We're developing a new therapeutic that restores speech and language learning in children with disabilities and adult second language learners.

The human brain is optimized for language learning in early neurodevelopment, but unfortunately many children with disabilities like autism must endure long wait times to get a diagnosis and see a speech therapist. Similarly, many healthy adults have a strong interest in learning a second language, but their capacity for learning is no longer as high as it used to be. During the course of our academic research we discovered a novel therapeutic that restores critical period plasticity for speech and language by targeting a molecule that is much higher in adults than children, and is too high in people with autism of all ages. For people with severe disabilities, communication abilities are critical for living an independent life with as much freedom and autonomy as possible. We're creating this treatment because we believe in the transformative power of human connection that communication makes possible.