Snap25 Foundation - public

09/07/2026

SNAP25 Foundation is thrilled to welcome Professor Jakob Sørensen to our Scientific Advisory Board!

Professor Sørensen is Professor of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and a leading expert in the biology of neurotransmitter release—the fundamental process that allows neurons to communicate.

Professor Sørensen leads a research group that combines advanced experimental approaches including genetically modified mouse models, viral vector technologies, human induced pluripotent stem cells, and electrophysiology, to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release.

His laboratory has made seminal contributions to understanding the protein machinery that drives the fusion of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles with the plasma membrane, a fundamental process in neuronal communication. More recently, his research has focused on elucidating how disease-causing variants in SNAP25 and related synaptic genes disrupt neuronal function and contribute to neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders.
His expertise brings an extraordinary depth of knowledge to the SNAP25 Foundation at an important time in SNAP25 research.

Please join us in giving a very warm welcome to Professor Jakob Sørensen!

08/31/2026

New SNAP25 research from Dr. Ege Kavalali and Baris Alten and colleagues:
We are thrilled to share exciting new research from Dr. Ege Kavalali and his colleagues that is helping reveal what happens to synaptic communication when SNAP25 function is disrupted.
SNAP25 is at the heart of how nerve cells communicate. Understanding exactly how changes in SNAP25 affect the brain is essential to moving from knowing there is a mutation to understanding what we can do about it.
This kind of research is incredibly important for the SNAP25 community. Every new insight into SNAP25 biology brings us closer to identifying therapeutic strategies that could make a real difference for individuals and families affected by SNAP25-related disorders.
Thank you Dr. Kavalali and Dr. Alten!

Synaptic vesicle fusion is orchestrated by the soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) complex. The SNARE complex includes SNAP25, synaptobrevin-2, and syntaxin-1. This machinery drives action potential-evoked release, as well as the majority of spontaneous release. M...

08/27/2026

🧬 The SNAP25 Foundation Welcomes Dr. Ege Kavalali to Our Scientific Advisory Board!

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Ege Kavalali, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, has joined the SNAP25 Foundation Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Kavalali is a leading neuroscientist whose research has made important contributions to our understanding of synaptic transmission, neurotransmitter release, and SNAP25-associated encephalopathies. In 2021, Dr. Kavalali and his colleagues published landmark research investigating how disease-associated SNAP25 variants disrupt neurotransmission. Their work included multiple SNAP25 mutations associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. His laboratory has continued to investigate SNAP25 biology and disease mechanisms, and new research published August 27, 2026 is now exploring lithium as a potential therapeutic strategy for SNAP25 encephalopathies.

This combination of deep expertise in SNAP25 biology, synaptic function, disease mechanisms, and emerging therapeutic approaches makes Dr. Kavalali an extraordinary addition to our Scientific Advisory Board. We are honored to have his scientific expertise helping guide the SNAP25 Foundation as we work toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for SNAP25-related disorders.

Welcome, Dr. Kavalali! We are honored to have you with us. 💙