Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

Family support weighs heavily in doctors’ decisions on ventilation

When clinicians have to decide whether to recommend invasive ventilation for adolescents with Rett syndrome, parental and familial support are the biggest factors in their decision, a recent study reports. Many teenagers with Rett syndrome have difficulty breathing, and clinicians for some may recommend invasive ventilation via a tracheostomy…

FDA moves to support TSHA-102, potential Rett gene therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given a regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation to TSHA-102, an experimental gene therapy for Rett syndrome. RMAT is given to regenerative medicines — cell therapies, therapeutic tissues, human cell and tissue products, or any combination using such therapies or products…

1st child dosed with gene therapy TSHA-102 in REVEAL trial

The first girl with Rett syndrome has been given the experimental gene therapy TSHA-102 in a clinical trial, according to the treatment’s developer, Taysha Gene Therapies. “Dosing the first pediatric patient with Rett syndrome marks an important step forward in our efforts to broaden the clinical evaluation…

Brain stimulation leads to sustained memory benefits in Rett mice

Electrically stimulating a specific region of the brain led to improvements in memory in a mouse model of Rett syndrome — and these benefits persisted for several weeks after the brain stimulation was stopped, a new study reports. Repeated brain stimulation could promote even longer-term memory improvements, according to…