Heyman Family Fragile X Trainee Fund
MAY 2023
Emory's Department of Human Genetics is pleased to announce the creation of the Heyman Family Fragile X Trainee Fund, thanks to the generosity of the Fragile X Association of Georgia and a long-time supporter and advocate of Emory's Fragile X research, Gail Heyman. With this fund, students working in the Fragile X space can access critical professional development, research, and travel opportunities that they may use to further their professional careers.
"Gail has been a tremendous advocate for Emory University and the Fragile X Community," said Peng Jin, PhD, chair of the Department of Human Genetics. "We want to thank her for her commitment to the Fragile X research community. We are grateful for her continued partnership."
Gail Heyman and her husband Lyons first became involved with Emory University when the Department of Human Genetics was chaired by Dr. Stephen Warren, who is best known for leading the international effort that identified the gene mutation responsible for Fragile X syndrome in 1991. Gail's son, Scott, was diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome in 1989 at the age of nine.
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects a person's development, especially that person's behavior and ability to learn. Fragile X can also affect communication skills, physical appearance, and sensitivity to noise, light, or other sensory information.
Fragile X gave Gail and her family a cause to fight for and they have become advocates for inclusion and translational research. Gail's daughter Carly is a Fragile X female premutation carrier, and Carly was the first person at the National Institutes of Health diagnosed with FXPOI (Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency) in their rare disease study. Carly now works as a pediatric occupational therapist. Gail's oldest son, Jared, is the founder of CrowdMed, an online platform to help diagnose individuals with rare diseases.
Gail Heyman will be recognized for her leadership on inclusion and receive a leadership award on May 30, 2023, by Matan, a nonprofit focused on addressing the lack of Jewish educational opportunities afforded to children with special needs.
"I hope this fund will inspire young investigators to continue their research of Fragile X to benefit both the scientific community and families," Gail Heyman says. "I can't wait to see what the future holds for this important research!"