Our History

In 2007 a research paper was published on the rescue of neurological deficits in the Angelman syndrome mouse model, giving rise to hope that the treatments, even a cure, were possible. 

On the back of this development, the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) was formed in the United States. In Australia, a group of parents of young and newly diagnosed children came together informally to discuss joining the global search for a cure.

A one-day workshop with United States researcher Professor Edwin Weeber was held in Brisbane in 2009 and attended by families, clinicians, and Australian researchers.

Given the groundswell of enthusiasm for research leading towards a cure, the group decided to formalise an Australian chapter of the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, with Meagan Cross as the Chairperson.  In 2010, FAST Australia was officially launched by the newly formed board of directors and scientific advisory committee, with deductible gift recipient status as a national health promotion charity to fund best practices in care and treatments and advancing research towards a cure. 

Our vision was to collaborate globally and promote and encourage unique research in Australia towards a cure. To do this, we had to build a network of stakeholders and raise the profile of the syndrome through advocacy and increased awareness of new global research. We knew there were delays in diagnosis and underdiagnosis of the condition in Australia, as well as disparities in the standard of care in relation to geographical location and age.

• 2010 - FAST Australia Officially Launched in Brisbane with a dinner at the Diana Hotel.
• 2010 - Workshop was held at the University of Sydney with Professor David Segal, a visiting Angelman syndrome researcher from the University of California Davis, a collaborator with the Mackay and Matthews lab at the University of Sydney.
• 2013 – The Inaugural Angelman Syndrome symposium and dinner was held at the Melbourne Children's Research Institute, hosting several international and Australian researchers.
• 2014 - Funded the development of the Global Angelman Syndrome Registry with the Centre for Health Genomics Perth, Western Australia.
• 2014 - Co-funded the development and characterisation of an Angelman Syndrome large animal model at Dr Scott Didot at Texas A&M with FAST United States.
• 2015 - Funded a multi-year collaboration with the University of Sydney, funded by FAST Australia to develop cell lines for Angelman syndrome. 
• 2015 – Hosted our second conference in Brisbane, Neurology in Angelman Syndrome, with Professor Ingrid Scheffer as keynote and several international researchers.
• 2015 – FAST Australia won an online voting competition run by Microsoft raising $50,000USD for research.
• 2015 – Funded a part-time data curator position for the Global Angelman Syndrome Registry, based at Mater Hospital in Brisbane.
• 2016 – Co-funded a multi year Health Economics study with Murdoch Children's Research Institute, with Fragile X, Prader Willi and Duplication 15q groups.
• 2016 – Co-funded Silvia Russo on "Potential therapeutic approach for synaptic deficit in Angelman syndrome: the JNK inhibitor peptide" with the Angelman Alliance.
• 2016 – Co-funded Ben Philpot on "Quantifying EEG abnormalities and identifying biomarkers in Angelman Syndrome" with the Angelman Alliance.
• 2016 - Co-funded “Generate Mouse Lines Expressing Human UBE3A Antisense” with FAST United States.
• 2018  - Co-funded “Accelerating precision therapies through digital infrastructure for adaptive trials and trial-ready cohort studies” with Qld University of Technology, Murdoch University, Telethon Kids Institute, MNDi Foundation.
• 2018 - Hosted 3rd conference in Sydney; Gene Therapy in Angelman Syndrome, signaling a change in research dynamics as gene-altering and editing approaches are inevitable for Angelman Syndrome. This symposium hosted multiple international researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
• 2019 – Migration and upgrade of the Global Angelman Syndrome Registry to Queensland University of Technology.
• 2020 – Co-funded Chromosome 15 disorders Biobank with the Prader Willi Research Foundation in collaboration with Murdoch Children's Research Melbourne.
• 2020 - Ovid trial commences the first ever clinical trial into Angelman syndrome in Australia with the Neptune trial, evaluating OV101 for safety and efficacy.
• 2021 - Ionis Pharmaceuticals announces Australia as a trial site for safety and tolerability for their antisense therapy ION582.
• 2021 - Ultragenyx announces two sites in Australia for their antisense therapy GTX-102
• 2021 – FAST Australia announced its commitment to funding a multisite Angelman syndrome Centre of Excellence in Australia to ensure a national standard of care regardless of age or geographic location.
• 2022 - Global Angelman Syndrome Registry translated to Traditional Chinese, Spanish and Italian.
• 2022 - Neuren commence recruiting for a phase 2 trial of NNZ-2591 in Brisbane and Melbourne (Sydney pending) in the second Angelman trial in Australia in two years.
• 2022 -  Global Angelman Syndrome Registry translated to Polish, Hindi & Portuguese
• 2022 - Partnered with FAST US to utilise the Global Registry for the Search & Rescue Program
• 2023 - FAST facilitated the first collaborative conference to be held with the Angelman Syndrome Association Australia in Brisbane 2023.
• 2023 (May) Held First Science in the Pub in Melbourne
• 2023 (July) Science in the Pub Perth
• 2023 (Sept) Science in the Pub Sydney
• 2024 (Feb) Science in the Pub Brisbane
• 2024 - Announced the second collaborative conference in Sydney for Sept 2025

FAST Australia’s journey is a testament to what a dedicated group of people can accomplish when united by a common goal. From funding critical research to advancing clinical trial readiness and supporting families, we have made incredible strides in the fight against Angelman Syndrome. But our work is far from over. With continued collaboration, passion, and determination, we can drive even greater progress.

Your support can help us accelerate research, expand access to clinical care, and bring life-changing treatments closer to reality.

Every donation makes a difference. Join us in creating a future where Angelman Syndrome no longer stands in the way of potential.

Donate today and be part of the change.