My research focuses on determining the role of Fragile X protein in heart disease. Fragile X has been linked to heart muscle development and function in a variety of animal models. However the molecular role of Fragile X in the heart has yet to be determined. I hypothesize that Fragile X protein, which regulates the expression of many critical proteins, is required during development to regulate structural integrity and proper functional properties. With heart disease claiming about 600,000 lives in the United States alone every year, my goal is to understand how certain proteins, like Fragile X, can contribute to the progression of heart disease and what therapies can be established to reduce the occurrences.