A charity born out of a parent’s love and a passion for the very best evidence-based interventions
We are the UK’s only Down’s syndrome research charity. Our vision is a long, healthy, happy life for people with Down’s syndrome (DS) and their families.
We will bring the best scientific research to the issues affecting our community by:
- Funding and promoting ground-breaking medical research;
- Improving understanding of Down’s syndrome;
- Supporting the human rights of people with Down’s syndrome and their families through advocacy.
Founded in 1996 by father Peter Elliott, the Foundation was born out a desire for the very best medical research into possible interventions to support people with Down’s syndrome. Peter had discovered parents helping their children with DS by using a myriad of interventions and therapies. However, he was concerned that many of these lacked evidence to support their efficacy; so much was still unknown about the biochemistry of DS.
Peter together with a small group of parents wanted change and in 1996 the Down’s Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF) became a registered charity.
In the beginning, the Foundation and its supporters were met with scepticism and doubts that people with DS had any potential at all. DS was considered a static unchangeable condition. Yet, again and again, this belief was proved wrong. Educational programmes, mapping the human genome and the discovery of epigenetics confirmed what every parent of a child with DS already knows – people with Down’s syndrome have great unexplored potential and diversity.
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There is still so much left to learn about helping people with DS achieve their best health and through this have their individuality shine through.
Support us and join this exciting journey.
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