Tracking breathing health in children with Down syndrome using oscillometry
Official title: Tracking Respiratory Health with Oscillometry in Children with Down Syndrome
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11430565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests a kid-friendly way to monitor lung health in children with Down syndrome to prevent and better manage respiratory infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $627,239 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL188826-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with Down syndrome, including those with a history of swallowing difficulties or aspiration risk, who can participate in noninvasive lung measurements.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Down syndrome or those unable to participate in noninvasive lung measurements may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project focuses on children with Down syndrome who are at higher risk for lung problems and aspiration during infections. It aims to use oscillometry, a simple lung-measurement method, to track airway health even when traditional spirometry is hard for patients. By collecting data over several years, researchers hope to identify patterns that predict respiratory complications and guide better care. The study is designed to be feasible in real-world clinical settings, with a focus on improving lifelong lung health for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to easier, more reliable monitoring of lung health for children with Down syndrome and help prevent serious respiratory problems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows oscillometry can be used in pediatric lung assessments and may be informative in special populations, but targeted evidence in Down syndrome is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Katharine Hamlington — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Smith, Katharine Hamlington
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Executive Function Enhancement for Young Children with Down Syndrome
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Silencing an Extra Chromosome to Help Down Syndrome and Related Conditions
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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.