Understanding how the extracellular matrix affects heart defects in Down Syndrome.
Official title: Investigating the Role of Extracellular Matrix in Down Syndrome Associated Cardiac Phenotypes.
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11070768 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in the heart's support structure might lead to heart problems in babies with Down Syndrome, using special cells to create 3D heart models to better understand what goes wrong during heart development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $77,284 |
| NIH project number | 1F32HL178155-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070768 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants diagnosed with Down Syndrome who are at risk for congenital heart defects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Down Syndrome or those who do not have congenital heart defects may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in causing congenital heart defects (CHD) in infants with Down Syndrome. By using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from individuals with Down Syndrome, the study aims to explore how changes in the ECM during heart development can lead to abnormal heart structures. The researchers will create 3D cardiac models to analyze the molecular and cellular interactions that contribute to these defects, focusing on how ECM alterations affect heart cell behavior and development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and potential treatments for congenital heart defects in infants with Down Syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding cardiac defects through similar approaches, but this specific investigation into the ECM in Down Syndrome is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borden, Leah K — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Borden, Leah K
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.
-
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.