Dear Rett Syndrome Community,

As we prepare for the 2011 holiday season, the IRSF board & staff would like to wish each and every one of you, a very happy, healthy and joyous Thanksgiving. As we look back on this year there is much to be grateful for.

IRSF recently attended the 2011 Society for Neuroscience Conference in Washington, D.C. as an exhibitor to bring awareness to the scientific community about IRSF’s excellent grant program for basic and translational research for Rett syndrome. After the Neuroscience conference, IRSF held the second grant review of the year at the Hugo W. Moser Institute at Kennedy Krieger in Baltimore, MD. Top investigators reviewed and ranked research applications to be considered for funding by the IRSF board of directors.

IRSF extends our congratulations to Dr. Huda Zoghbi, of Baylor College of Medicine, who was recently recognized with the presentation of the prestigious 2011 Gruber Prize in Neuroscience from the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation. Congratulation Dr. Zoghbi and Thank You for all that you do for Rett syndrome.

IRSF is pleased to recognize Dr. Lucas Pozzo-Miller and his lab for their research at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), funded by IRSF, which has provided mounting evidence that Rett syndrome need not last a lifetime, and was hailed a “Hot Topic” at the Society for Neuroscience meeting. IRSF congratulates Dr. Pozzo-Miller and team for their discovery, and commits to continued intense investment into drug discovery research.

Lastly, IRSF is grateful for each of you; your work, the actions you’ve taken, have improved the lives of many angels with Rett syndrome. We have much to look forward to, our belief is strengthened every day by the commitment of families and the great work of our scientists that real change for families affected by Rett syndrome is in our future.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stephen Bajardi
Executive Director
International Rett Syndrome Foundation

IRSF is the world's leading private funder of basic, translational and clinical Rett syndrome research, funding over $24M in high-quality, peer-reviewed research grants and programs to date. Annually, IRSF hosts the world's largest gathering of global Rett researchers and clinicians to establish research direction and priorities while exchanging ideas and the most recent information. IRSF is the most comprehensive non-profit organization dedicated to providing thorough and accurate information about Rett syndrome, offering informational and emtional family support and stimulating research aimed at accelerating treatments and a cure for Rett syndrome and related disorders.IRSF has earned Charity Navigator's most prestigious 4-star rating. To learn more about IRSF and Rett syndrome, visit www.rettsyndrome.org or call IRSF at 1-800-818-7388 (RETT).