In this episode, Dr. Lauren meets with the 2026 PMSF Family Conference co-chairs and PMSF staff, Amanda Bergen (Director of Communications) and Carla D'Imperio (Director of Family Support).

Taking place July 15–19, 2026 in Aurora, Colorado at the Gaylord Resort, this year’s conference is centered around the theme “The Climb We Make Together”, highlighting the shared journey of families, clinicians, researchers, and advocates working to improve the lives of individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome.

We discuss:

• What to expect from this year’s conference programming
• The three core pillars: Connect (Basecamp), Care (Ascent), and Cure (Summit)
• New structure of "Deep Dive" sessions on GI issues, loss of skills/regression, and neuropsychiatric illness
• Connection to Pathways, like pre-conference family focus groups and post-conference follow-up
• Expanded support for families, including travel assistance, sibling programming, and one-on-one expert consultations
• Why attending in person can be such a meaningful and transformative experience

With nearly 700 attendees expected, this conference offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and make the climb—together.

Learn more about the conference and direct links to register here: https://pmsf.org/2026-conference/

You can also reach out directly at [email protected]

In this episode of the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Podcast: Sharing Research, Progress, and Hope, we explore an innovative approach to translational neuroscience: cross-species research.

Dr. Lauren is joined by Dr. Benjamin Scott (Boston University) and Amanda Fath (MIT, Guoping Feng Lab) to discuss how researchers are using a shared, game-based task across humans, mice, and non-human primates to better understand how brain circuits influence perception, learning, and decision-making in Phelan-McDermid syndrome . Their short, engaging computer-based game (“Asteroids”) is more accessible to individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. And the researchers remind us why "All data is good data".

This work aims to bridge a long-standing gap between animal models and human experience through computational models that connect behavior to underlying brain circuits. Ultimately, this work is aimed at improving how discoveries translate into meaningful treatments.

Research Participation Opportunity!The research team is currently recruiting individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome:

• Eligibility: 11–21 years old diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome; Able to use a touchscreen device or mouse; Do not have a seizure disorder or history of seizures that could be triggered by flashes
• Format: Fully virtual
• Time commitment: 20-40 minutes

If you’re unsure whether your loved one can participate—reach out. Even partial participation provides valuable data.

If interested in enrolling, or for more information, contact: [email protected] or 203-216-9618

This episode's guest:

Dr. Jonathan Santoro, MDPediatric Neurologist & NeuroimmunologistChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)2025 Shannon O’Boyle Memorial Neuropsychiatric Illness Grant Awardee

Overview:

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Jonathan Santoro, our 2025 Shannon O’Boyle Memorial Neuropsychiatric Illness Grant Awardee, who is pediatric neurologist. Dr. Santoro's work focuses on developmental regression and neuropsychiatric illness, and he shares with Dr. Lauren why his research team is turning its attention to Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS).

Dr. Santoro’s PMSF-funded project, “Diagnostic Biomarkers in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disease,” uses tests that are already part of standard clinical care (like EEGs, MRIs, blood work, and lumbar punctures), the team will look for biological “signatures”, or biomarkers, to help lead to better diagnosis, earlier detection, and more targeted treatments for individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome who experience neuropsychiatric illness.

His study is currently enrolling (February 2026)

Check out our open studies page for more information:

https://pmsf.org/current-open-research/

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Natasha Ludwig (Kennedy Krieger Institute / Johns Hopkins) and Dr. Jenny Downs (Kids Research Institute, Australia) for an exciting update on the Inchstone Project—a collaborative international effort to improve how we measure progress and quality of life for individuals with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), including Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS).

We discuss:

• What the Inchstone Project is and why it matters

• How families helped shape new research by contributing to the DEE Parent Speak Survey

• Key findings on quality of life, including the importance of communication, cognitive skills, and touchscreen use

• What “clinical meaningfulness” really means—and why small changes can have a big impact

• How this research is informing clinical trial readiness and future interventions

• What’s next for the Inchstone team, including a follow-up longitudinal study

PMS families made up nearly 20% of the study sample! Thank you for helping move science forward.

Recorded: July 22, 2025

Aired: January 21, 2026

Updates since being recorded

• Dr. Ludwig is a confirmed speaker at the 2026 PMSF Family Conference!
• The paper on quality of life is published! Check it out here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11136-025-04153-0

Drs. Audrey Thurm and Latha Soorya join us to discuss key findings from the NIH-funded Natural History Study in Phelan-McDermid syndrome, including intellectual disability profiles, daily living skill growth, regression, and how caregiver input drives research. Learn how these discoveries are guiding clinical trials, behavioral therapy, and everyday care—and why your family's participation makes all the difference.

Amanda Bergen, Director of Communications at the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation, steps in for Dr. Lauren Schmitt to host a special conversation with Dr. Dan Gallo, Kate Neer, and Gina Newton from Jaguar Gene Therapy. Together, they explore the origins and mission of Jaguar Gene Therapy, provide an overview of the Phelan-McDermid syndrome natural history study (NHS) and why it matters, describe key insights into their gene therapy program, and discuss details about JAG201. 

Check out the link to learn more about the NHS: https://pmsf.org/current-open-research/

Check out our previous webinar on the NHS: https://youtu.be/pOzTf3qnNmk?feature=shared

Check out the updated FAQs for further information about the ongoing JAG201 gene therapy trial: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QUfuSUQQ9ozOI2eIloRPbmJJw929l-wO/view?usp=sharing

Learn more about Jaguar Gene Therapy: https://jaguargenetherapy.com/

In this episode, Dr. Lauren sits down with Megan O’Boyle, a longtime advocate and parent in the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation community, to talk about why research funding is so essential. Megan shares her journey with the Foundation, how her family helped shape its commitment to science from the very beginning, and the story behind the Shannon O’Boyle Memorial Grant for Neuropsychiatric Illness.

Together, Dr. Lauren and Megan also discuss PMSF’s new fundraising opportunity, Driving Research Breakthroughs, and what it means for the future of research, treatments, and cures.

Check out the link to our Driving Research Breakthroughs campaign: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/researchgrants

Check out the link to our grant opportunities for researchers: https://pmsf.org/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/

In this new episode, Dr. Lauren focuses on the diagnostic odyssey of getting a genetic diagnosis with Drs. Ame Shillington and Sheldon Garrison. Dr. Shillington is a clinical geneticist and assistant professor from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Garrison is Research Scientist at Rogers Behavioral Health who is on our Scientific Advisory Committee.

Did You Know!?

• The average delay from initial concern to genetic diagnosis of rare disorders like Phelan-McDermid syndrome is over 9 years!
• Of individuals who receive a genetic diagnosis due to neurodevelopmental concerns, approximately 90% see improvement in their treatment management and care after receiving the diagnosis! 

Tune in to hear more about the research behind the delayed diagnosis of rare genetic disorders like Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and what each is doing to help reduce this delay and increase access to genetic testing! 

Check out the papers mentioned in the podcast below to learn more:

Dr. Sheldon Garrison: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40750893/ 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40252994/

Dr. Ame Shillington: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37642312/ 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35769998/

In this exciting combo episode about new avenues in Phelan-McDermid syndrome research, Dr. Lauren speaks with Dr. Boaz Barak from Tel Aviv University and Dr. Haitham Amal from Hebrew University/Boston Children's Hospital.

Dr. Barak describes his work on understanding the process of myelination, where "electrical cables" help brain cells to communicate, and how SHANK3 is involved in this process. He also discusses his lab's work on possible treatments for Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Dr. Barak's work was recently awarded Autism Science Foundation's Profound Autism Pilot Grants! Read more here: https://autismsciencefoundation.org/asf-funded-research/

Dr. Amal explains why nitric oxide (NO) is important for brain functioning and how NO is linked to autism as well as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. He also describes his ongoing work with the two companies that he co-founded, NeuroNOS and Point6 Bio. NeurNOS's lead investigational therapy, BA-102, for the treatment of Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS) just received Orphan Drug status from the FDA! Learn more here: https://www.neuro-nos.com/oddpms

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to discover groundbreaking research uncovering new paths in understanding and treating Phelan-McDermid Syndrome — hope and progress are on the horizon!

In this episode, Dr. Lauren speaks with the 2024 Shannon O’Boyle Memorial Neuropsychiatric Illness Grant awardees, Tess Levy of the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai and Dr. Pilar Trelles of Boston Children’s Hospital.

In their project titled, "Adapting PIPS for Progress: Development and Validation of an Ecological Momentary Assessment Tool to Enhance Psychiatric Symptoms, Monitoring and Intervention Response in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome", they address the need for better measurement tools of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Phelan-McDermid syndrome as well as the importance of involving caregivers and medical experts in the process of developing measures. Tune in to hear more about the measure and why it's so needed!

Interested in participating in their study and filling out the updated measure? Act fast! They are collecting data for a only a few more days! You can participate here: https://redcap.link/014yntw7

Tune in now, and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode!