Understanding how chromosome 21 nondisjunction relates to Down syndrome complications
Official title: Analysis of chromosome 21 non-disjunction errors in Down syndrome
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11442677 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how different errors in chromosome 21 division relate to health issues in children with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $370,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD123288-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442677 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with Down syndrome who have or are at risk for leukemia and have genomic sequencing data available.
✕Less likely to help
If a child’s data is not part of the sequencing cohorts or lacks related clinical data, they may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a new computational method, MeiHMM, to infer nondisjunction error types from the genomes of children with Down syndrome. It will analyze whole-genome sequencing data from about 4,500 individuals to map how these errors occur and relate to disease features. The study focuses on childhood leukemia (ALL and AML) within Down syndrome to see if specific error types correlate with molecular differences. The ultimate goal is to create a rich resource of chromosome 21 nondisjunction patterns to guide future research and potential interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to better understanding of the biological factors behind Down syndrome complications and open avenues for targeted research or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using genomic data and novel computational methods has yielded new insights into chromosomal missegregation and disease links, with potential for further breakthroughs in DS.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Jun J. — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Yang, Jun 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.