Hi Gretchen,
Families who have a child (grades 2-8) who has dyslexia or a specific 
reading disability may apply.  Yes, we need families for this study.  We 
have just begun recruiting this summer. Our goal is to include 500 
families in the study.  If a family is interested  in participating in 
the Genetics Study, they should contact me at bakan at psy.fsu.edu or call 
1-866-290-0510. Please include a mailing address in the e-mail.  We will 
send a Consent Form and Application to the family.  If a family needs 
assistance completing the Application, we can conduct it as a telephone 
interview so they do not need to write the responses.  Then we will 
contact the family again in early 2009 when we begin the DNA collection 
portion of the study.  DNA collection involves submitting a sample of 
saliva through the mail.  Families will receive a gift card to a major 
retail store after completing the application and after submitting a 
saliva sample.
Thank you for your interest.
Megan

Gretchen Giuffre wrote:

> Relating to the family genetic study:  How are these families selected 

> for the study?  Are more families needed, and if a family is 

> interested in participating, what should they do? 

> Thank you!

>  

> On Sep 22, 2008, at 12:05 PM, Megan Bakan wrote:

>

>> Research is a hunt for the truth. Research is a process through which we 

>> attempt to achieve systematically and with the support of data the 

>> answer to a question, the resolution of a problem, or the greater 

>> understanding of a phenomenon. 

>> (www.geocities.com/Athens/3238/page3-15.htm 

>> <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/3238/page3-15.htm> 8/28/08) This is 

>> not to say 

>> that any one research study provides a definitive answer. However, 

>> through numerous studies we begin to see patterns and evidence 

>> concerning the question at hand.

>>

>> In the past decade we have gained a greater understanding of how people 

>> learn to read and why some people have difficulty learning to read. Yet, 

>> some individuals still struggle to learn to read and spell in spite of 

>> having received the best available instruction. This is why more 

>> research is still needed to understand dyslexia. The Dyslexia Research 

>> Registry’s role is to link families with a history of dyslexia to 

>> research projects.

>>

>> How has research influenced identification, assessment and instruction 

>> for individuals with LDs such as dyslexia?

>> What research has been the most influential in your work?

>>

>>

>>

>> The first project for which we are recruiting families is a Genetics 

>> study. Families often report that more than one family member had 

>> difficulty learning to read. Some causes of reading difficulty are 

>> inherited others are environmental. This study focuses on the inherited 

>> factors.

>>

>> In this study we will be collecting genes from three biologically 

>> related family members. One or more of these family members needs to 

>> have a diagnosis of dyslexia/reading disability. Genes will be collected 

>> through a saliva sample that each person will submit. Saliva contains 

>> the DNA and genes that get passed down from our relatives. Genes work 

>> like instruction manuals for our cells. Genes tell our bodies and brains 

>> how to react the things in our world.

>>

>> In this study we are not looking for a “dyslexia gene”. It is unlikely 

>> that one gene causes dyslexia. Rather, we are looking for combinations 

>> of genes that influence reading related processes, such as phonological 

>> processing, that are critical to learning to read. This information may 

>> help us to identify children at risk of reading difficulties at younger 

>> ages. In addition, these studies may shed light on variability in the 

>> degree of reading disability that individuals with dyslexia experience.

>>

>> -- 

>> Megan M. Bakan Ph.D.

>> Florida State University

>> Department of Psychology

>> Room 418B

>> 1107 W. Call Street

>> Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301

>> FSU Office (850)644-4563

>> Toll Free: 1-866-290-2456

>> Home Office (850)216-0510

>>

>> The Dyslexia Research Registry

>> Improving Reading, Improving Learning, Improving Lives

>> www.fsuld.org

>>

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>> National Institute for Literacy

>> Learning Disabilities mailing list

>> LearningDisabilities at nifl.gov <mailto:LearningDisabilities at nifl.gov>

>> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilities

>> Email delivered to ggiuffre at chartwell.org <mailto:ggiuffre at chartwell.org>

>>

>

> Gretchen Giuffre

> Gretchen Giuffre 

> Advisor, Center for Advancement of Language & Literacy

> Chartwell School 

> 2511 Numa Watson Road 

> Seaside, CA  93955 

> (831) 394-3468 ext 1012 

> (831) 394-7991 fax 

> (831) 334-7323 cell

> _ggiuffre at chartwell.org_ <mailto:ggiuffre at chartwell.org>

> www.chartwell.org

>

>  

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Learning Disabilities mailing list

> LearningDisabilities at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilities

> Email delivered to bakan at psy.fsu.edu


-- 
Megan M. Bakan Ph.D.
Florida State University
Department of Psychology
Room 418B
1107 W. Call Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301
FSU Office (850)644-4563
Toll Free: 1-866-290-2456
Home Office (850)216-0510

The Dyslexia Research Registry
Improving Reading, Improving Learning, Improving Lives
www.fsuld.org