Zhao, Mingtao PHD

Individuals with Down syndrome are more vulnerable to COVID-19, which is reflected by a 4-fold increased risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization and a 10-fold higher risk for COVID-19-related death than individuals without Down syndrome. This R21 project aims to elucidate the genetic causes of the susceptibility of Down syndrome patients to COVID-19 using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the vulnerability of Down syndrome patients to COVID-19 would be pivotal for discovering novel preventative and therapeutic treatments for individuals with Down syndrome amid this COVID- 19 pandemic.