FORT WORTH, Texas -- A project started by a group of classmates has grabbed attention nationwide and pushed the students to the forefront of exciting new research that they hope will mean a better life for a very special friend.

At first glance, there are no clues that these Texas children are part of the cutting edge of medical science. But from a garage in Houston, a small group of friends are working to make a difference in the lives of those with Down syndrome, reported KXAS-TV in Dallas.

Inspired by her little brother Neal, Erin Cashion and her classmates began selling stuffed mice for $21 each to raise money for Down syndrome research.

"They wanted to test new medications, but they couldn't because they didn't have enough mice. So we came up with the idea -- adopt a mouse," said Erin.

The price of the stuffed mice represents the 21st chromosome that is the cause of Down syndrome. The kids are hoping to raise $100,000 or more from the sale of the mice, with the money going to pay for five or six genetically altered mice.

The mice are a key component to the ongoing research at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.

"Each one of them cost on average between $20,000 and $50,000 to create the mouse. It has a chromosomal rearrangement ... and then bring it in to line where other researchers around the country can study them," said Dr. Craig Garner, of Stanford University.

For these students, the research at Stanford is much more than a science lesson. It's personal.

"We wanted to help him because he wants to read and he can't hold the information in his head about how to read what the sounds make," said Erin. "He wants to read 'Peter Pan' so bad, but he can't read it. And that's kind of where this whole thing took off."

When it's over, they hope to help turn the page on Down syndrome, a mysterious disorder that affects more than 350,000 families in the United States.

In their first week, the kids raised more than $6,000 selling mice all over the country and even in Canada via their Web site, www.adoptamouse.com

The work at Stanford is considered some of the most promising ever in the field of Down syndrome.

"My sense is that there are all these advances now, coming together, kind of a perfect storm for Down syndrome in a way. That allows us to really understand better what's wrong and what to do about it," said Dr. William Mobley, the chairman of neurology at Stanford University.

Advances in genetics, medicine and medical technology are allowing scientists to begin mapping the once-uncharted territory of treatments for Down syndrome.

"A lot of possibilities exist out there, and we're encouraged that treatments really will be possible," said Mobley.