Clinical Research Directory

I-Tracking Neurodegeneration in Early Wolfram Syndrome

Wolfram syndrome (WFS; OMIM #222300) is a rare autosomal recessive disease clinically defined in 1938 as the combination of childhood-onset insulin dependent diabetes, optic nerve atrophy, diabetes insipidus and deafness. Based on early descriptions, neurological features were thought to appear later in the disease with death occurring in middle adulthood. Importantly, the major causative gene (WFS1) was identified in 1998. This discovery allowed researchers to determine that the WFS1 gene encodes the protein wolframin, which helps protect cells from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis, potentially via intracellular calcium homeostasis. Pathogenic mutations in WFS1 can result in death or dysfunction of cells that are under high ER stress, such as insulin-producing pancreatic β cells, causing insulin dependent diabetes. In addition, knowing the causative gene has allowed researchers to identify patients by their WFS1 mutation rather than the classic set of symptoms, leading to the increasing realization that the WFS1-related phenotype (including neurologic symptoms) is much more variable than previously understood. The first iteration of this grant (HD070855 "Tracking Neurodegeneration in Early Wolfram Syndrome") contributed to this shift in understanding. In this time, the research team has built a successful annual research clinic for WFS, that has met or exceeded recruitment goals for patients and controls, validated a clinical severity rating scale for WFS, described an unexpectedly early neurophenotype of reduced balance, smell identification and ventral pons volume, identified alterations in traditional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics that suggest hypomyelination as a pervasive neuropathological feature of WFS and provided justification for the selection of two primary outcomes (visual acuity and ventral pons volume) in a newly funded clinical efficacy study in WFS (Barrett, PI).

Efficacy and Safety Trial of Sodium Valproate, in Paediatric and Adult Patients With Wolfram Syndrome

This trial aims to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of sodium valproate in the treatment of patients with Wolfram syndrome. 70 paediatric and adult patients were initially planned to be randomised 2:1 to receive either sodium valproate or placebo at 6 international centres. 63 patients were recruited when a decision was made to stop the study recruitment in November 2022.

AMX0035 in Adult Patients With Wolfram Syndrome

This study is an open label Phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AMX0035 in adults with Wolfram syndrome.

Mechanisms of Fecal Incontinence in Wolfram Syndrome

In order to clarify the mechanism of fecal incontinence in in Wolfram syndrome and to characterize its risk factors, the examiner will reviewed the files of patients followed in a Reference Center for Rare Diseases in Ophthalmology.

Wolfram Syndrome and WFS1-related Disorders International Registry and Clinical Study

In this study, the investigators hypothesize that studying monogenic variants with strong effect associated with severe insulin deficiency of Wolfram syndrome will provide important insights into the more complex type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Aim 1. Establish and maintain a registry of patients with Wolfram syndrome. An Internet based registry will be employed to enroll participants with the clinical diagnosis of Wolfram syndrome (insulin dependent DM and bilateral OA). Clinical information regarding age of diagnosis and progression of the disease will be collated and analyzed to better define its natural history, along with potential metabolic phenotypes such as glucose intolerance of heterozygous parents and unaffected sibs. If not already completed, blood for WFS1 sequence analysis will be obtained on the participants (parents and sibs also for control purposes) and sent to a CLIA certified lab to define the mutation. This information will benefit patient families and referring physicians by providing a genetic diagnosis and where indicated. The Wolfram Syndrome Registry will foster international collaborations to more efficiently and systematically collect Wolfram syndrome patients and their clinical and experimental data.

Monogenic Diabetes Misdiagnosed as Type 1

The study has two aims: 1. To (1a) determine the frequency of monogenic diabetes misdiagnosed as type 1 diabetes (T1D) and (2) to define an algorithm for case selection. 2. To discover novel genes whose mutations cause monogenic diabetes misdiagnosed as T1D.