Assessing risks for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in children
Official title: Adventures in the Design and Trial of an Innovative FASD Risk Assessment: Integrating Known Risks with New Measures of Weekly Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Maternal Mental Health, and Paternal Alcohol
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10817811 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to better understand and measure the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in children by talking to moms about their drinking during and after pregnancy, along with other factors that might play a role, so we can help families get the support they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $228,138 |
| NIH project number | 5R61AA030066-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10817811 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women and their partners, particularly those with concerns about alcohol use during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have a history of alcohol use during pregnancy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and test new methods for evaluating the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in children. It involves interviewing mothers about their alcohol consumption during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as assessing maternal mental health and paternal factors that may contribute to FASD risks. The study will create a comprehensive risk score by combining these insights with established risk factors. This innovative approach seeks to better understand the causes of FASD and improve risk assessment protocols.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved identification and prevention strategies for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, ultimately benefiting affected children and families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar multivariate approaches to assess risks for developmental disorders, indicating potential for success in this innovative study.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheatham, Carol L — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Cheatham, Carol L
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.