Brian Rattner and Other Parents Hopeful Angelman Syndrome Symposium Can Lead to Cure

Brian Rattner and other parents of special needs children are working to promote The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics Australia first Angelman Syndrome Symposium at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia on Feburary 1, 2013.

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics Australia (or FAST) is a highly respected international organization of families, doctors and health professionals dedicated to finding a cure for Angelman Syndrome and related disorders through funding research, education and advocacy. FAST is dedicated to assisting individuals living with Angelman Syndrome the opportunity to realize their full potential and enjoy a better quality of life.

"Angelman Syndrome (or AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 1 in 15,000 live births," explains Brian Rattner. Although the cause of AS is known, there are no treatments available and no known cure for this disorder. FAST is committed to funding the research that will eventually lead to treatment and a cure.

At the Inaugrual Angelman Syndrome Symposium, researchers will discuss the status of worldwide AS research including developments, challenges, updates from the minocycline clinical trials and the FIRE initiative.

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) recently announced that the University of South Florida (USF) will begin to recruit participants for a new clinical trial led by Edwin Weeber, Ph.D. The Minocycline in the Treatment of Angelman Syndrome Clinical Trial will be conducted at the University of South Florida Health's Center for Advanced Health Care in Tampa, Florida and a total of 24 patients will be randomly selected to participate in this open label trial to determine the efficacy of Minocycline as a treatment for Angelman Syndrome.

"It is the prayer of every parent that the recently announced clinical trials bring us one step closer to a cure," says Brian Rattner.