The Alex Manfull Fund

10/18/2026

The Alex Manfull Fund (TAMF) is incredibly proud to support the cutting edge work of three researchers, each contributing to the understanding of immune-mediated neuropsychiatric disorders like PANDAS/PANS.

Herb Lachman, MD, physician-scientist at Albert Einstein Medical School and member of Europe’s EXPAND, The European Immuno-neuropsychiatric Association, focused on the gut microbiome in this study (read more in press release below).

Sean Miller, PhD, neuroscientist at University at Buffalo, is building cortical organoids (little brains) in his laboratory to identify the molecular pathways affected by PANDAS/PANS and reveal new biological targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Lauren Breithaupt, PhD, Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School and member of TAMF’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, is taking a closer look at the the choroid plexus, a highly vascular structure that helps form the barrier between the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid.It has several functions, including playing an important role in communication between the immune system and the brain. Dr Breithaupt is investigating whether the choroid plexus could be an imaging marker of inflammation in PANDAS/PANS. TAMF is grateful to The Louisa Adelynn Johnson Fund For Complex Disease for their contribution to support Dr Breithaupt’s work.

TAMF strongly believes that strategically supporting research is the best way to develop better diagnostic tools, better treatments, and better understanding of PANDAS/PANS. Coupled with educating clinicians about that research, we can shorten the time from bench to bed. And, regarding those practitioners who still view these conditions as controversial, research is the best way to change minds.

We will announce a new research initiative at our PANDAS/PANS “One Body” symposium on November 14th.

DM me if you would like to talk about how you can help TAMF support more research.

New Grants Offer Hope for Lifesaving PANS and PANDAS Discoveries

10/17/2026

The Alex Manfull Fund is deeply grateful to Henry Sum for running to raise funds and awareness for PANDAS and PANS. Please help Henry cross the finish line with a huge smile for such a big accomplishment in running 26.2miles (😮) and for significantly contributing to TAMF (🤗)!

Click on the link below to learn more and to support Henry and TAMF.

This is part of what Henry wrote:

“As parents, our main job is to keep our children safe and healthy. Sometimes life has other plans that make doing that one job feel seemingly impossible. Thats why on November 7th, I am running the Indianapolis Marathon to raise funds and awareness for PANDAS and PANS through The Alex Manfull Fund.

PANDAS and PANS cause a sudden onset of severe OCD symptoms. They also cause other sudden changes in a child's behavior. These can be so extreme that a parent may say their child seemed to "change overnight."

I can’t even imagine what it would be like to see my child’s behavior inexplicably change overnight and bounce from doctor to doctor with no diagnosis or explanation but that’s where a good friend of mine and his wife found themselves. Their relentlessness to fight for their child led them to finding out about PANDAS AND PANS and The Alex Manfull Fund.

Seeing a child lose the most precious years of their childhood to this illness and hearing the numerous stories from others that suffered through the same has been heartbreaking. Please consider supporting my 26.2 miles of suffering so hopefully one day children and their families will not have to suffer from PANDAS AND PANS.”

https://givebutter.com/c/2026IndianapolisMarathon-HenrySun

10/13/2026

Please read and participate as much as you are able. It is one of the best ways we can move understanding — and better diagnosis and treatment — forward for everyone!
PLEASE SHARE!
Thank you to all!

10/11/2026

Guess who’s coming to Untangling PANDAS & PANS?

Find “My Conversation with Dr. Jennifer Frankovich about the Current State of PANS” here —
https://untanglingpandaspans.buzzsprout.com/ — or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

10/11/2026

📣This interesting talk just surfaced: EMBEDDed NH: Climate, Ticks, and Emerging Public Health Issues

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
6:00 PM 7:00 PM

NH Healthcare Workers for Climate Action
PO Box 426Manchester, NH 03105United States (map)

Speaker: Dr. David Needle, UNH Clinical Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Science and a Veterinary Pathologist

As New Hampshire’s climate and environment change, the State’s tick numbers, types and associated diseases are rapidly increasing. This emergence poses new risks to the health of humans, pets and wildlife alike.

“Ticks are an issue that touches nearly every community in the State,” notes Dr. David Needle.

Dr. Needle’s research has focused on the confluence of human, animal, and environmental health as effecting emerging diseases. His research seeks to characterize something new, whether a disease phenotype or new pathogen, with a goal of understanding how it fits into the larger picture.

He is currently leading a multi-disciplinary team of researchers under the recently announced $8 million NSF-funded initiative EMBEDDEd-NH.

The project is a statewide research and workforce development investigation that brings together researchers, students, educators, and community partners University of New Hampshire, Keene State University, and Plymouth State University, and students, state agencies, and private industry to collaborate in learning how to better understand the ecology and evolution of ticks in New Hampshire.

As New Hampshire’s climate and environment change, the State’s tick numbers, types and associated diseases are rapidly increasing, posing new risks to the health of humans, pets and wildlife alike. Hear Dr. David Needle speak about his work leading EMBEDDed-NH, a multidisciplinary research proje...

10/11/2026

📣 EXCITING NEWS: New book about PANDAS and PANS!

Ann Worley, a Houston-based writer and editor, a PANS mom and advocate, and the community editor of this guide, will be in Portsmouth,NH to attend our PANS/PANDAS Symposium on November 14, an event for clinicians and researchers.

The award-winning Michigan State University School of Journalism Bias Busters project and Front Edge Publishing are proud to announce
the upcoming release of “100 Questions and Answers About PANS/PANDAS,” a landmark book providing essential information about these disorders to families and community leaders nationwide.

“100 Questions and Answers About PANS/PANDAS” is unique in that it will serve as a guide both for navigating the disorders and for
understanding the community.

To accompany the new 100 Questions and Answers About PANS/PANDAS, the Front Edge team will host a regularly updated, free-to-download scientific bibliography to accompany the guide.

MSU Bias Busters is led by School of Journalism longtime professor Joe Grimm,
who founded the project to foster greater understanding and awareness of various populations. Written in an engaging journalistic style, these question-and-answer books have helped Americans understand racial, ethnic and religious minorities, often-misunderstood vocational groups such as police officers and veterans, and people who live with challenges such as stuttering or homelessness. Each guide produced by the MSU project, under Grimm’s supervision, is developed by classes of journalism students who take a deep dive into the subject, working in close relationship with a national, blue-ribbon panel of experts on the topic.

The books are published nationally, sold by online booksellers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and are ordered in quantity for groups focused on each issue.

Embedded in the community, Ann Worley is part of the core team at Front Edge Publishing and has played a key role in the development of this guide, working closely with Grimm’s MSU team and the many organizations that serve families living with PANS/PANDAS. Following publication of 100 Questions and Answers About PANS/PANDAS, she will supervise a multiyear effort to build awareness around this new resource.

To be released very soon!

10/11/2026

Towny was in Burlington, VT today for the 3rd Annual VT PANDAS/PANS Network 5K! He reported that the crowd was especially supportive, very warm, and really enthusiastic.

There was a lot of talk about the great research and clinical work that Dartmouth is doing and how lucky we all are that they are in our backyard! Most of the funds raised goes to the Dartmouth Neuroimmune Psychiatric Program!

I am proud to report that the organizers, Devin and Adrienne, spoke glowingly about The Alex Manfull Fund as well. We are so proud to support this endeavor that’s making a real impact. “Building a community” in Vermont!

10/10/2026

📣Thank you Dr Gary Kaplan for creating this excellent video about PANDAS and PANS. He did a brilliant job presenting these complex, often misunderstood disorders in clear and precise language. No sensationalism, just the facts.

As the Executive Director of The Alex Manfull Fund, I am particularly pleased that he underscored that while PANDAS and PANS are predominantly found in children, they can and do occur in young adults, as was the case with our daughter, Alex Manfull.

Thirty minutes long, it is time well spent. Please share!


Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine

Kayla Caulfield
Sheilah McCarthy Gauch
Daniela Sosa-Sarkar
Lorraine Wheeler
Tom Malech
Karen Buettner Soorikian
Ashley O'Brien Moos

Has your child suddenly developed severe anxiety, OCD symptoms, tic...

10/10/2026

A huge thank you to Tufts Medical Center for raising awareness about PANDAS and PANS and to the quietly indomitable Dr Julia Zhang for her exceptional treatment of these challenging disorders.

Kayla Caulfield Cindy Menni Caulfield Sheilah McCarthy Gauch

10/09/2026

💚 October 9 update: 328 landmarks and counting!

Today is World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day! Through , 21 global partners have united to bring PANS/PANDAS into the light—raising visibility, building understanding and reminding people affected that they are not alone.

Find a landmark near you:

📄 View the updated PDF, organized by country and region:
https://tinyurl.com/LightUp4PANS2026PDFOct9

📍 Explore Google Maps—browse locations, zoom in and plan your visit:
https://tinyurl.com/LightUp4PANS2026Map

Check the lighting date before visiting, as some landmarks light on nearby dates.

Visit a landmark, light your home or office green, or wear green today! Invite family, friends and colleagues to join you, and share why you’re taking part.

📸 Help us capture the world lighting up green! Share your landmark photos for our interactive map and, with your permission, our campaign photo collage and video.

For the map, we’ll select photos without people; for the collage and video, photos with or without people are welcome!

Submit photos: https://tinyurl.com/LightUp4PANS2026Photos

Need help? [email protected]