Studies which are Now Recruiting

Do you want to participate in research? These organizations and institutions are looking for individuals with Down syndrome to join their studies. Pick a study you’re interested in to learn more and see if you meet the eligibility requirements. If you qualify, reach out to the study team today!

Boy with Down syndrome hugging his mother
Study of Potential Therapies for Down Syndrome Regression Disorder
Joaquin Espinosa, PhD, Elise Sannar, MD, Jonathan Santoro, MD
Denver, CO and Los Angeles, CA
8 to 30 years old
Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD) is a rare condition that can affect adolescents and adults with Down syndrome, resulting in the loss of language, adaptive skills, and social behaviors. This study will look at the safety and effectiveness of three different possible therapies for DSRD: lorazepam, IVIG, and tofacitinib.

Adult holding a very young infant with Down syndrome
Moving Forward: Early Predictors of Crawling and Walking in Infants with Down Syndrome
Ashley Collimore, PhD
Virtual in the United States
Infants younger than 4 months old (adjusted for prematurity)
This observational study will help researchers better understand the everyday movements and activities of infants with Down syndrome and track their motor skills over time.

Woman sitting at a table with man with Down syndrome
Healthy Aging and Neurodevelopment in Down Syndrome (HANDS)
Jennifer Bruno, PhD
Stanford, CA
8 to 65 years old
This study investigates brain changes related to development in children and adults with Down syndrome.

Woman with Down syndrome laughing with friends
Trial-Ready Cohort-Down Syndrome (TRC-DS): Clinical Trial Volunteers for Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Multiple principal investigators
Multiple locations in the United States
25 to 55 years old
The Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium-Down Syndrome (ACTC-DS) invites you to participate in the Trial-Ready Cohort-Down Syndrome (TRC-DS). TRC-DS is a community of potential clinical trial volunteers who could help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Woman with Down syndrome and her parent looking at a laptop
Study About At-Home Language Testing
Leonard Abbeduto, PhD
Virtual
12 to 35 years old
Our team is looking for ways to help English and Spanish speaking families be part of future treatment studies without the need to travel to a clinic or research center.

Infant with Down syndrome using a mobility device with a researcher
Understanding How Infants with Down Syndrome Learn to Walk with Support from Mobility Devices
Kari Kretch PT, DPT, PhD
Los Angeles, CA
10 to 22 months old
The goal of this study is to learn how the ability to walk with mobility devices develops in infants and toddlers with Down syndrome, which will guide the design of early interventions to support walking development.

Child with Down syndrome smiling and sitting at the table with her family
Understanding Differences in Thinking, Learning, and Behavior for Individuals with Down Syndrome
Lisa Jacola, PhD, ABPP-CN
Virtual
All ages
The goal of this study is to learn about differences in thinking, learning, and behavior for individuals with Down syndrome with and without a history of childhood cancer; we are recruiting caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome and no history of childhood cancer for this part of the study.

Man with Down syndrome sitting at a table completing study activities
Speech, Language and Swallowing in Individuals with Down Syndrome
Krista M. Wilkinson, PhD
State College, PA
18 to 40 years old
This study aims to teach us how to improve services for individuals with Down syndrome who find it hard to be understood through speech and/or experience regular problems with choking on food or liquid. We also seek to understand how the brain helps to control swallowing and speech production.

Woman with Down syndrome and her mom smiling and high-fiving in front of a laptop
Improving Memory in Teens and Young Adults with Down Syndrome
Jaclyn H. Ford, PhD
Virtual
15 to 25 years old
This is a VIRTUAL three-month intervention study of the effects of a smartphone application (HippoCamera) on personal event memory in teens and young adults with Down syndrome.

Man with Down syndrome talking with a researcher at a table
Empowering Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome to Advocate for Their Health (LEAD-DS)
Andrea Kelly, MD MSCE
Philadelphia, PA or Virtual
14 years old and up
The study’s goal is to improve the way we engage individuals with Down syndrome in conversations about healthcare and empower them in medical decision-making.

Mom smiling and holding her daughter with Down syndrome
Parent Survey to Understand Challenging Behaviors in Down Syndrome
Anna J. Esbensen PhD, FAPA, FAAIDD
Virtual
2 to 17 years old
Caregivers of children with Down syndrome 2 to 17 years old are invited to complete a survey helping develop the first-ever tool measuring challenging behavior that is specifically made FOR children with Down syndrome and created WITH the Down syndrome community.

Woman with Down syndrome working in a grocery store
Project ASPIRE - Assessing Skills that Predict Independence and Readiness for Employment
Nancy Raitano Lee, PhD and Gregory Wallace, PhD
Philadelphia, PA
22 to 35 years old
Researchers at Drexel University are conducting a study to understand more about cognitive and behavioral factors that are associated with vocational outcomes and independent living skills among young adults with Down syndrome.