Research Down Syndrome Announces 2012/2013 Grant Awards to Fund Down Syndrome Cognitive Research

by Research Down Syndrome:

Research Down Syndrome (RDS) has announced funding for six grants to support Down syndrome cognitive research. The grant total represents a fifty percent increase over grants awarded by RDS in 2011.

RDS is committed to supporting the identification of the causes of the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome and to facilitating the development of pharmacological therapies to improve memory, learning and communication in persons with Down syndrome. Encouraging progress has been made over a very short time. A human clinical trial was initiated in the fall of 2011, less than a decade after the support of private foundations stimulated the progress of Down syndrome cognitive research.

Research Down Syndrome, among the leading sources of private funding for Down syndrome related cognitive research, prioritizes funding towards programs with a high probability of readily contributing to the development of safe and effective therapies.  Continued private donations are needed to support the constantly expanding research efforts that will lead to potential medical treatments. The 2012/2013 RDS Research Grants include:

1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine:  RDS Research Center Grant entitled "A Down Syndrome Virtual Center for Basic and Translational Studies- Cognition and Therapies in Down Syndrome"    
2. University of California, San Diego School of Medicine:  RDS Research Center Grant entitled "Defining the Genes and Mechanisms Causing Neurodegeneration in Down Syndrome and Discovering Effective Treatments" - Pilot Proposal entitled "21Lab: A Collaborative Data Sharing and Data Integration Platform for the Down Syndrome Research Community"
3. University of Arizona:  RDS Innovation Research Grant entitled "The Neuropsychology of Down Syndrome"
4. Stanford University School of Medicine: RDS Innovation Research Grant entitled "Mechanisms Underlying the Roles of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in the Learning Disability of Down Syndrome"
5. VA Palo Alto Health Care System: RDS Innovation Research Pilot Grant entitled "Improving Adrenergic Signaling for the Treatment of cognitive Dysfunction in Down Syndrome"
6. University of Texas, Austin:  RDS Innovation Research Pilot Grant entitled "Genetic Analysis of Excessive Inhibitory Signaling in Down Syndrome"

Detailed information on these grants can be found at: www.researchds.org

 

About Research Down Syndrome

Research Down Syndrome (RDS) is among the leading sources of private funding for Down syndrome related cognitive research.  RDS supports and funds Down syndrome cognitive research conducted at research institutions that are studying the basis of the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome, including Alzheimer's disease. Research Down Syndrome is a legal corporate entity, and is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code.  For more information, go to www.researchds.org, or contact RDS:  info@researchds.org or 847.710.2251.

SOURCE Research Down Syndrome

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/08/4892505/research-down-syndrome-announces.html#storylink=cpy

Jumping for Jacob Contributes $30,000 Childhood Cancer Research Grant

from NeighborNewspapers.com:

Rally Foundation, a national non-profit organization committed to research to fight childhood cancer, announced it will be distributing $30,000 to fund research at Northwestern University-Chicago Campus on the biology and targeted therapy of childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in patients with Down Syndrome.


Funding for this grant was made possible through Jumping for Jacob, a family fundraising event honoring 11-year-old Jacob Moore who has Down syndrome and is currently battling leukemia.

Diagnosed in November 2009, Moore is a Rally Kid, a child who has fought or is fighting cancer, and is currently in the middle of his three and a half year treatment plan. Jacob lives in Alpharetta with his Mom and Dad and brother, Jared.


“Through the grant provided by Rally Foundation in conjunction with fundraising efforts from Jumping for Jacob, we are taking one step closer to understanding the link between Down Syndrome and ALL,“ said Dr. John Crispino, the Rally-funded researcher at Northwestern University. “This research will lead to continued breakthroughs in successfully treating the disease in patients with Down syndrome and allow us to learn more about the varying effects of current treatments.”

Rally’s grant at Northwestern is a part of the collective $700,000 in childhood cancer research grants made nationally this year. In its first five years, Rally has given more than $2.2 million in grants across the country in its efforts to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects. These grants support more than 50 projects nationwide that include young investigators awards, research nurses and fellowships. For every dollar Rally receives, 93 cents goes to support its mission, according to independently audited financials.

“Communities and families, such as Jacob’s, across the country have joined Rally in supporting the need for more research,” said Dean Crowe, Founder and CEO of Rally. “It is our hope that, one day soon, new and more effective research will eliminate all childhood cancer.”

Post Secondary Grants

From the NDSS


The mission of the Joshua O’Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment Fund is to offer financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who wish to continue to enrich their lives by enrolling in postsecondary programs or taking classes. The fund was established in January 2005 by Zeshan Tabani to honor his friend Joshua O’Neill. Joshua is an inspirational young man who happens to have Down syndrome. Joshua and Zeshan grew up in the same neighborhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Joshua was fortunate to participate in a postsecondary education experience and he benefited greatly from this opportunity. Joshua now lives independently, with supports, in New Haven, Connecticut. He works part-time and leads a productive and happy life. Zeshan was inspired by Joshua’s drive to enrich himself with postsecondary education and he wanted to help others who might not have the same opportunity.

   

As more individuals with Down syndrome are being included K-12 and graduating with their peers, the next step for many young adults with Down syndrome includes pursuing postsecondary education, which may include participation in a postsecondary program or simply taking enrichment courses. Financial aid is rarely available to these individuals.

   

The Joshua O'Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment Fund seeks to offer financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who are 18 years old or older, who wish to continue to participate in postsecondary education programs or enrichment courses to gain employment and other important life skills contributing to their independence. Grants of up to $2,000 are available by completing an application. 

Post Secondary Education Resource List