Looking for clinical trials on DS?
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of NIH, maintains the https://clinicaltrials.gov website as a centralized way of finding clinical trials that are ongoing, recruiting participants, and completed with results. The site includes trials being conducted by NIH, by other government agencies and offices, and by health care and family organizations.
Use our search function to find active clinical trials on DS funded or conducted by NIH.
What are clinical trials and clinical research?
Clinical research is research that directly involves a particular person or group of people, or that uses materials from humans, such as their behavior or samples of their tissue.
A clinical trial is one type of clinical research that follows a pre-defined plan or protocol. By taking part in clinical trials, participants can not only play a more active role in their own health care, but also can access new treatments and help others by contributing to medical research.
NIH and other agencies and organizations conduct clinical research and clinical trials on a broad range of topics, including Down syndrome and health conditions related to DS.
Thinking about taking part in a clinical trial? Wondering if it's safe for your family member to get involved?
Visit the NIH Clinical Research Trials and You website. The site offers information about clinical research and clinical trials that can be helpful to people who want to get involved in clinical trials. It also provides answers to common questions about clinical research for those who aren't quite sure whether they or their family member should take part.
The NLM also provides information about clinical trials, including frequently asked questions, videos, tutorials, journal articles, references, and other clinical trial-related information.
Through the INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Project, NIH hosted events related to clinical trials and ways to improve diversity among trial participants. Learn more about these activities at INCLUDE Project: Events.
Additionally, several NIH institutes, centers, and offices offer information about what it’s like to participate in clinical trials, what participants and families can expect, and other resources:
- National Cancer Institute: Clinical Trials Information for Patients and Caregivers
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: A Participant’s Guide to Clinical Trials
- National Institute of Mental Health: Clinical Trials – Information for Participants
- National Institute on Aging: Clinical Trials & Studies
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Clinical Studies