In only 50% of all patients affected by mental retardation (MR), a cause for the disorder can be identified. This percentage is kept low by the lack of good diagnostic tests for most forms of MR.

For X-linked MR (MRX) there are no diagnostic tests available at all. This keeps the cause of the disease unclear, while clarity is badly needed. Not just for the prognosis and treatment of the patient (which is all important in itself), but also for genetic counselling of family members involved.

The main goal of the EURO-MRX project is therefore to increase the possibilities for DNA diagnostics for MRX (to read about the other goals, please see the project page). We expect that our research will lead to at least twice as much diagnoses of MRX as are possible today.