Family in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, hopeful for breakthrough research funded by Eagles Autism Foundation
Four-year-old Fiona Vanderhoof, who enjoys her trampoline in Norristown, has faced many challenges; she was diagnosed with a severe form of autism.
"A genetic test confirmed she has Dup15q syndrome, which is caused by an extra piece of a chromosome," said mom Jackie Vanderhoof.
Fiona Vanderhoof is developmentally delayed and mostly nonverbal.
"It's tough, it's devastating. ... It didn't ruin our lives. We love Fiona, she is the light of our lives," said Jackie Vanderhoof. "She is an absolute beacon of hope for us."
A lot of that hope comes from this research at the University of Connecticut.
Using blood cells from Fiona Vanderhoof, autism researcher Dr. Eric Levine is using groundbreaking new technology to reprogram them into neurons that mirror her brain cells. That allows him to explore possible causes of autism and find better treatments.
"So the cells can be used for discovering what's wrong and also as a screen for seeing what drugs or other medicines might be effective at reversing it," said Levine.
Levine's research is partially funded by the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation.
"The stuff that they do is incredible," said Jackie Vanderhoof. "I'm just so appreciative of what the Eagles Autism Foundation has done."
"To potentially change the trajectory of their lives collectively is just really special," said Ryan Hammond, executive director of the Eagles Autism Foundation. "Jeffrey Lurie founded the Eagles Autism Foundation not only to drive millions of dollars to fund research, but more importantly, to bring a community together," Hammond said.
It's providing new hope for this family, which is forever grateful to their favorite team.
The Eagles Autism Challenge is coming up on May 17. It's a one-day bike ride and 5K to raise awareness and money.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
UConn students bike across the country for suicide prevention
FARMINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Two University of Connecticut medical students flew to Seattle on Tuesday with no return flight booked, as the pair plans to bike back to their home state while raising money for suicide prevention. James Marks, 25, of Guilford, and Zach Giguere, 23, of Windsor began their summer cross-country bike trek as part of a two-decades-long UConn tradition that raises money and awareness for a specific cause. This year, the duo plans to raise awareness for suicide prevention, donating money toward advancing mental health research. Hamden school raises money for cancer research at 'Saint Baldrick's' event Their cause to prevent suicide is deeply personal to Marks. 'I lost my Dad,' Marks said. 'I am glad I can do this journey to raise awareness.' Giguere finds it critically important to raise greater awareness of the importance of mental health. 'Recently after COVID, I have seen more people struggling with anxiety and depression,' Giguere said. 'Research into these topics and supporting people who are really struggling is so important.' Suicide Prevention Month: How to get help during a mental health crisis Every year, more than 700,000 people die by suicide worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Mental health research and resources often lack the funding and attention they desperately need, the UConn students said. 'We believe that investing in suicide prevention—through research, crisis support, and accessible mental health care—can save lives,' they said. 'We are committed to raising awareness, advocating for change, and ensuring that no one feels alone in their struggle.' The two classmates' coast-to-coast trip is planned for a total of 48 days. 'A few days in, we are still on track, but we know the first few weeks will be the toughest,' Giguere said, who will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday. 'I have never been out West before,' Giguere said. 'I always wanted to see all of the U.S. This is the absolute best opportunity to do so!' Mark shared the same sentiment. 'It's beautiful out here!' he said. 'We did our biggest bike climbs yet in the Cascades here in Washington state even climbing up Washington Pass with its 5,500-foot elevation. It's really hard but everything of America we have seen so far, has incredible views.' Only a few days into the trek, both riders have witnessed the spirit of the American people over and over. Bridgeport 'painting the city blue' ahead of Swim Across the Sound fundraiser 'Everyone and every town we encounter are really kind and are excited to hear what we are doing,' Marks said. 'We were blessed when a stranger's truck stopped to give us Gatorade. Americans are extremely nice out here.' Their Coast-2-Coast journey can be followed on Instagram @_coast2coast25_ and you can donate to the duo's cause by clicking on this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Study finds football fan rituals can create emotional mob mentality
By Stephen Beech Football fans get more emotional in pre-match rituals than during the actual game, suggests new research. The study of Brazilian football supporters showed that the intense feelings of joy, unity and excitement that fans experience can be less about the game and more about coming together. The only time fans' emotions exceeded the "high" of the pre-match gathering was when their team scored a goal, according to the findings. The study was led by Dimitris Xygalatas, a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut and a lifelong soccer fan. Xygalatas says that when his hometown team PAOK won the Greek Super League for the first time in 34 years in 2019, he cried tears of joy, adding: "Not what you might call a rational organism's behavior." But his emotional reaction was in keeping with the findings of the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Xygalatas said: "Rituals are the kinds of things that, at first glance, don't make any sense in terms of human behavior, but are deeply meaningful to people." With the cooperation of die-hard Brazilian footie fans, Xygalatas and his team tracked the physiological arousal of fans before, during, and after a state championship final in Minas Gerais between local rival clubs. Using wearable heart monitors, they measured the emotional reactions of fans during the ritual of Rua de Fogo - "Street of Fire" - during which crowds gather near the stadium to welcome the team's bus. As it arrives, fans light flares, smoke bombs, and fireworks, wave flags, and chant to boost team morale and unify supporters. The research team fitted participants with EKG monitors hidden beneath their clothing. The devices measured heart rate fluctuations, which is an indicator of emotional arousal, as fans participated in the pre-game celebration, entered the stadium, and watched the match unfold. The research team found that the levels of shared excitement, or what the scientists call "collective effervescence," peaked not during the match itself, but during the pre-game fan rituals. Only when the home team scored a goal did the physiological markers exceed the emotional high of the pre-match gathering. Xygalatas said, "What we see is that, in fact, the pre-game ritual generates more emotional synchrony than the game itself. "There's a single moment in the entire game when they have more collective emotional synchrony than the pre-game ritual, and that's when they scored a goal." The findings underscore Xygalatas' broader work to understand how ritual shapes human behavior and identity. He said, "Rituals are the kinds of things that, at first glance, don't make any sense in terms of human behavior, but are deeply meaningful to people." His previous research has taken him to remote firewalking ceremonies and intense religious festivals. But he said football offers a "unique laboratory" as it's a "global obsession" that's rich in ritual and pageantry, but largely free from political or religious ideology. The physiological data from the new study showed that the ritualistic gathering that happens before a ball is even kicked produced "sustained arousal levels" comparable to the game itself. Xygalatas said, "People attribute a lot of meaning to sports. "Sports generate billions and billions of dollars globally, and they take up so much of people's attention. "And the reason they do that is not just because of what's happening on the pitch. It's because of these ritualized interactions that occur among the fans." He says the implications of the findings may extend beyond sports as ritualized group behaviors, such as concerts, religious ceremonies, or political rallies, may "powerfully shape" people's emotions and even their beliefs. Xygalatas said, "By going to these events, we're actually shaping our beliefs. "So sports is not just an excuse for people to get together. It's a driver of identity." He recalled, as a young man growing up in Thessaloniki, Greece, how one day he was wearing his team's scarf in the wrong neighborhood when he was ambushed by four men and brutally attacked. Xygalatas said the incident echoes the fatal beating of a 19-year-old in his hometown years later, also over team allegiance. He said: "I felt a blow to my head from behind, and next thing I knew, there were four men beating me, kicking me on the head, everywhere. "The reason I was able to escape is that another group of men was turning the corner, wearing my insignia, so they chased them away." Xygalatas says football is the only sport that regularly leads to deadly violence, a fact that leagues and governing bodies such as FIFA should take seriously. He says it's in the best interest of clubs to strike a balance between building loyalty, which Europeans and South Americans are excellent at doing, and making it safe for people to participate in. However, Xygalatas is not advocating for less passion and he hopes his work helps people understand why they care so deeply in the first place. He added: "If we look at what makes us human, we realize that it's our ability and our need to derive meaning from things that seem meaningless." The post Study finds football fan rituals can create emotional mob mentality appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- CBS News
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie donates $50 million to CHOP, Penn Medicine to establish Lurie Autism Institute
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is donating $50 million to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to support a new autism research initiative, the team and the institutions announced Tuesday. Lurie's contribution will establish the Lurie Autism Institute, which will work to "find quicker and better answers for children and adults living with this complex condition," Madeline Bell, CEO of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told PennToday. According to Penn Medicine, the gift is the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan. Eagles mascot Swoop in sensory earmuffs and a mask. The LAI will work to improve understanding of the genetics and other processes underlying autism, study how behaviors on the spectrum grow and evolve across the lifespan, use AI to analyze data to identify new treatment targets and existing drugs that could be repurposed for autism and run clinical trials "that prioritize both behavioral and pharmacological interventions for [autism spectrum disorder]," Penn said. There will be an international search to appoint a founding director for the Institute — "a visionary leader with clinical and scientific expertise who will help drive its innovative mission forward." Lurie established the Eagles Autism Foundation in 2018. Lurie's mother, Nancy Lurie Marks, and her namesake foundation established the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2009. "We are honored to be part of making the Lurie Autism Institute possible because we know how much remains to be discovered about the nature of autism; the educational, social, and life issues for individuals and families with autism; and for society's understanding of autism," said Nancy Lurie Marks. A formal announcement of today's contribution will take place at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Pavilion at 12 p.m.
