Clinical Research Directory

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) for Children With Down Syndrome (DS) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS)

Determine the efficacy of family-informed intervention (INT) vs standard clinical care over a period of twelve months in children with obstructive sleep apnea and Down Syndrome.

Natural History of Dysregulation and Aging of the Immune System in People With Trisomy 21 With and Without Thymectomy

Background: Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause heart defects and other problems in the body. People with Down syndrome are more likely to have infections, autoimmunity, and blood diseases. Some may need surgery to treat congenital heart problems. During this surgery, doctors sometimes remove part of the thymus. The thymus is an organ that plays a role in immune function. People who have had part of their thymus removed may get sick more often than others do. Objective: This natural history study will gather data about how removing part of the thymus affects the health of people with Down syndrome. Eligibility: People aged 1 year and older with Down syndrome. The study will include both people who have, and those who have not had, surgery to remove part of their thymus. Healthy relatives are also needed. Design: Participants with Down syndrome will have clinic visits at least once a year for 15 years. At each visit they will have a physical exam. They will give blood and stool samples. They will have tests of their heart and lung function. Participants aged 18 years or older may have at least 1 imaging scan: They will lie on a table that slides into a donut-shaped machine. The machine uses X-rays to take pictures of the inside of the body. Participants who have tissue samples collected from their bodies (biopsies) taken during the study may have extra tissue taken for research. Healthy relatives will also have visits once a year for 15 years. They will only have a physical exam and provide blood and stool samples.

Risk-Adapted Chemotherapy in Treating Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed Standard-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Localized B-Lineage Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

This partially randomized phase III trial studies the side effects of different combinations of risk-adapted chemotherapy regimens and how well they work in treating younger patients with newly diagnosed standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia or B-lineage lymphoblastic lymphoma that is found only in the tissue or organ where it began (localized). Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy), giving the drugs in different doses, and giving the drugs in different combinations may kill more cancer cells.

A Study to Investigate Blinatumomab in Combination With Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia

This phase III trial studies how well blinatumomab works in combination with chemotherapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed, standard risk B-lymphoblastic leukemia or B-lymphoblastic lymphoma with or without Down syndrome. Monoclonal antibodies, such as blinatumomab, may induce changes in the body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as vincristine, dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, pegaspargase, methotrexate, cytarabine, mercaptopurine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and thioguanine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Leucovorin decreases the toxic effects of methotrexate. Giving monoclonal antibody therapy with chemotherapy may kill more cancer cells. Giving blinatumomab and combination chemotherapy may work better than combination chemotherapy alone in treating patients with B-ALL. This trial also assigns patients into different chemotherapy treatment regimens based on risk (the chance of cancer returning after treatment). Treating patients with chemotherapy based on risk may help doctors decide which patients can best benefit from which chemotherapy treatment regimens.

Modulation of the Immune System in Down Syndrome for Improved Outcomes and Neurodevelopment - 1

This protocol describes a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial for Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition in Down syndrome (DS). This trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 6-month treatment with the JAK1/3 inhibitor tofacitinib (XELJANZ) in individuals ages 6-22 (inclusive) with DS. There will be two main arms for this study: a treatment arm and a placebo control arm. Participants will be randomized into the treatment or placebo arm. Those completing 6 months in the placebo arm may be eligible to participate in a cross-over, open-label extension arm to receive 6 months of tofacitinib treatment. Participants will be evaluated during a Screening visit to determine eligibility, complete a Baseline visit if eligible, and be monitored via safety clinical laboratories and in-person evaluations by study doctors at 1 month, 3 months (mid-point visit) and 6 months (endpoint visit). An interim analysis of safety will be completed by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) after 40 participants have completed 6 months of treatment or placebo (20 in each arm).

Cholinergic Integrity in Down Syndrome in Association With Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, and Cognition

Progressive age-related cognitive deficits occurring in both AD and DS have been connected to the degeneration of several neuronal populations, but mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The most consistent neuronal losses throughout the progression of AD are seen in cholinergic neurons where these losses negatively affect cognition, particularly in attention, learning, and memory formation. Evidence of reduced cholinergic integrity in DS is largely limited to animal models and post-mortem human data. The investigators propose to use molecular, functional, and structural biomarkers to assess the cholinergic integrity in adults with DS. The investigators anticipate using the data gathered in this pilot study to inform future study designs to determine AD risk stratification in DS by identifying individuals who show an accelerated decline in cholinergic integrity that correlates with cognitive and neurobehavioral changes. Also, our cholinergic biomarkers may identify whether individuals with DS are likely to respond to pro-cholinergic interventions, including the novel cholinergic modulators that are being developed to enhance cholinergic-sensitive cognitive functioning. The investigators anticipate using the data gathered here to inform future treatment studies in TRC-DS and beyond where novel cholinergic treatments may offer opportunities for early intervention in DS and be complementary to disease-modifying approaches such as anti-amyloid treatments.

Drumming Lessons' Influence on Children With Down Syndrome

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if drumming lessons can increase self-control in children with Down syndrome. The main question it aims to answer is whether 2 months of drumming lessons can improve the behavioral control and timing skills in children with Down syndrome. Participants are between 7 and 15 years of age and receive two months of drumming lessons given by a professional drummer with extensive experience working with children with Down syndrome. Children in the experimental group visit our lab once before lessons start and once after lessons are completed. Children in the control group visit our lab twice before they start their lessons. Lab visits include brain recordings taken using a net-style cap, computer tasks, and drumming to music.

Trial-Ready Cohort-Down Syndrome (TRC-DS)

The purpose of the Trial-Ready Cohort - Down Syndrome (TRC-DS) is to enroll 120 healthy adults with Down syndrome (DS), between the ages of 25-55, into a trial ready cohort (TRC), and up to 550 participants in total including co-enrolled in the Alzheimer Biomarkers Consortium - Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) study. Participants enrolled in the TRC-DS will undergo longitudinal cognitive and clinical assessment, genetic and biomarker testing, as well as imaging and biospecimen collection. Using these outcome measures, researchers will analyze the relationships between cognitive measures and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) to identify endpoints for AD clinical trials in DS that best reflect disease progression. To learn more about the study and participating sites, visit our study website at: https://www.trcds.org/. TRC-DS is collaborating with the Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) to allow study participants to be concurrently enrolled in both ABC-DS and TRC-DS, referred to as "co-enrollment". ABC-DS is a longitudinal, observational research study that is overseen at University of Pittsburgh Coordinating Center. ABC-DS participants who express interest in potentially joining a clinical trial in the future and who meet TRC-DS eligibility criteria, may choose to co-enroll in TRC-DS at an ABC-DS Site. Co-enrolled participants will adhere to the ABC-DS protocol and schedule of activities, but agree to share their data with the TRC-DS team and to receive invitations for future participation in clinical trials. Fore more information on ABC-DS please visit https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/abc-ds or http://abcds.pitt.edu/.

ASIA Down Syndrome Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 2016

To evaluate the outcome of a prednisolone and low dose methotrexate based protocol in Down syndrome children with ALL (DS-ALL) in an Asia-wide study. The treatment protocol was modified based upon backbone of Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG)-ALL protocol in which risk classification will be guided by level of flow minimal residual disease (MRD) instead.

Effects of Bean Bag Tossing Game on Balance and Gait in Children With Down Syndrome.

The research design will be a randomized clinical trial. The study will recruit 36 children with spastic cerebral palsy and toe walking that fall within the ages of 5-17 years who have a defined balance deficit. The participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: group A (n=18), which will play the Bean Bag Tossing Game on Wedge, and group B (n=18), which will play the Bean Bag Tossing Game on a Balance Board. The intervention will be performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks 30 minutes a day. All participants will be assessed according to eligibility criteria. Guardians of participants who meet the eligibility criteria are requested to sign consent forms before they are entered into the study. The study involves two standardized assessment tools that measure the Gait and balance in children with Down syndrome: Berg Balance Scale and GALLOP Scale. The synopsis will present to the Research Ethical Committee of Riphah International University Lahore for ethical approval to conduct this study. Data will be analyzed by SPSS 27.0 version

Effects of Aerobic-Based Virtual Reality Exercise Training and Traditional Aerobic Exercise Training on Physical Fitness, Functional Capacity and Cognitive Function in Individuals With Down Syndrome

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of aerobic-based virtual reality exercise training and traditional aerobic exercise training on physical fitness, functional capacity, cognitive functions and quality of life in individuals with Down syndrome.

Escalating Doses of Memantine in Down Syndrome (MEDS-123)

Down syndrome (DS) is typically caused by an extra chromosome 21 in the cell nucleus (trisomy 21, or T21). T21 is both the most common cause of genetically defined intellectual disability and the earliest documented cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-type pathology. Currently, all presymptomatic individuals with DS are classified as having 'Stage 0' DS-associated AD (DSAD). DSAD pathology evolves inexorably, with virtually all individuals with DS developing AD pathology by age 40, and approximately 50% meeting clinical dementia diagnosis criteria at 55 years of age. This study will test the hypothesis that the FDA-approved AD drug memantine, at higher-than-standard doses, may be effective as a cognitive enhancer in adolescents and young adults with DS. The primary goal of this phase 1b clinical trial will be the assessment of the safety and tolerability of three memantine doses in persons with DS. In addition, we will assess the effect of this drug on cognitive test scores and plasma biomarkers of AD in the study participants. Finally, we will also investigate steady-state plasma levels of memantine and the time course of memantine plasma levels after a single dose in the study participants (pharmacokinetics, or PK). The data generated through this phase 1b study will provide the essential safety, PK, and preliminary efficacy signals required to advance a phase 2 trial evaluating high-dose memantine as a first-in-class therapeutic strategy in DS.

Dilated Versus Non-Dilated Wavefront Corrections for Patients With Down Syndrome

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) live with visual deficits due, in part, to elevated levels of higher-order optical aberrations (HOA). HOAs are distortions/abnormalities in the structure of the refractive components of the eye (i.e. the cornea and the lens) that, if present, can result in poor quality focus on the retina, thus negatively impacting vision. HOAs in the general population are overall low, and thus not ordinarily considered during the eye examination and determination of refractive correction. However, for some populations, such as individuals with DS, HOAs are elevated, and thus the commonly used clinical techniques to determine refractive corrections may fall short. The most common clinical technique for refractive correction determination is subjective refraction whereby a clinician asks the patient to compare different lens options and select the lens that provides the best visual outcome. Given the cognitive demands of the standard subjective refraction technique, clinicians rely on objective clinical techniques to prescribe optical corrections for individuals with DS. This is problematic, because it may result in errors for eyes with elevated HOA given that these techniques do not include measurement of the HOAs. The proposed research evaluates the use of objective wavefront measurements that quantify the HOAs of the eye as a basis for refractive correction determination for patients with DS. The specific aim is to determine whether dilation of the eyes is needed prior to objective wavefront measurements. Dilation of the eyes increases the ability to measure the optical quality of the eye and paralyzes accommodation (the natural focusing mechanism of the eye), which could be beneficial in determining refractions. However, the use of dilation lengthens the process for determining prescriptions and may be less desirable for patients.

A Study to Learn More About the Health of Persons With Down Syndrome After Treatment for Acute Leukemia

This study attempts to learn more about the health of persons with Down syndrome after treatment for acute leukemia. Children with Down syndrome are at increased risk for side effects during treatment for acute leukemia, but it is unclear of their risk for long-term effects of cancer treatment. By learning more about the factors that may contribute to chronic health conditions and long-term effects after treatment for leukemia in persons with Down syndrome, clinical practice guidelines for survivorship care can be developed to help improve their quality-of-life.

Exploring Sympathetic Nervous System Function in Individuals With Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS), the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability, is associated with widespread organ dysfunction, including abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS regulates critical functions such as heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), both essential for maintaining homeostasis and supporting physical activity. Individuals with DS often exhibit blunted HR responses to exercise-typically \~30 beats per minute below expected levels-suggesting reduced sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. The SNS governs rapid changes in HR and BP during stress by releasing catecholamines: epinephrine (from the adrenal medulla) and norepinephrine (from sympathetic nerve endings). Despite its importance, SNS function has not been comprehensively assessed among individuals with DS. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap by evaluating SNS responses to physiological stressors in individuals with DS. The investigators will measure beat-to-beat HR and BP, along with plasma catecholamine levels, in response to sympathetic activation, comparing individuals with DS to age- and sex-matched controls. Understanding the mechanisms of SNS dysfunction in DS is vital, as it likely underlies reduced exercise capacity and contributes to broader clinical challenges. These insights may guide targeted interventions to improve cardiovascular function, physical capacity, and overall quality of life in this understudied population.

Up, Down, and All Around: Evaluating Mobility Devices for Young Children With Developmental Disabilities and Delays

This research study will examine young children with Down syndrome's initial experiences with mobility devices. Children's biomechanics and exploration will be quantified while they are using both an overground partial bodyweight support system and powered mobility device.

Proactive Speech and Language Intervention for Infants With Down Syndrome

Children with Down syndrome (DS) face life-long struggles with verbal communication. Babble and speech sound development is delayed, and speech can be difficult to understand. Words emerge late, at 21 months on average, compared to 12 months for typical peers, and vocabulary and grammar can remain limited throughout adulthood. Because DS is diagnosed at or even before birth, these difficulties are predictable; yet despite this prognostic knowledge, systematic and sustained proactive interventions have not yet been developed: Most children with DS are not assessed and treated for speech and language delays until age 2 to 4 years. This presents an untapped opportunity space to conduct a clinical trial of a proactive intervention in earliest infancy with the goal of building resilience against the anticipated difficulties. The intervention trialed here is a modified version of Babble Boot Camp (BBC), a proactive speech and language intervention originally developed for young infants with classic galactosemia (CG) (NIH 5R01HD098253). CG is a metabolic disease that, similar to DS, is diagnosed at birth and poses risks for severe speech and language delays. BBC is implemented by a speech-language pathologist who, via telehealth, trains parents to incorporate skill-building activities and routines into their daily lives at home. For the present study, 20 children with DS age birth to 12 months will be recruited and randomized into two treatment arms. One group will receive weekly individualized parent sessions and close monitoring of the child's progress. The second group will receive the same content but at a lower intensity and dosage, via monthly parent group meetings. Both groups will receive their intervention for 10 months. Specific aims are to quantify benefits for babble, speech production, and receptive and expressive language and to investigate associations between conversational dynamics in child-adult interactions and the children's speech and language. Outcomes in speech and language skills will show relative feasibility and benefits for each of these treatment modalities and motivate a larger clinical trial, with the ultimate goal of changing the way infants with DS receive support in their speech and language development, from a deficit-based, remedial model to a proactive one.

Patterns of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the results of medical investigations to identify symptom and biological patterns and common etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Investigating the Impact of JASPER Behavioral Therapy in Children With Down Syndrome

In this study, investigators will study the impact of a 1:1 caregiver coaching intervention using the JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, Regulation) behavioral therapy curriculum compared to a psychoeducational curriculum that will be provided to caregivers for self-directed learning. Investigators want to determine the impact of both interventions on the child's development and behavior, and caregiver implementation of strategies.

Endotype DIrected Treatment for OSA in Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. People with Down syndrome often have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where people have difficulties with breathing while asleep. OSA can lead to poor sleep, worse quality of life, behavior problems and more difficulties with thinking ("cognitive impairment"). Current treatments for OSA in people with Down syndrome are not very effective or require surgery. The combination of 2 medications, atomoxetine and oxybutynin ("ato-oxy") is a promising treatment for OSA in people with Down syndrome, but ato-oxy does not work for everyone with Down syndrome. Similarly, oxygen is effective for OSA in some people, but does not work for everyone. This study will evaluate the use a precision medicine approach to increase the effectiveness of OSA treatment in people with Down syndrome. The study will compare two groups. In the first group, everyone will be treated with ato-oxy. In the second group, a precision medicine approach will be used to assign participants to either ato-oxy or oxygen therapy, based on the specific reasons they have OSA. The research team will enroll 200 children (age 6-17 years old) and adults with Down syndrome and OSA from five sites across the country. Half of participants will randomly receive ato-oxy while the other will receive either oxygen or ato-oxy dependent upon which treatment would be expected to work better for them. The research team will measure OSA severity, quality of life, behavior and cognition at the start of the study and after 12 months of treatment for every participant. The study will also track any treatment side effects for each treatment group.

Medications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea to Improve Cognition in Children With Down Syndrome

This is an open-label study of the combination of atomoxetine and oxybutynin (ato-oxy) in children with Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) documented by polysomnography (PSG). Participants will receive ato-oxy for 6 months. Ato-oxy dose will be 5 mg oxybutynin and 0.5mg/kg/day (max 40 mg) atomoxetine. Dosing of the study treatment will occur approximately 30 minutes prior to bedtime. Participants who withdraw from the study will not be replaced. Study participants will undergo eligibility screening that will include an initial screening to determine whether non- PSG enrollment criteria are met, followed by a 1 night in-lab PSG and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cognitive assessment for participants who qualify based on non-PSG criteria. For participants who are eligible and enroll in the study, the screening PSG night will serve as the baseline measure for apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and other PSG endpoints. On the final night of dosing for ato-oxy participants will return for inpatient PSG and health-related quality of life assessment and cognitive assessment. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change in obstructive AHI from baseline.

Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety Profile of Understudied Drugs Administered to Children Per Standard of Care (POPS)

The study investigators are interested in learning more about how drugs, that are given to children by their health care provider, act in the bodies of children and young adults in hopes to find the most safe and effective dose for children. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the PK of understudied drugs currently being administered to children per SOC as prescribed by their treating provider.

HomeGrown: A Family-based Lifestyle Intervention to Support Healthy Development of Young Children With Down Syndrome

The goal of this project is to evaluate an adapted health promotion program, HomeGrown, designed to improve the health of young children with Down syndrome by supporting families in making healthy home environmental changes. There is a significant need for evidence-based programs that address healthy eating and physical activity within this population, as most existing interventions have been developed for typically developing children. By tailoring the program to the unique needs of families of young children with Down syndrome, this project aims to advance inclusion and equity in health behavior promotion. This R61/R33 study will assess the feasibility (R61 Phase) and subsequent efficacy (R33 Phase) of the HomeGrown program in improving family practices related to nutrition and physical activity. During the R61 feasibility phase, 38 primary caregivers of children aged 2-6 years with Down syndrome will be enrolled in a 6-month randomized controlled trial. Families will be randomized 1:1 to either the HomeGrown intervention or a waitlist control group (6-month delayed start), stratified by the child's biological sex (male/female) and age (2-3 vs. 4-6 years). All measures will be collected at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. The R61 feasibility phase will address three specific aims: Accrual: Achieve an enrollment rate of 10 families per month, supporting feasibility for the R33 efficacy phase. Engagement: Demonstrate that families use at least 70% of available HomeGrown intervention components, measured using the digital behavior change interventions engagement scale. Data Collection \& Retention: Achieve at least 80% retention with completion of all outcome assessments. By addressing key gaps in nutrition and physical activity research for young children with Down syndrome, this study has the potential to improve health outcomes for an underserved population and inform future clinical and community health promotion efforts.

Gamma Frequency Stimulation in Individuals With Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome (DS) is characterized by an additional copy of chromosome 21, which also increases risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The investigators' lab found a non-invasive way to remove toxic proteins from the brain in AD mouse models. Remarkably, treated mice also have improved memory on behavioral testing. The investigators then translated this non-invasive method, which uses light and sound to stimulate the brain, to be used in mild Alzheimer's patients and cognitively normal adults. The investigators have also translated this research into a vibrating speaker device to study tactile vibration to stimulate the brain as well. For the present study, 30 participants with Down Syndrome and 30 cognitively normal adult controls will be recruited, and the investigators will assess their brain waves with electroencephalogram (EEG) during light, sound, and tactile stimulation. The investigators will also test for safety, feasibility, and cognitive performance before and after a 30-60 minute session of light and sound stimulation to optimize the stimulation devices for use in the DS population.