About DSRTF :: Our Mission and Values

Our Mission

To stimulate biomedical research that will accelerate the development of treatments to significantly improve cognition for individuals with Down syndrome.

Treatments that are developed to improve memory, learning and speech will allow individuals with Down syndrome to:

• Participate more successfully in school;
• Lead more active and independent lives;
• Prevent early cognitive decline.

Our Vision

DSRTF sees a new world coming in which people with Down syndrome are fully included in academic and social environments and where they can live independently as adults, if they so choose. In recent years, private and public services, including early intervention, special education and job training, have greatly improved the lives of those who have Down syndrome. Nevertheless, cognitive challenges make it difficult for most to live independently during adulthood, and many experience the early onset of Alzheimer's disease.

The majority of individuals with Down syndrome fall into the mild to moderate range of cognitive impairment. For many of these individuals, a 10%-20% improvement in cognitive ability would provide them with the ability to live independently, hold a job and be fully integrated within their communities. DSRTF believes that the information, tools and techniques that have resulted from the genome project can be applied to the study of cognition in Down syndrome and will result in treatments that can provide the cognitive improvement that will enhance the lives of those with Down syndrome and their families.

Our Values

Narrow focus: DSRTF believes that a narrow focus is critical to the success of our mission. As a result, the only research that DSRTF supports is that which focuses on understanding and improving cognition. Moreover, DSRTF only supports researchers and institutions that are committed to seeing their basic research translated into effective treatments.

A multi-disciplinary approach: DSRTF is dedicated to funding excellent science that is maximized through collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians. DSRTF believes that medical research – particularly as it relates to understanding cognition – is most effective when it is a multi-disciplinary effort. Understanding cognition requires the participation of investigators in a number of disciplines – genetics, molecular and cellular biology, the biology of neural circuits and behavior . In order to increase the likelihood for a breakthrough in the treatment of Down syndrome, DSRTF supports multi-disciplinary research and encourages frequent collaboration among scientists in different fields and at different research institutions.

Attract talent: The field of DS cognition research was neglected for some time due to the complexity of addressing a condition that is the result of having an extra copy of an entire chromosome. DSRTF believes that Down syndrome research will prosper only insofar as we are able to attract the very best and brightest scientists to the work. We believe that our approach has the potential to re-energize the field of Down syndrome research. We will attract new talent by funding both high and low risk projects, and by supporting institutions that build enriching intellectual environments and that encourage collaboration and clinical application.