Portrait of Soo-Kyung Lee (right) and Jae W. Lee (left), researchers with Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, photographed in June 2024 in a research lab in Cooke Hall. Photographer: Douglas Levere.

FOXG1 Research Center (FRC) is a premier research center at the University at Buffalo devoted to the studies of FOXG1 syndrome. Our goal is to develop a cure for all children across the world who are impacted by the disease. Our team of dedicated researchers are working hard every day to make that happen, stepping closer to the clinical trials aimed for in the next couple of years for young patients with FOXG1 syndrome.

What is FOXG1 syndrome

FOXG1 syndrome is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by “de novo” heterozygous mutations in the FOXG1 gene. FOXG1 gene plays a key role in early brain development and when it is impaired, patient symptoms can range on a spectrum from mild to severe, including cognitive and physical disabilities, epilepsy and feature some of autism spectrum disorder such as repetitive movements, poor social interaction skills and severe intellectual disability. There are about 1,100 patients reported worldwide and the number is increasing each year.