About FAST Dart

Journal Overview

Aims and Scope

FAST-DART (Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics – Data, Analysis, Reviews, and Techniques) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing rigorous, translational research in Angelman syndrome and related neurodevelopmental disorders.

The journal focuses on studies that deepen understanding of disease mechanisms, improve experimental rigor, and strengthen the translational bridge between preclinical research and therapeutic development. FAST-DART welcomes original research, reviews, data reports, methodological papers, and technical resources that address molecular, cellular, circuit-level, and systems-level questions relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, gene regulation and imprinting biology, synaptic development and plasticity, neural circuitry, biomarkers and outcome measures, electrophysiology, behavioral phenotyping, experimental models, and therapeutic approaches such as gene therapy, protein replacement, antisense technologies, and small-molecule strategies. Emphasis is placed on transparency, reproducibility, and the clear presentation of data that can inform future research and therapeutic decision-making.

FAST-DART is designed to serve both the research community and the broader translational ecosystem by providing a permanent, citable home for high-quality studies, including well-executed negative or confirmatory findings, standardized methods, and comparative analyses that are essential for progress but often underrepresented in traditional journals.

Scientific Focus

FAST-DART is dedicated to advancing rigorous translational research centered on Angelman syndrome while fostering cross disciplinary insights that inform the broader field of neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders. The journal prioritizes studies that clarify disease mechanisms, refine therapeutic strategies, and accelerate progress from discovery to clinical application.

Core areas of focus include UBE3A biology, genomic imprinting, synaptic plasticity, circuit level dysfunction, biomarker development including electrophysiological and molecular measures, and preclinical and clinical therapeutic platforms such as gene therapy, genome editing, antisense oligonucleotides, protein based therapeutics, and small molecule approaches. FAST-DART also welcomes work addressing regulatory science, natural history studies, outcome measure validation, and translational trial design relevant to rare central nervous system disorders.

Recognizing that many neurodevelopmental conditions share overlapping biological pathways, the journal invites submissions that extend beyond Angelman syndrome to related disorders involving ubiquitin signaling, synaptic dysfunction, imprinting abnormalities, or overlapping clinical phenotypes. Comparative studies, platform technologies, and mechanistic investigations that provide insight into broader translational applications are encouraged.

FAST-DART further supports publication of methodological advances and standardized techniques that strengthen reproducibility and scientific rigor. These include electrophysiology protocols, behavioral phenotyping approaches, multi omics platforms, gene delivery methodologies, bioinformatic pipelines, and patient derived cellular systems. By integrating disease specific expertise with broadly applicable scientific innovation, FAST-DART aims to serve both the Angelman syndrome community and the wider neurogenetic and translational neuroscience fields.