As a recipient of the Randi J. Hagerman Summer Scholar Research Award, our doctoral student, Thomas Christensen presented his summer research project titled Exploring Social Determinants of Health and the FMR1 Premutation Symptomology in Women. The RJH Summer Scholar Award from the National Fragile X Foundation aims to introduce undergraduate and graduate students to Fragile X research and fund students’ projects each year.

Thomas’s project outlined notable findings around how one’s environment, such as where they live impacts the FMR1 premutation symptoms in women, such as anxiety, depression, tremor, and cognitive issues. He hopes that these findings will aid researchers and advocacy organizations direct their limited resources to focused areas that will have the most effective benefit on the well-being of women with the FMR1 premutation. This experience was great for Thomas, and plans on using what he learned from this project in his upcoming dissertation, and he would like to thank the NFXF for their support and for providing the RJH Summer Scholar Award!

Thomas showcased the summary of his project and reflection of his experiences in a 15-minute video presentation, which you can watch here!