Foundation for Prader-Willi Blog

Cell Culture Model Used to Study How PWS Genes Regulate Hormones

Hormones are little messengers that circulate in the body, carrying important information from one location to the next, and triggering the appropriate response to that information. Numerous hormone levels are altered in PWS. These include hormones t...

March 9, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

How to Address the Challenges of Developing PWS Therapies

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex disorder, and, to date, supportive care and growth hormone therapy are the only treatments available. The rarity of PWS, the fragmentation of experts and stakeholders involved at each stage of therapeutic deve...

March 1, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

Temperature May Impact Gene Expression in Mice During PWS Research

There are several mouse models used in PWS research, each missing some part of the DNA that is absent in PWS. Two of the most commonly used mouse models are the Snord116 mouse and the Magel2 mouse. Each of these has a deletion of the respective PWS-r...

February 22, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

Identifying the Role of the 'Hunger Hormone' Ghrelin

There are numerous hormones that are intricately involved in connecting the stomach to the brain and telling us when we are hungry or full. One of these hormones is ghrelin, which is often referred to as "the hunger hormone." Although individuals wit...

February 14, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

New Study on Social Functioning Intervention for Young Adults with PWS

Family members and caretakers of individuals with PWS know that those individuals are often the friendliest people in a room, particularly when they are young children eager to give a hug. However, people with intellectual or developmental delays oft...

February 7, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

Study Ties PWS Characteristics to PC1 Enzyme Deficiency [VIDEO]

FPWR is excited to share a new discovery in Prader-Willi Syndrome! Columbia University Medical Center researchers Lisa Burnett, PhD, and Rudolph Leibel, PhD, have published a breakthrough discovery in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that change...

February 2, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

De-Risking PWS Drug Development Through Preclinical Screening

Any drug development process proceeds through several stages in order to produce a drug that is safe, efficacious, and has passed all regulatory requirements. Before drug candidates can be tested in humans, they need to show they are safe and efficac...

January 25, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research

Identifying the Neurobiology Behind Sleep Issues in PWS

Sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness severely impact the quality of life for many with PWS, as well as their parents and caregivers. Within the Global PWS Registry, about 50% of respondents report that their loved one suffers from excessive dayt...

January 23, 2017 Read More

Topics: Research