NICHD INCLUDE Project — Down Syndrome Research

INCLUDE Project — Transformative Research Awards

Funds transformative Down syndrome research through investigator-led grants focused on evidence-based development.

The INCLUDE Project Transformative Research Awards (R01) support investigator-initiated research that advances understanding of Down syndrome and its co-occurring conditions across the human lifespan, from birth to adulthood. INCLUDE stands for Investigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE. This is an NIH-wide initiative led by NICHD, with multiple NIH Institutes and Centers participating as co-funders. The active funding opportunity is NOFO RFA-OD-27-004, which expires on June 16, 2028, and accepts applications on a rolling basis until that date.

The R01 mechanism supports full-scale transformative research projects. Award structure follows standard NIH R01 terms; specific budget ceilings and receipt dates are published in the NOFO document. The INCLUDE Project also anchors a $20 million Down Syndrome Cohort Development Program for longitudinal data collection from birth to adulthood, illustrating the scale of NIH investment in this research area. Eligible applicants include US-based universities, research organizations, non-profits, and small businesses; individual investigators may not apply without an eligible institutional applicant.

Applications must address Down syndrome or its co-occurring conditions — neurological, cardiac, immunological, or other conditions that disproportionately affect people with trisomy 21. The INCLUDE Project coordinates across NIH ICs, so applicants should review which ICs are listed as participants in the NOFO and contact the relevant program officer to confirm scientific fit before submission. Because RFA-OD-27-004 remains open through June 2028, applicants have multiple submission windows, but early engagement with NIH program staff on study design and alignment with INCLUDE's strategic objectives is strongly recommended.