of California, Davis and Texas A&M University, utilized three unique animal models to investigate the gut microbiome.

Samples were obtained from each model (mouse, rat, and pig), then analyzed for overall gut microbial composition. Researchers also investigated possible bacterial biomarkers across and within species.

Click to read more about this FAST-funded study:

Last Sunday, Alana Newhouse hosted her first fireside chat of 2023. She was joined by two new staffers: Director of Community Engagement, Meghan Edberg, M.Ed., and Science Director, Nycole Copping, PhD. 

During the chat, the group had an open discussion with the new FAST team members getting to know them, and how they will support the organization’s mission. 

Great questions were asked, such as “Which programs in the pipeline are Nycole most excited about and what is Meghan hoping to build in her new role?”

Click here to see the answer along with other highlights from the chat:

Save the date for the next fireside chat on Sunday, February 12, 2023!

The 2022 Dream Big video drives our theme for 2023! We encourage you to share this video with your local community to inspire others to be involved in helping us raise awareness and funds for Angelman syndrome. This is a great way to start getting the community excited about International Angelman Day (IAD) on February 15th!

Please don’t forget to share the Dream Big video with your friends and family (linked above)!

Also, please share this link with anyone who would be interested in receiving our updates.