Lab of Dr Andrew Liu
The Smith-Kingsmore Syndrome Foundation is the only non-profit that specifically funds Smith-Kingsmore syndrome research.
Our first grant was awarded to the lab of Dr Andrew Liu, in the Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics at University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr Liu’s team has developed cell lines and mouse models to look at selected Smith-Kingsmore syndrome variants, with the goal that this research can be used to find treatment options and, ultimately, a cure. The Foundation provided $178,000 over three years to Dr Liu’s lab.
In January 2023, Dr Liu and his collaborators were awarded a $2.4M grant from the National Institutes of Health, a division of the US government. This award will support an additional five years of research into how SKS variants impact MTOR activity, circadian rhythms, sleep/wake cycles, and other behavioral and cognitive functions. This is, as far as we know, the first major government investment in Smith-Kingsmore syndrome research, and is a major accomplishment for our global community.