About
Reed's Reach
A Message From Reed
Hi, my name is Reed. My life has a challenge called 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome. It can make things like learning and connecting feel harder sometimes, and it gave me seizures growing up. But it has also given me a powerful purpose: to reach out and make a difference.
I want to reach out to other kids and adults who have this deletion, to let them know they are not alone. I also want to reach out to the scientists and doctors who are working on answers. My reach is for everyone with a difference like mine, whether it's epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, because I've learned that our differences are connected.
Our Founding Story
Reed’s Reach for 15q13.3 was born from a family’s love and a refusal to accept the status quo. When Reed was diagnosed, we were faced with a significant unmet medical need and a lack of clear therapeutic pathways. Inspired by the powerful, patient-driven advocacy of groups like Mila's Miracle Foundation, we knew we could not wait. We established this foundation to serve as a pivotal force in driving research forward. Our goal is to close the funding gap — so common in rare disease research — by strategically funding the most promising science and building a collaborative ecosystem of the best minds in the field.
Our Mission & Vision
The Reed’s Reach for 15q13.3 Foundation is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes.
To accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments, and curative therapies for 15q13.3 copy number variations and their associated neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
Our Mission:
We envision a future where individuals affected by 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome gain access to transformative therapies that substantially enhance their quality of life and clinical outcomes.
Our Vision:
Our Strategic Approach:
A Pipeline to a Cure
Repurposed Drug Trials. We are initiating clinical trials for drugs targeting CHRNA7 dysfunction and the OTUD7A-Ankyrin-G pathways using compounds with established safety profiles, to address key symptoms and provide near-term relief.
Funding Basic research. By learning more about how 15q13.3 copy number variations affect us, we hope to find biomarkers to support future human trials, and drive insights into the genetic basis for related conditions like Epilepsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Biploar Disorder.
Foundational Genetic Therapies. Our ultimate goal is to address the root genetic cause of the syndrome by pioneering Antisense Oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies to regulate critical genes like CHRNA7 and OTUD7A, and supporting cutting-edge gene therapy research.
We pursue a multi-pronged therapeutic pipeline that balances immediate patient impact with long-term, potentially curative interventions.
Our Team & Governance
We are guided by a Board of passionate, skilled individuals who are active participants in the foundation's operations, minimizing administrative overhead to maximize the funds going toward our mission. Our research programs are guided by a volunteer Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) composed of leading experts in genetics, pharmacology, and clinical research to ensure scientific rigor and strategic alignment.
Join Our Reach
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you are a family member, a researcher, a clinician, or a donor, your contribution is vital to our success. By joining our community, you help us reach further and faster toward a cure.