Understanding how language and movement develop in diverse infants with Down Syndrome
Official title: Characterizing Language and Motor Development of Racially/Ethnically Diverse Infants and Toddlers with Down Syndrome
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11092926 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how babies with Down Syndrome and babies without it learn to talk and move as they grow, and it’s for families who want to understand more about their child's development over the first year of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $190,071 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC021818-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092926 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are infants aged 6 to 18 months diagnosed with Down Syndrome or typically developing infants within the same age range.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 6 to 18 months or those without Down Syndrome may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the interaction between language and motor development in infants with Down Syndrome (DS) and typically developing infants. By using various methods such as technology-assisted assessments, parent reports, and observations during free play, the study aims to track developmental changes over a 12-month period. The research will actively recruit participants, focusing on including a diverse group from racially and ethnically minoritized backgrounds. The goal is to gain insights into how language and motor skills develop and support each other in early childhood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for enhancing language and motor skills in infants with Down Syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding developmental trajectories in similar populations, but this specific focus on diverse infants with Down Syndrome is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vanegas, Sandra — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Vanegas, Sandra
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.