Down Syndrome Research Expanding Across the U.S.

The University of Arizona announced it has received more than $1 million in grant funding over the past four years as its Down Syndrome Research Group works toward being a leader in Down syndrome research. The funding came from the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation and Research Down Syndrome.

At the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, our primary focus is funding the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the Anschutz Medical Campus, and we’re encouraged by the expansion of research efforts across the U.S. and excited to see what comes out of the new efforts and the potential for collaboration. Because Down syndrome is the least-funded genetic condition by the National Institutes of Health, it is crucial to show that the need, desire and support exist to fund more research.

At the University of Arizona, faculty, staff and students will focus on a broad range of topics, from medical and health care issues to quality-of-life problems faced by those with Down syndrome and their families.

Like the Crnic Institute, which recently added renowned scientist Huntington Potter to focus on the link between Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome, the University of Arizona plans to give a lot of attention to that issue. Studies show that one the main genes responsible for Alzheimer’s disease is on the 21st chromosome and is therefore more active in people with Down syndrome, who have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two.

A lot of progress has been made on care and research, but we still have a long way to go. News about this kind of funding highlights the growing support for the Down syndrome community. Let’s encourage each other to keep up the pressure for more government funding and spread the word about all the potential that research holds. You can reach our advocacy page here to learn more about how to contact your representative in Congress.

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