Clinic researchers and collaborators tie genetic variant to risk of major depressive disorder

In a published paper released today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Clinic for Special Children researchers and collaborators from Columbia University and Regeneron Genetics Center discover a rare mutation in a gene that increases the risk of major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of disability worldwide and can affect people from all communities and backgrounds. Working closely with partners at Columbia University and Regeneron Genetics Center, the Clinic for Special Children research team discovered a rare mutation in a gene called GPR156 that increases susceptibility to major depression nearly three-fold and can be passed down through the generations. We found that GPR156 is expressed in a deep part of the brain called the medial habenula, which is known to play a crucial role in behavioral responses to stress. This work deepens our understanding of the causes of depression and introduces a new target for its treatment,” shares Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, Head of Therapeutic Development at the Clinic for Special Children.

Read the paper HERE

Read the press release HERE

Register today for the 2025 Clinic for Special Children 5k!

Join us on May 17, 2025!

Runners, joggers, and walkers are invited to participate in the Clinic for Special Children 5k presented by Nemours Children’s Health – a 3.1-mile course along rolling scenic roads, winding through Lancaster County farmland, venturing past Amish schoolhouses and acres of picturesque farms. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome!

The chip-timed 5k race starts and ends near the Leola Produce Auction! After the 5k ends, we will have a kid’s color fun run for children ages 10 & under (registration required). All proceeds benefit the Clinic for Special Children. We hope you can join us!

Race Details

NEW LOCATION! | The chip-timed course starts and ends near the Leola Produce Auction (135 Brethren Church Road, Leola, PA 17540). Parking will be on-site at the Leola Produce Auction, please enter Brethren Church Road from Route 23/East Main Street.

TIMES 9:00 a.m. start for 5k race. Kid’s color fun run following the main 5k race. Race day registration for the 5k race & kid’s color fun run will open at 7:45 a.m. and close promptly at 8:45 a.m.

PACKET PICK-UP | You can pick up your bib and shirt (if applicable) on race day from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at the Leola Produce Auction (135 Brethren Church Road, Leola, PA 17540).

5K ENTRY FEES

$35 by April 21st, includes t-shirt (entry & payment must be received by April 21).

$40 after April 21st (including race day) t-shirt while supplies last.

$10 Kid’s color fun run for ages 10 & under. Kid’s color fun run to start after the end of the 5k race.

HOW TO REGISTER

1. Register online here via the ‘register’ tab.

2. Mail registration form & payment toClinic for Special Children, Attn: 5k Registration, PO Box 500, Intercourse, PA 17534. If paying via check, make payable to: Clinic for Special Children

3. Register in person on race day. Race day registration will be open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 8:45 a.m. at the Leola Produce Auction.

5k AWARDS | Medals will be awarded to the 1st overall male and female finishers. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in the following categories: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

QUESTIONS Contact us at queries@clinicforspecialchildren.org or call 717-687-9407

Race service reserves the right to cancel the race if conditions are deemed unsafe. If canceled, we will consider your registration fee a donation. No refunds, mailed awards, or t-shirts. Results and photos are to be posted on ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/events/5k. Events are subject to change due to severe weather conditions, restrictions, or unforeseen circumstances. Visit www.ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/events/5k for updates.

Insight to Diagnosis: Enjoy our Spring Newsletter!

Our first newsletter of 2025 is here!

This spring edition of the Clinic’s newsletter focuses on intellectual disabilities. We share the story of a patient who has a genetic condition that causes developmental delays, explain what intellectual disability is, and provide a preview of our benefit auction season and Clinic events for this year.

CLICK HERE to read the latest issue now!

Register for our 2025 Midwives Conference!

Birth & Beyond: Tools & Advances in Maternal & Newborn Care Conference

Clinic for Special Children’s 2025 Midwife Conference
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at the Clinic for Special Children in Gordonville, PA

*Advance registration deadline is Wednesday, April 30th*

Join us for a full-day, CME-eligible conference, which will bring together midwives who work with families at risk for rare genetic disorders. Learn more about genetic testing that impacts prenatal care, genetic conditions that can affect both mother and baby, newborn screening for hearing loss, and much more. Meet with other local prenatal health professionals to discuss ways to collectively deliver the best care for pregnant women and infants.

 

 

View the full conference brochure and agenda HERE

Register below with your credit card
or print and mail your registration form and check:

Checks made payable to: ‘Clinic for Special Children’
Mail to: Clinic for Special Children, Attn: Events, PO Box 500, Intercourse, PA 17534

2025 Midwives Conference Registration

Please fill out the form below and complete payment to register for the conference. Each attendee must be individually registered.

  • If you select 'yes' you will receive a separate email from our Event Manager, Kelly Woodson, with instructions on how to sign up to receive credits.
    If you select 'virtually' you will receive a separate email from our Event Manager, Kelly Woodson, with instructions on how to join the conference virtually.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

 

For additional questions about our conference, please contact:
Kelly Woodson, Events Manager
E-mail: events@clinicforspecialchildren.org
Phone: 717-687-9407

Downloadable 2025 Events Calendar

From auctions to online fundraisers to a community dinner, we hope that you can join us for a 2025 Clinic for Special Children event!

All events benefit the Clinic’s mission of providing accessible, affordable, and compassionate care to children and adults with rare genetic disorders.

Click HERE or on the image below to download our 2025 events calendar!

 

thumbnail of 2025 CSC Events Calendar_FINAL

Gene Therapy for Classic Maple Syrup Urine Disease Shows Promise in Mice & Cow Models

In a published paper released today in Science Translational Medicine, Clinic for Special Children researchers and scientists from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School developed a dual-function gene replacement therapy that demonstrated restored metabolic activity in mice and a cow model of the two common genetic forms of maple syrup urine disease.

 

Read the paper HERE

Read the press release HERE

Tours of the Clinic for Special Children

Interested in touring the Clinic for Special Children and seeing our behind-the-scenes work? Join us for a tour! We will be offering these tours throughout the year. Space is limited for each tour time, so sign up today! You are welcome to bring guests with you and include them in your party when you sign up.

SIGN UP FOR A TOUR HERE

For more information or any questions, please contact Kelly Cullen, Marketing & Communications Manager, at 717-687-9407 or kcullen@clinicforspecialchildren.org.

A New Year’s Letter from our Executive Director

Friends,
Looking back on 2024, it was a year of great change for the Clinic as we ‘put down new roots’ in our new neighborhood of Gordonville, PA. Amid the changes, our dedicated staff continued the Clinic’s daily work without disruption or delay. As we look ahead, we continue to see increased, patient-driven demand in all areas of the Clinic: clinical care, in-house laboratory services, and patient-focused research.

Our ongoing work of caring for families when they need us most, finding diagnostic answers, and searching for new treatments is only possible with the continued support of many people like you. With your steadfast support, the roots of our work will continue to grow deeper and our branches higher.

Sincerely,

Adam D. Heaps, MS, MBA
Executive Director