Using a JAK inhibitor to help inflammatory skin and scalp problems in people with Down syndrome
Official title: Use of specific JAK inhibition on inflammatory skin and scalp diseases in Down syndrome
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11526530 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests a JAK-inhibiting medicine to help common skin and scalp conditions in people with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,365,911 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AR084210-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11526530 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults or adolescents with Down syndrome who have inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, psoriasis, or hidradenitis suppurativa.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without inflammatory skin diseases or those who cannot take JAK inhibitors due to safety concerns may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with Down syndrome often have inflammatory skin diseases like eczema, hair loss from autoimmune causes, and other skin issues. This study will look at whether a JAK inhibitor can reduce symptoms and improve skin health in affected individuals, using careful monitoring for safety over several years. Participants will receive the medication under medical supervision and regularly report their skin symptoms and any side effects. The goal is to find a treatment that controls inflammation with manageable safety in this specific population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants and others with Down syndrome could experience better control of skin inflammation and fewer skin-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior case reports and small studies suggest JAK inhibitors can help similar conditions, but this is a larger, structured evaluation in Down syndrome.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guttman, Emma — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Guttman, Emma
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.
-
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.