T21RS biennial International Conference is instrumental in promoting scientific exchanges, maximizing resource use and defining the most promising research at the basic, translational and clinical levels. The rapid pace of progress that has taken place in the last few years demands effective communication between scientists and clinicians working in the field.

The 1st International Conference of the T21RS was held in Paris in June 2015 with the motto “Changing paradigms in Down syndrome” attracting scientists, clinicians and members of associations and foundations. The Second International Conference of the T21RS “Paving the way for therapy” was held in Chicago, June 8-11, 2017 and the Third, “Science for future Therapy” was held in Barcelona in June 6-9, 2019. Cutting edge results in neuroscience, neurology, model systems, psychology, cancer, and molecular and pharmacological approaches demonstrate the compelling interest and continuing advance in all aspects of understanding and ameliorating conditions associated with trisomy 21.

The Fourth International Conference of the Trisomy 21 Research Society will take place in Long Beach June 5-9 2021. The biennial T21RS International Conference is the premier scientific meeting for Down syndrome research, attracting basic and clinical scientists and practitioners from around the world. With plenty of opportunities for networking and debating, this informal international meeting will bring you up to date with current research and thinking regarding Down syndrome.
Call for Symposia for the T21RS 2021 Conference
Deadline for submission: August 31, 2020
T21RS aims to establish an exciting scientific program for the 2021 T21RS International Conference (June 5-9, 2021 Long Beach, California, USA) with a broad range of topics. The Scientific Program Committee invites you to contribute by submitting a proposal for a symposium in basic, clinical and/or translational research in Down syndrome.
We encourage both established and junior investigators to contribute to the program of the meeting. We welcome symposium ideas from preclinical and clinical science areas, ranging from molecular biology to human research, and especially topics that bridge scientific disciplines. We will prioritize symposium ideas that may combine clinical/behavioral/basic science/mouse models centered on a theme, with less of a focus on an approach per se (see examples below – note you are not limited to these themes). We also look forward to evaluating proposals that include people new to the Down syndrome research space to promote collaborations and foster new investigators.
We encourage you to help us make the 2021 T21RS meeting in Long Beach a success! Proposals will be accepted only from T21RS members.
Instructions for symposium proposals:
Please include:
1. A descriptive symposium title.
2. A short outline describing the topic and its relevance to the field (max. 2000 characters with spaces, about 250 words).
3. Three lecture titles and associated speaker information (with one back-up speaker).
This is an international meeting and we value a diverse pool of speakers, so please consider speakers from various countries. Gender balance is also important. Preference will be given to proposals that include at least one presentation from a junior investigator. Formal approval from the proposed speakers is not yet necessary. Symposia that make connections between clinical, behavioral and basic science or include the combination of multidisciplinary approaches around a common theme, are warmly invited. Symposium organizers will have the opportunity to select an extra short talk from a young investigator, from a list of selected oral communications provided by the Program Committee.
Submit your proposal HERE
Theme 1 Genomic and epigenetic mechanisms
Genetics, genomics, epigenetics, other -omics
Theme 2 Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms
Mitochondria, metabolism, Inflammation, immunity, autoimmunity
Theme 3 Experimental models
Phenotyping, animal models, cellular models, stem cells and reprogramming
Theme 4 Cognition and Behavior
Human and animal studies on cognition, intellectual disability, neuropsychology, language, behaviour
Theme 5 Neurodegeneration
Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome
Neuropathology
Theme 6 Neurodevelopment
Neuropathology, neurogenesis, cell proliferation, synaptogenesis, nervous system patterning
Theme 7 Co-occurring Illnesses
Cancer/ Leukemia, Psychiatric Disorders, Metabolic disorders, Sensory Disorders, Cardiovascular Diseases, other
Theme 8 Therapeutic intervention
Pharmacological/non-pharmacological interventions, neurotherapy, preclinical and clinical
Theme 9 Evaluation
Biomarkers, neuroimaging, outcome measures
Theme 10 Other