Biorepositories play a crucial role in rare disease research, acting as central locations to collect, store, and distribute samples such as tissues, blood, and cells. The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, in partnership with COMBINEDBrain, has established a SYS biorepository of blood, urine, and saliva samples that will help accelerate the development of treatments for people with SYS.
Samples contributed by the SYS community are made available to researchers worldwide, supporting efforts to identify biomarkers and conduct molecular investigations. Importantly, storing these samples within a dedicated biobank ensures their long-term availability for future studies.
Dr. Ferdinand Althammer, for example, has been studying the oxytocin system and its potential role in SYS. His latest work examines whether oxytocin levels in individuals with SYS differ from those of typical individuals. Access to high-quality samples allows researchers like Dr. Althammer to answer these kinds of critical scientific questions with greater precision.
FPWR remains a committed ally in advancing SYS research. Through our collaboration with COMBINEDBrain and leading investigators like Dr. Althammer at the University of Heidelberg, we are helping ensure that researchers have the resources and tools they need to drive discoveries forward. We are deeply grateful to the families whose past contributions have helped build the SYS biobank—this shared resource is already strengthening research efforts and bringing the field closer to meaningful treatments.
