Understanding how cerebrospinal fluid affects brain development in infants with Down Syndrome.
Official title: The Role of CSF Dynamics in Infant Brain and Behavioral Development in Down Syndrome and Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10906946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the fluid around the brain affects the development of babies with Down Syndrome and similar conditions, hoping to find early signs of any issues so that we can help these children grow healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $134,023 |
| NIH project number | 5K01HD109445-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants diagnosed with Down Syndrome or related neurodevelopmental disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than infancy or do not have neurodevelopmental disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics in the brain development of infants, particularly those with Down Syndrome and related neurodevelopmental disorders. By utilizing advanced neuroimaging techniques and clinical assessments, the study aims to identify early signs of brain pathology during critical growth periods in infancy. The goal is to understand how CSF flow impacts brain health and to develop targeted interventions that could improve outcomes for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier interventions that significantly improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes for infants with Down Syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: While research on CSF dynamics in adults has shown promising results, this approach in infants with neurodevelopmental disorders is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garic, Dea — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Garic, Dea
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how cerebrospinal fluid affects brain development in infants with Down Syndrome.
This study is looking at how the fluid around the brain affects the growth and development of babies with Down Syndrome and similar conditions, to help find ways to support their brain health as they grow.
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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.
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.