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Familial dysautonomia (FD) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease that affects the development and survival of sensory and autonomic neurons. FD is caused by an mRNA splicing mutation in intron 20 of the  IKBKAP  gene that results in a tissue-specific skipping of exon 20 and a corresponding reduction of the inhibitor of kappaB kinase complex-associated protein (IKAP), also known as Elongator complex protein 1. To date, several promising therapeutic candidates for FD have been identified that target the underlying mRNA splicing defect, and increase functional IKAP protein. Despite these remarkable advances in drug discovery for FD, we lacked a phenotypic mouse model in which we could manipulate  IKBKAP  mRNA splicing to evaluate potential efficacy. We have, therefore, engineered a new mouse model that, for the first time, will permit to evaluate the phenotypic effects of splicing modulators and provide a crucial platform for preclinical testing of new therapies. This new mouse model,  TgFD9; Ikbkap  Δ 20/flox   was created by introducing the complete human  IKBKAP  transgene with the major FD splice mutation ( TgFD9 ) into a mouse that expresses extremely low levels of endogenous  Ikbkap  ( Ikbkap  Δ 20/flox  ). The  TgFD9; Ikbkap  Δ 20/flox   mouse recapitulates many phenotypic features of the human disease, including reduced growth rate, reduced number of fungiform papillae, spinal abnormalities, and sensory and sympathetic impairments, and recreates the same tissue-specific mis-splicing defect seen in FD patients. This is the first mouse model that can be used to evaluate  in vivo  the therapeutic effect of increasing IKAP levels by correcting the underlying FD splicing defect.

Sensory and autonomic deficits in a new humanized mouse model of familial dysautonomia