Created in 1995, the Jerome Lejeune Foundation initiates, develops and finances fundamental, translational and clinical research programs in Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities of genetic origin. Our ultimate goal is to identify potential targets for intervention and advance the development of drugs and therapies that will offer patients the opportunity to lead healthier, longer and fulfilling lives.

We support innovative research that has the potential to deepen our knowledge of these diseases and that can advance the discovery and development of therapies and treatments. Likewise, we sponsor research on pathologies associated with Down syndrome that are also present in the general population (e.g. cardiopathies, leukaemia, sleep apnoea, Alzheimer’s disease). This strategy, which we termed research on cross-pathologies/co-occurrent diseases, enables to pool efforts, cross-reference results and develop molecules for the benefit of several therapeutic targets.

We are passionate about finding and funding the most creative and promising research projects and talented scientists, and each year, our scientific advisory board and external reviewers evaluate over 100 grants and postdoctoral fellowship applications to select the most outstanding ones for funding.

Recognized as a public utility institution, the Jerome Lejeune Foundation is the leading project-based funding agency of research on Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities in France.