The Down Research Foundation is the inspiration of Peter Elliott, Founder Member and our Research Director. A Registered Professional Engineer and Businessman. His son David was born in 1985. In 1995 he discovered parents were using vitamin therapies and claiming health benefits. There was no medical research underway to test these claims. So he resolved to get that research underway. He quickly ran into problems with doctors who believed research impossible because this was a fixed genetic condition that could never be cured. But in fact many of the health problems are no different from those seen in the general population. There is simply a higher risk when you have Down's syndrome. So this infers the immune system is not working properly. And perhaps there is a vitamin or mineral deficiency caused by these extra genes.

In 1996 the DSRF was established as a national charity. Conferences were organized that were attended by about 600 families. He organized a systematic review of research and this was published in 2000. This report showed there was a need for a research project and with the help of one other parent they talked to the The Institute of Child Health and initiated the biggest Down's syndrome research project in history. 156 babies were in that research project that took over 5 years from start to finish at a cost of over $1 million.

Our Objective

The DSRF objectives have developed over a 15 year period and the Human Genome was decoded during this time frame. It has become very obvious that research into Down syndrome is multi faceted and we need research collaborations with these research teams investigating specific aspects of a disease seen in the general population but with a higher incidence in people including children who have Down syndrome. To help our population we must learn how these additional genes are influencing and modifying the function of the human genome. Genes make chemicals called proteins and they interact with other genes. so there is a cascade effect that is very difficult to understand but the end result can be seen in the biochemistry of the body and the brain. So we can learn what is happening and we can develop medicines which make the chemistry more normal. Research is not only a possibility it is going to be essential to human life in the next 100 years. We live at the dawn of a new age of biochemical and genetic miracles and we have the technology to do this research. But we must ask researchers to work together and collaborate and not seek their personal ambitions. This is called Translational Research because we are translating all that is known and discovered in research labs around the world sharing that information where it is needed helping researchers make discoveries in their labs that could not happen without those collaborations.

Our Vision

Our vision is to undertake research and find ways of improving the quality of the lives of people with Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) by:

• Carrying out research to improve our understanding of the medical conditions and disabilities which are associated with Down Syndrome, and find ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure these illnesses
  
• Undertaking a commitment to ensure that our research findings are widely disseminated and used to improve the lives of people with Down Syndrome
  
• Educating and helping the parents, professionals and the public to have a better understanding of Down Syndrome, and the impact that nutrition and lifestyle can have on the wellbeing and quality of life through preventative measures for Alzheimer’s, obesity, heart disease, dementia and leukaemia
  
• Joining with and working in association with other groups who are undertaking research in areas that concern Down Syndrome in order to achieve the greatest impact
  
• Working towards setting up a Centre of Excellence where medical experts and research professionals come together to both undertake research into the medical conditions and disabilities associated with and provide support and treatment for children and adults with Down’s Syndrome, their families and carers.

The DSRF is funded by private and corporate donations and we invite you to make a donation click here