CureGRIN Foundation is excited to announce that we are funding five research projects for a total investment of $652,500. The announcement was made by CureGRIN CEO Keith McArthur last week at GRI Conference 2023 (GRICON).

These projects focus on gene therapy, testing drugs for GRIN and GRIA Disorders, identifying biomarkers, and using predictive modeling to better understand each variant.

The following research projects will receive funding:

• Dr. Wayne Frankel, Columbia University: “RNAi Therapy in a Mouse Model of GRIN2A Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy” 
• Dr. Ian Coombs & Dr. Mark Farrant, University College London: “AMPAR PAMs as potential precision therapies for GRIA loss-of-function”
• Dr. David Bowie, McGill University: “Combination therapy for the treatment of GRIN disorders”
• Dr. Maggie Kalev, University of Auckland & Dr. Amy Ramsey, University of Toronto: “Blood cells as the source of potential biomarkers for GRIN disorders”  
• Dr. Dennis Lal, University of Texas & Dr. Steve Traynelis, Emory University: “GRI gene variant pathogenicity & function prediction models for enhanced genetic test interpretation and patient selection for clinical trials”

Each scientist presented on the research CureGRIN is funding at GRICon2023 and we’ll be sharing recordings of their presentations (and other conference highlights) over the coming weeks.

This investment could not have been possible without the support from hundreds of GRI families who have donated and / or run fundraising campaigns. CureGRIN hit a major milestone this month, reaching a total of $1-million raised from GRI families since we launched in 2019!! This is in addition to sponsorship revenue, conference fees and our $615,000 grant from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.