Dr. Julia Dallman awarded SynGAP Research Fund (SRF) grant for SYNGAP1 research targeting gastro-intestinal treatment development

(Press-News.org) Mill Valley, CA – March 18, 2025 – The SynGAP Research Fund (SRF) dba Cure SYNGAP1, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has awarded a $65,000 grant to Dr. Julia Dallman, Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, to investigate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in SYNGAP1-related disorders (SRD) patients. Leveraging her extensive experience with zebrafish models, Dr. Dallman's research aims to identify therapies that alleviate severe GI issues, such as chronic constipation and feeding difficulties, which significantly impact the quality of life for individuals with SRD. This project underscores Dr. Dallman's longstanding commitment to SYNGAP1 research and offers hope for effective treatments for the SRD community.

Why We Supported This Project GI issues, including chronic constipation, poor gut motility, and feeding challenges, are some of the most common and distressing symptoms faced by SRD patients. These symptoms not only impact physical health but also affect emotional well-being, behavior, and quality of life. Dr. Dallman’s project will screen multiple pro-GI motility compounds—including prebiotics and bacterial metabolites that target the gut microbiome—for effectiveness in reducing bead transit time, a measure of gut motility, in her zebrafish SRD model. Her work promises to identify therapeutic options that could offer real, immediate relief to families and patients dealing with these challenging symptoms.

Past Work by Recipient Dr. Julia Dallman has spent years advancing research into SYNGAP1-related disorders, focusing on its genetic, neurological, and gastrointestinal complexities. Her innovative use of zebrafish models has been central to uncovering how SYNGAP1 mutations impact patients, providing a high-throughput, efficient way to evaluate potential treatments. In an earlier SRF-hosted webinar, Dr. Dallman and her collaborators presented an integrated approach to examining the GI and neurological comorbidities of SRD, highlighting her comprehensive approach to the disorder. In her most recent webinar, she explored new findings on hyperactivity in SYNGAP1 zebrafish models, suggesting that heightened arousal in typically low-stimulation environments may contribute to behavioral symptoms. Through these collaborative efforts, Dr. Dallman continues to transform her research into practical insights that are meaningful for the SRD community.

Partnering for Progress: Insights from SRF Leadership and the Researchers “When (not if) our patients become constipated, seizures increase, and behavior becomes chaotic, yet, it is often the last thing caregivers focus on as there are so many other challenges. We need better interventions and more research on this issue to address this unmet need. Finding a therapy that can effectively address this will be a significant win for patients,” says Mike Graglia, Founder of SRF.

"Dr. Dallman's preclinical work with zebrafish gets to two important and under-treated symptoms we see in our children with SYNGAP1-related disorders: sensory differences and gut issues,” explained Kathryn Helde, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at SRF. “Both of these symptoms impact the daily lives of our whole families."

Helde continued, "Dr. Dallman worked with us to refine a list of drug candidates we were most excited about, to get to possible treatments faster. Her willingness to collaborate with other researchers and her responsiveness to our science team, make her a dream to work with and leads to faster breakthroughs."

Dr. Julia Dallman explained, "We will test 20 compounds used in people to promote GI motility for their ability to improve GI function in our SYNGAP1 zebrafish model. Our rationale is that due to distinct SYNGAP1-specific changes in GI physiology supported by our research in zebrafish, pro-GI-motility compounds may work differently in people with SYNGAP1-related disorders."

She added, "By directly testing these compounds for their ability to improve whole gut transit time in the zebrafish model, we can rank them for their genotype-specific efficacy in improving GI function. A secondary screen will test top hits for their effect on other SRD-relevant phenotypes including sleep, sensory responses, and growth rates during the first month of life."

"Our rationale," Dr. Dallman continued, "is that a compound that promotes GI function could also cause unwanted and/or synergistic effects in these other phenotypes relevant for quality of life. By measuring these other phenotypes during exposure to pro-GI-motility compounds, we will learn about the integrated therapeutic potential of each compound, which could later be translated to humans."

Family Donations Make Progress Possible "Family donations for this research are crucial since federal funding for condition-specific GI therapies is practically non-existent," stated Dr. Julia Dallman. "We are excited to work with the SYNGAP1 community to test these therapies with the goal of having a meaningful, positive impact on quality of life."

“Our community of donors makes research like Dr. Dallman’s possible, and their support is making a tangible impact on families affected by SYNGAP1,” says Anthony Navarro, Resource Mobilization Director at the SynGAP Research Fund. “By funding projects that target issues like severe GI symptoms, we’re not just advancing science—we’re bringing hope and practical relief to those who need it most. Together, we’re building a better future for SYNGAP1 families.”

About the Dallman Lab Julia Dallman is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences. Julia has over thirty years of experience using animal models (sea squirt, fly, and zebrafish) to understand neurodevelopmental processes. She did her doctoral training in electrophysiology and developmental neuroscience with William Moody at the University of Washington, and post-doctoral training in molecular and chromatin biology with Gail Mandel and in zebrafish genetics and physiology with Paul Brehm at Stony Brook University. Her lab seeks to understand how genetic mutations impact the development of circuits in both gut and brain to produce behavioral phenotypes in zebrafish autism models.

“The University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences is grateful for the SynGAP Research Fund’s support, which will enable Associate Professor Julia Dallman to continue her important research on SYNGAP1,” said Leonidas Bachas, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The College is proud of Julia’s work to identify therapies that will improve the lives of people living with this genetic disorder.”

About the University of Miami The University of Miami is a private research university and academic health system with a distinct geographic capacity to connect institutions, individuals, and ideas across the hemisphere and around the world. The University’s vibrant and diverse academic community comprises 12 schools and colleges serving more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Located within one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, the University is building new bridges across geographic, cultural, and intellectual borders, bringing a passion for scholarly excellence, a spirit of innovation, a respect for including and elevating diverse voices, and a commitment to tackling the challenges facing our world.

About SYNGAP1-Related Disorders (SRD) SYNGAP1-related disorders (ICD-10 F78.A1) is a rare genetic disorder caused by variants on the SYNGAP1 gene that reduce SYNGAP1 protein levels. SRF has identified over 1,530 patients to date, and the number grows weekly. This protein acts as a regulator in the synapses (where neurons communicate with each other). When SYNGAP1 protein levels are too low, we see an increase in excitability in the synapses making it difficult for neurons to communicate effectively. This leads to many neurological issues seen in SYNGAP1 patients.

Symptoms of SRD include primarily neurological issues including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, hypotonia (low muscle tone), gross and fine motor delays, global developmental delay, and visual abnormalities such as strabismus (crossed eyes) as well as gastrointestinal challenges and disordered sleep.

About SRF’s Seven Scientific Programs SynGAP Research Fund has seven scientific programs. These programs reflect SRF’s urgency to develop disease modifying treatments. These include the following:

BTS - Basic and Translational Science Purpose - Drug Repurposing SMART - SYNGAP1 Missense Analysis, Research & Therapeutics SBOM - SYNGAP1 Biomarkers & Endpoints Facilitate - Develop and Share Research Tools and Reagents SRDC - SYNGAP1-Related Disorders Characterization ProMMiS: Prospective Multidisciplinary, Multisite Study for Clinical Excellence - Natural History Study at Multidisciplinary Clinics This grant falls into the Purpose program. Drug repurposing looks to reduce suffering in patients on a short time scale. SRF’s process of Find, Assess, Survey, and Trial existing medicines for use in SRD may improve care and reduce medication burden. SRF has funded over $1.65M in Purpose grants.

About the SynGAP Research Fund The mission of the SynGAP Research Fund (SRF) dba Cure SYNGAP1 is to improve the quality of life for SYNGAP1 patients through the research and development of treatments, therapies, and support systems.

SRF was founded in the US in 2018 as a 501(c)(3) US public charity.  There are sister organizations founded by local families in the UK in 2020, Europe (the Netherlands) in 2022, as well as both Australia & Latin America (Colombia) in 2023. Completely family-led, SRF is a leading funder of SYNGAP1 research having committed over $6.2 million in grants as of the end of 2024. SRF’s grant program awards one or two-year grants to investigators, physician residents, and clinicians interested in studying SYNGAP1. SRF’s mission is to accelerate the availability of safe and effective treatments that meaningfully modify SRD to reduce suffering for patients and their families. Current funding priorities include essential milestones for clinical trial readiness. You can learn more about SRF and their accomplishments by reading their current Impact Report.

For more on SRF, visit cureSYNGAP1.org or follow @cureSYNGAP1 on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or X.

SRF is a member of FasterCures, COMBINEDBrain, Global Genes Foundation Alliance, Everylife Foundation Community Congress, Epilepsies Action Network, Personalized Medicine Coalition, Rare Epilepsy Network, Epilepsy Leadership Council, Alliance for Genetic Etiologies in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism (AGENDA), California Action Link for Rare Diseases, American Brain Coalition, Genetic Alliance UK, Rare Disease UK, Syndromes Without a Name (SWAN UK), Jumpstart Program, Patient Worthy, Autism Brain Net, Innovation and Value Initiative, Rare Disease Diversity Coalition, Cambridge Rare Disease Network, Breaking Down Barriers, Rare-X, Mencap, IndoUSRare, The World Orphan Drug Congress, and Research America.

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