The study explores the therapeutic potential of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) mediated delivery of the FOXG1 gene. Remarkably, intracerebroventricular injection of AAV9-FOXG1 in a Foxg1 heterozygous mouse model “postnatally” demonstrated the rescue of a wide range of brain pathologies including the amelioration of corpus callosum deficiencies, restoration of dentate gyrus morphology in the hippocampus, normalization of oligodendrocyte lineage cell numbers, and rectification of myelination anomalies.
“Our findings highlight the efficacy of AAV9-based gene therapy as a viable treatment strategy for FOXG1 syndrome and potentially other neurodevelopmental disorders with similar brain malformations,” said Dr. Jae Lee. “This research asserts the therapeutic relevance of our approach in postnatal stages, which is a critical time frame for intervention.”
Dr. Soo-Kyung Lee commented, “We are thrilled by the full rescue of brain structure abnormalities observed in our mouse model through this study. It marks a significant step forward in our research. With these promising results, we are eager to advance this AAV9 gene therapy towards human clinical trials, hopeful that we can extend these breakthroughs to benefit children with FOXG1 syndrome.”
This pioneering work provides a solid foundation for advancing this gene therapy towards human clinical trials, aiming to offer a transformative impact on the lives of patients with FOXG1 syndrome.
The FOXG1 Research Foundation continues to lead the way in innovative research for rare neurodevelopmental disorders, emphasizing the urgency and potential of cutting-edge treatments to alter the course of these conditions fundamentally.
Find the Molecular Therapy Methods & Clinical Development Paper here.
Learn More about the FOXG1 Research Center at the University at Buffalo here.
For more details on the FOXG1 Research Foundation, please visit www.foxg1research.org.
Contact:
Nicole Johnson
FOXG1 Research Foundation
press@foxg1research.org
