The University of Oklahoma team led by Sanjay Bidichandani received a $2.8 million Department of Defense grant to investigate genotype diversity in Friedrich’s ataxia. Using long-read sequencing, the team discovered complex variations in GAA triplet repeats in the FXN gene, challenging previous assumptions of uniform expansion. Approximately 30% of patients with irregular GAA sequences may experience milder disease progression. Findings could impact diagnosis accuracy, carrier testing, and clinical trial interpretations for this rare neuromuscular disorder.