Creating a mobile health platform to monitor health behaviors in young children with Down syndrome
Official title: Development of a Novel mHealth Platform to Track Health Behaviors of Young Children with Down Syndrome
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10569215 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly mobile app to help parents keep track of healthy habits in young children with Down syndrome, so they can share important information with doctors and work together to prevent obesity and promote healthier lifestyles.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | February 10, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $422,132 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD110523-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10569215 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with Down syndrome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or do not have Down syndrome may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a mobile health platform called EACH DS that will help track the health behaviors of young children with Down syndrome. By engaging caregivers, the platform will allow them to monitor behaviors linked to weight gain and share this information securely with healthcare providers. The goal is to identify specific risk factors for obesity in this population and to inform personalized treatment plans that promote healthier lifestyles. The project will utilize an iterative design process, incorporating feedback from both caregivers and clinicians to ensure the platform meets their needs effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced obesity rates among children with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using mobile health platforms for tracking health behaviors in various populations, indicating potential for this approach in children with Down syndrome.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caldwell, Angela Renee — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Caldwell, Angela Renee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Exploring how Down syndrome affects optic nerve health in kids
A study using a mouse model to understand why optic nerve problems are common in children with Down syndrome and how to prevent them.
-
Executive Function Enhancement for Young Children with Down Syndrome
A caregiver-guided program for kids with Down syndrome aged up to 11 to strengthen their thinking skills during early childhood.
-
Silencing an Extra Chromosome to Help Down Syndrome and Related Conditions
A patient-friendly plan to use a gene-based approach to quiet an extra chromosome in cells and a mouse model to reduce disease-related effects in Down syndrome and other chromosomal imbalance disorders.
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Infant Down Syndrome Brain and Behavior Study
A study of infants with Down syndrome to collect brain imaging and developmental data, creating a large, shared resource to understand how autism and other factors relate to development.
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DS-ARC: Smartphone-based cognitive check for people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed and tested for people with Down syndrome who may develop Alzheimer’s disease, to track changes quietly in daily life.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.