How early pregnancy alcohol changes brain cell growth
Official title: Cell cycle regulation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Funded at Upstate Medical University · NIH-11162449 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $247,760 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AA028273-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162449 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boschen, Karen Elizabeth — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Boschen, Karen Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cellular mechanisms shaping fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This NIH grant studies how alcohol exposure before birth damages development at the cellular level, with potential to improve understanding and care for individuals affected by FASD.
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Web tools to screen children for effects of prenatal alcohol exposure
This project uses online tools to check children ages 6–17 for physical, thinking, and behavior signs linked to prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Choline Genetics and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Children
This study looks at how genetic differences in choline metabolism affect cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children with prenatal alcohol exposure who may benefit from choline supplementation.
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Data coordination for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders research
A national collaboration coordinates data and sharing to help understand and improve care for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD.
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Improved FASD screening for kids using BRAIN-online in Spanish
A web-based, Spanish-enabled screening tool helps identify signs of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in children to guide further evaluation and support.
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How prenatal alcohol exposure harms hearing development
Researchers are looking at how alcohol exposure during pregnancy changes the brain cells that help process sound in mice, to better understand hearing problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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.