How Down syndrome changes brain development and plasticity
Supplement to TR01 Human cortical development and neural plasticity altered by trisomy 21
Researchers will read many kinds of RNA from brains affected by Down syndrome to find molecular differences that could explain thinking and learning challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324832 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on the brains of people with Down syndrome to learn which neurons and synapses grow differently and when those changes happen. The team will use bulk RNA sequencing to capture RNA species that single-cell methods can miss, and combine those results with existing single-cell data. The goal is to uncover gene-regulation changes during development that contribute to cognitive differences. All data will be shared through the NIH INCLUDE Data Coordinating Center so other researchers can use it to speed progress.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with Down syndrome (or families willing to donate biological samples or data) whose samples can be included in the study or related datasets.
Not a fit: People without Down syndrome or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly, since this is basic biology and data-generation rather than a clinical therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets and biological pathways that guide future therapies to improve learning and memory in people with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: Prior single-cell and transcriptomic studies have pointed to reduced neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in Down syndrome, and this bulk-RNA approach is a complementary, somewhat novel way to capture additional RNA signals.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhattacharyya, Anita — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Bhattacharyya, Anita
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 below.