How support cells and neurons change after prenatal alcohol exposure
Official title: Glia-neuron Interaction in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11247593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying whether alcohol exposure before birth causes changes in brain support cells that lead to altered wiring and learning problems in young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2014 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX001819-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247593 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll people now — it is laboratory research using animal models of prenatal alcohol exposure, so patients cannot join directly.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatments or clinical care for fetal alcohol effects should not expect direct benefit from this lab-only project in the short term.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective: the team uses laboratory models that mimic late-pregnancy alcohol exposure to study changes in the developing hippocampus. They focus on astrocytes (brain support cells) that make two enzymes, ADAMTS5 and tPA, which cut an extracellular protein called brevican into a fragment (brevikine) that can make neurons grow extra branches. The researchers compare normal models with ones where those enzymes are removed from astrocytes to see if that stops the abnormal growth and later memory or learning problems. The work connects early molecular changes to brain wiring and behavior to point toward possible treatment targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets in support cells that might be used to prevent or reduce learning and memory problems caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies have shown that extracellular matrix remodeling and astrocyte signals can change neuronal growth, but linking ADAMTS5/tPA-driven brevican cleavage to FASD-related wiring is a novel, less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guizzetti, Marina — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Guizzetti, Marina
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.