DS-Connect®: The Down Syndrome Registry

The DS-Connect® Registry is a unique resource that enables communication and sharing of ideas among the NIH, individuals with DS and their families, national and international organizations interested in DS, and a diverse group of professionals involved in scientific research and medical care benefiting the population with DS. By providing information on their demographics, health histories, medications, and other relevant biomedical information, self-advocates and their families provide an unprecedented view of this genetic condition that can inspire new scientific inquiries, clinical research, and clinical trials specifically serving this population. For example, the DS-Connect® dataset has led to an increasing appreciation of the prevalence of many co-occurring conditions affecting individuals with DS across the lifespan, thus providing the rationale for the launch of the NIH INCLUDE Project (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down SyndromE). Conversely, self-advocates and their families participating in DS-Connect® benefit in several ways, including valuable comparison of their health histories with metrics from the entire cohort, access to key resources (e.g., list of active clinical trials), as well as opportunities for participation in human research protocols, including clinical trials testing new interventions to address diverse aspects of this condition. In turn, the DS-Connect® dataset informs both NIH and the research community on the need to support specific research areas, while also providing an avenue for researchers to promote recruitment into their studies. Altogether, DS-Connect® provides a multimodal platform for exchange of information and ideas across all key stakeholders, assuring that scientific research in this field is attuned to the needs of the community.

A person with DS or a family member or caregiver can register directly through the DS-Connect® website at their convenience. They may learn of the Registry from many sources including partner advocacy groups, government and healthcare organizations, or other families who are members in the Registry. The DS-Connect® platform readily captures participant information using condition-specific surveys.

All information is provided by the participant or representative for the participant via the web-based Registry. There are no in-person visits required for registration.