diff --git a/ftpSummaryStatsScript/depo_ftp_to_staging.py b/ftpSummaryStatsScript/depo_ftp_to_staging.py
index 2b7b22c..4c83386 100644
--- a/ftpSummaryStatsScript/depo_ftp_to_staging.py
+++ b/ftpSummaryStatsScript/depo_ftp_to_staging.py
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
 # in case of latency for writing the file.
 
 MOD_THRESHOLD_SEC = 3600 
-#MOD_THRESHOLD_SEC = 36 # DEV ONLY
+# DEV ONLY
+# MOD_THRESHOLD_SEC = 36
 RANGE_SIZE = 1000
 
 
@@ -55,24 +56,42 @@ def rm_dir(path) -> None:
     """
     logger.info(f"Removing path: {path}")
     shutil.rmtree(path=path)
-    
+
 
 def sync_files(source_dir, staging_dir):
-    dirs_to_sync = get_dirs_to_sync(source_dir)
+    try:
+        dirs_to_sync = get_dirs_to_sync(source_dir)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error getting directories to sync: {e}")
+        return
+
     logger.debug(dirs_to_sync)
     for study in dirs_to_sync:
-        basename = os.path.basename(study)
-        gcst_regex = re.search(r'GCST[0-9]+', basename)
-        gcst = gcst_regex.group(0) if gcst_regex else None
+        try:
+            basename = os.path.basename(study)
+            gcst_regex = re.search(r'GCST[0-9]+', basename)
+            gcst = gcst_regex.group(0) if gcst_regex else None
+        except AttributeError:
+            logger.error("Regex match failed, skipping.")
+            continue
+
         if gcst:
             logger.debug(gcst)
-            gcst_range = get_gcst_range(gcst)
-            gcst_range_dir = os.path.join(staging_dir, gcst_range)
-            dest = gcst_range_dir + "/"
-            make_dir(gcst_range_dir)
-            logger.info("Sync {} --> {}".format(study, dest))
-            subprocess.call(['rsync', '-prvh','--chmod=Du=rwx,Dg=rwx,Do=rx,Fu=rw,Fg=rw,Fo=r', study, dest])
-            rm_dir(path=study)
+            try:
+                gcst_range = get_gcst_range(gcst)
+                gcst_range_dir = os.path.join(staging_dir, gcst_range)
+                dest = gcst_range_dir + "/"
+                make_dir(gcst_range_dir)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Error preparing directory {gcst_range_dir}: {e}")
+                continue
+
+            logger.info(f"Sync {study} --> {dest}")
+            try:
+                subprocess.call(['rsync', '-prvh','--chmod=Du=rwx,Dg=rwx,Do=rx,Fu=rw,Fg=rw,Fo=r', study, dest])
+                rm_dir(path=study)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Error syncing or removing {study}: {e}")
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/ftpSummaryStatsScript/ftp_sync.py b/ftpSummaryStatsScript/ftp_sync.py
index 8192157..9591f43 100644
--- a/ftpSummaryStatsScript/ftp_sync.py
+++ b/ftpSummaryStatsScript/ftp_sync.py
@@ -165,9 +165,10 @@ def get_sumstats_status(self, get_curation_status=True):
         self.ftp_studies_dict = self._accessions_from_dirnames(self.get_ftp_contents())
         self.ftp_studies = set(self.ftp_studies_dict.keys())
 
+        # DEV ONLY
+        # self.curation_published = self.staging_studies
         if get_curation_status:
             self.curation_published = set(self.get_curation_published_list())
-        #    #self.curation_published = set(api_list.RESP) # LOCAL DEVELOPING ONLY
         logger.info("published: {}".format(self.studies_to_release_published))
 
         #((studies that are published and on staging) - any that already exist on FTP) + (recently modified and published)