How early pregnancy alcohol changes brain cell growth
Cell cycle regulation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
This work looks at how alcohol exposure very early in pregnancy disrupts brain cell division and development linked to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Upstate Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162449 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a well-established mouse model that mimics alcohol exposure during the time the neural tube forms to study early brain development. They examine developing front-of-brain tissue shortly after exposure, measure changes in genes that control the cell cycle and key signaling pathways like sonic hedgehog, and count actively dividing cells. The team compares tissue size and cell proliferation between exposed and unexposed embryos to map where growth is halted or delayed. Findings aim to reveal the biological steps by which early alcohol exposure causes long-term brain and behavioral differences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll people; its results are most relevant to pregnant people who consumed alcohol very early in pregnancy and to children and families affected by FASD.
Not a fit: People whose conditions are unrelated to prenatal alcohol exposure or whose exposure occurred much later in pregnancy are unlikely to get direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific molecular steps that lead to FASD and point to targets for prevention or future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and molecular studies have linked early alcohol exposure to reduced cell proliferation and altered brain structure, but pinpointing the precise cell-cycle and signaling mechanisms remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Syracuse, United States
- Upstate Medical University — Syracuse, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boschen, Karen Elizabeth — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Boschen, Karen Elizabeth
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.