Investigating bone health in individuals with Down Syndrome
Official title: Understanding the skeleton in Down Syndrome
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11092320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bone health works in people with Down Syndrome, especially how bones heal and grow, to find better ways to help them stay strong and healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $585,837 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD102909-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with Down Syndrome who may be experiencing issues related to bone density and fracture healing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Down Syndrome or those who do not have concerns related to bone health may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind low bone turnover and fracture healing in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS). By studying both human and mouse models, the research aims to identify how specific cellular pathways affect bone density and healing processes. The project will explore the role of a protein called RCAN1 in regulating bone cell activity and assess the impact of current treatments on bone health in DS. Ultimately, the findings could lead to improved strategies for managing bone health in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better treatments and interventions for improving bone health and fracture healing in individuals with Down Syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on bone health in Down Syndrome is relatively novel, similar studies have shown success in understanding bone health in other populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Suva, Larry J. — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Suva, Larry J.
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.
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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.
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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.