GRIN2B Foundation is pleased to announce $97,180 in new research funding to promote scientific understanding of the rare genetic condition known as GRIN2B-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder.
This investment supports three high-impact projects at Emory University, University of Colorado and the University of Sussex.
By funding these projects, GRIN2B Foundation is advancing a comprehensive strategy. Our work spans establishing an FDA regulatory pathway for L-serine clinical trials, building scalable tools to interpret GRIN2B variants, and testing innovative gene-rescue therapies. Together, these efforts accelerate the path from genetic discovery to evidence-based treatments for GRIN2B individuals and families.
All three research projects were submitted to our 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP). We have one additional project from last year’s RFP we hope to fund, and are encouraging families to help us fundraise for GRIN2B research during GRIN2B Awareness Week, March 12th – 18th. Awarding three grants in one year is our biggest commitment to accelerating GRIN2B research thus far and we’re determined to keep the momentum going by funding a fourth grant.
Call to action: Help us raise $35,000 during GRIN2B Awareness Week to further GRIN2B research.
None of this is possible without you. Our community of patients, families, scientists, clinicians, and dedicated supporters is the force behind every step forward. Thank you for believing in this mission. Make a donation today. Your gift fuels the research driving us closer to real treatments, every single day.
DONATE TODAY TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING RESEARCH
2026 Funded Research Grants
Developing an FDA-Approved IND for L-Serine in GRIN Disorders
Dr. Tim Benke, MD, PhD, University of Colorado
Amount Awarded: $21,600
Dr. Tim Benke is a pediatric neurologist and clinical researcher with extensive experience treating individuals with GRIN-related disorders. Individuals with loss-of-function GRIN disorders are already being treated off-label with L-serine, but there is limited scientific evidence to guide dosing, safety, or effectiveness. This project will prepare and submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA, a required step before conducting a controlled clinical trial of L-serine. Establishing this regulatory foundation will enable future clinical trials and help ensure families receive clear, evidence-based guidance while preserving access to future treatments.
Establishing a Sustainable Pipeline for Functional Characterization of GRIN2B Variants in Neurons
Dr. Andrew Penn, PhD, University of Sussex
Amount Awarded: $21,580
Dr. Andrew Penn is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on understanding how genetic variants affect neuronal function at the cellular level. Many individuals with GRIN2B-related conditions receive genetic test results that are difficult to interpret because the functional effects of many variants are unknown. This project will establish a scalable laboratory pipeline to study GRIN2B variants directly in neurons using precise gene-editing techniques. By examining how variants affect synaptic localization and neuronal communication, this work aims to improve the interpretation of GRIN2B variants and to provide a foundation for future studies linking genetic findings to brain function and the development of treatments.
Genetic Rescue of Synaptic and Behavioral Deficits in a GRIN2B Truncating Variant Mouse Model
Dr. Hongjie Yuan, MD, PhD, Emory University
Amount Awarded: $54,000
Dr. Hongjie Yuan is a physician–scientist at Emory University whose work focuses on NMDA receptor biology and genetic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Many individuals with GRIN2B-related conditions carry variants that introduce premature stop signals, preventing production of the full-length GRIN2B protein and leading to developmental delay, autism, and seizures. This project tests a novel genetic rescue strategy using a specialized rescue tRNA delivered to the brain via a viral vector to bypass these faulty stop signals and restore normal GRIN2B protein production. By preserving the gene’s natural timing and location of expression, this approach offers a potential path toward gene-based therapies for GRIN2B truncating variants and other rare genetic disorders caused by similar mutations.