Down Syndrome Research Forum
The Down Syndrome Research Forum is an established, international meeting of researchers and practitioners interested in advances in our understanding of how to best meet the developmental and educational needs of children with Down syndrome.
The event is sponsored by Down Syndrome Education International and hosted annually in partnership with researchers active in the field.
The 2025 Down Syndrome Research Forum will be held on 17th, 18th, and 19th March.
Research Forum 2025The Down Syndrome Research Forum offers a venue for academic researchers and professional practitioners to meet to share and discuss current research, recent findings and implications for practice.
The forum is usually well attended by researchers in the field and can be especially helpful for postgraduate students to share work in progress and seek support and advice from others working or interested in Down syndrome research. Specifically, we encourage students to give short presentations of their work even if they are only in the planning stage and provide opportunities for students to discuss their study plans with experts in the field.
You can view the programmes and abstracts from previous years below:
Topics
Presentations are accepted on a variety of topics relevant to understanding and improving the lives of people with Down syndrome. Usually the focus is on development and education but we also welcome papers on health issues relevant to development, family issues and adult issues. Presentations on methodology, translating research to practice, interventions and case studies are also welcome.
Participants
Researchers and postgraduate students from throughout the UK, Europe, and elsewhere are invited to attend. We also encourage contributions from education and healthcare professionals working with people with Down Syndrome. We also welcome parents of children with Down syndrome and others with an interest in the detail of current research.
Steering Committee
The forum is organised by a Steering Committee of leading international researchers in the field.
The current members are:
- Kelly Burgoyne, University of Manchester, UK.
- Kate Cain, University of Lancaster, UK.
- Emily Farran, University of Surrey, UK.
- Susan Foster-Cohen, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
- Jo van Herwegen, University College London, UK.
- Susan Loveall-Hague, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA.
- Silvana Mengoni, University of Hertfordshire. UK.
- Vesna Stojanovik, University of Reading, UK.
- Chair: Sue Buckley, Down Syndrome Education International, University of Portsmouth, UK.