Fragile X research is seriously underfunded. In 1997, a group of parents and professionals decided to do something about it. Understanding both the suffering that Fragile X syndrome can cause and, more importantly, the many reasons for optimism and hope through advances in research, they founded the Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada (FXRFC), which is a national non-profit, tax-exempt organization administered by volunteers, all of whom are parents and health professionals. FXRFC directly funds promising research aimed at treatment. Applications for research grants and postdoctoral fellowships are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed annually.