Much of the research supported by FPWR is considered “basic science” or “discovery” research. The goal of these projects is to make measurements and collect data that define Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and advance our understanding of the molecular basis behind its symptoms.
We can sequence DNA and RNA, we can quantify each protein in a cell or in a brain, we can watch neurons send electrical impulses to each other, we can measure the size and shape of your hypothalamus, and we can assign a numerical severity index to your hyperphagia.
We have proudly supported world-class scientists with the most advanced tools available to make these measurements, and we have identified specific biological processes altered in PWS.
But what comes next?
Introducing the Therapeutic Accelerator Program (TAP)
Every disrupted biological process has the potential to be corrected or bypassed. The more complete our understanding of PWS, the more effectively we can move potential therapeutic leads from the lab toward clinical application. That’s why it’s incredibly exciting when we receive a proposal to test a new intervention, and we want to ensure that every good idea has its opportunity to be tested.
To that end, we created the Therapeutic Accelerator Program (TAP)—a dedicated initiative with its own budget and resources—to support early-stage therapeutic development projects.
Projects selected for our TAP program benefit from more frequent meetings with researchers and more frequent discussions with the FPWR Research Team to ensure we are always using the full power of our expertise and our network in support of these projects.
TAP’s Impact So Far
Since its launch in 2022, TAP has supported 11 promising research projects. These projects have targeted many of the most challenging symptoms of PWS, including hyperphagia, inflammation, cognition, metabolism, and anxiety. We have also funded projects testing gene replacement therapy. By targeting the root cause of PWS, this type of intervention has the potential to alleviate a broad range of symptoms.
We’re proud to share that more than 70% of TAP projects have generated results strong enough to justify further study. That means they’re one important go/no-go decision closer to entering a clinical trial. Even when a study doesn’t show the effects we hoped for, that’s still valuable. It helps us—and the research community—refine our priorities and strategies going forward.
Why It Matters to Families
Behind every TAP project is a community of families hoping for breakthroughs. Each experiment, each data point, brings us closer to solutions that could improve the quality of life for people with PWS and those who love them. Whether it's a parent longing for relief from a child’s constant hunger or a caregiver seeking tools to reduce anxiety and support cognition, TAP represents hope in motion.
TAP is just one example of how FPWR is promoting research that we believe will bring us closer to treatments for PWS. We’re deeply grateful to our donors and supporters who make programs like TAP possible.
We are looking forward to providing more details on these projects via our social media feeds as their results are published.
