How alcohol changes blood vessels in the fetal brain
Fetal cerebral arteries and prenatal alcohol exposure
This project looks at how drinking alcohol during pregnancy stretches and alters a baby's brain blood vessels and how those changes may lead to growth and learning problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261649 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, I want to know how alcohol before birth affects my baby's brain circulation and development. The team uses animal models (baboons) and comparisons with human fetal tissue to see whether prenatal alcohol exposure dilates cerebral arteries and causes downstream brain injury. They measure vessel size, blood-flow–related changes, and signs of brain damage that can follow exposure. Learning these steps may point to ways to prevent or reduce brain and growth problems from prenatal alcohol exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people with known alcohol exposure and families of infants suspected to have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders would be the most relevant groups for this line of research.
Not a fit: People without prenatal alcohol exposure or whose developmental issues come from non-vascular causes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify biological targets that lead to new ways to prevent or lessen brain and growth problems in children exposed to alcohol before birth.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal work has shown prenatal alcohol can dilate fetal brain arteries and link to growth delay, but translating those findings into human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bukiya, Anna — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Bukiya, Anna
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 below.