Research on Down Syndrome (DS)

NIH Research on DS

DS is one of many Research, Condition, and Disease Categories (RCDC) that NIH studies. NIH's research portfolio on DS includes efforts to understand all aspects of the condition, including related health problems and health outcomes. Visit the RCDC website for spending estimates on DS research. You can also review a listing of all DS projects funded by NIH.

In 2018, NIH launched the INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Project, an NIH-wide effort focused on understanding the health needs of people with DS and their families. The INCLUDE Project serves as an umbrella for coordinating DS research across NIH and the DS Consortium membership.

Visit INCLUDE Project: Funding to find current and past research funding opportunities, projects funded through the INCLUDE Project, and IC research priorities related to DS.

The NIH DS Working Group, DS Consortium members, and organizations and agencies with an interest in DS contributed comments and input to the INCLUDE/DS Research Plan, published in 2020. The plan will help NIH and the DS Consortium coordinate DS research resources and meet INCLUDE Project research goals.

In addition to the INCLUDE Project, these NIH-funded ongoing activities study aspects of DS:

DS Research from Other Consortium Members

Some members of the DS Consortium also conduct research on DS, while others focus on providing services and support to people with DS and their families. Visit the following DS Consortium member websites to learn about their DS-related research: