The holiday season brings together friends, cousins, grandparents, and chosen family. It is a time filled with traditions, celebrations, and the kind of memories families look forward to all year. For FOXG1 families, these gatherings can also come with unique challenges. Many children with FOXG1 syndrome have mobility differences, sensory sensitivities, feeding needs, or medical equipment that make typical holiday environments feel overwhelming.

Meet Meet Shin Jeon, PhD- A scientist whose dedication helped shape the FOXG1 Research Center from the very beginning!

November is FOXG1 Awareness Month, a time when families, researchers, and advocates around the world come together to shine a light on a rare condition that connects us all. But true awareness is not defined by a single month.

If you’ve ever wondered what to say or how to show up for a FOXG1 family, here’s some help!

Today, we’re sharing the story of Seon-Ung Hwang, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher whose

journey from South Korea to Buffalo - and from embryology to patient-derived stem cells -

reflects both the challenges and the quiet hope behind FOXG1 science.

When your child is diagnosed with a rare condition like FOXG1 syndrome, one of the hardest parts can be figuring out how to explain it to others. Friends, relatives, even well-meaning strangers may ask questions you weren’t prepared to answer.

Meet Soumya!
Her journey into neuroscience led her all the way to the FOXG1 Research Center—where the science feels deeply personal.

As she shared: “Meeting FOXG1 families reminded me that every step forward in the lab is a step toward hope for real children and their families.”

Back-to-school season always brings a mix of emotions for parents—excitement, nerves, and a little bit of exhaustion. For FOXG1 families, that mix is often amplified. New teachers, new classrooms, new routines, and new challenges can feel overwhelming when your child requires extra care and accommodations.

Read about Yenyen’s inspiring milestone living with FOXG1 syndrome and how therapy, love, and community support helped her progress. Learn more and connect with FOXG1 families.