Prenatal Alcohol Gene-by-Exposure study: how maternal and child genetics influence FASD
Official title: The Prenatal Alcohol Gene-by-Exposure (PAGE) study: The roles of maternal-child genetic profiles in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11320416 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A big study will look at genes in mothers and their children to understand why some babies exposed to alcohol before birth develop FASD and others don’t.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $723,453 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032951-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320416 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant people or newborns with documented prenatal alcohol exposure and available genetic and phenotypic data.
✕Less likely to help
Children or families without exposure data or lacking genetic information may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This study will combine genome-wide sequencing of mothers and their children with methylation, gene expression, and detailed phenotypic data to explore how genetics shape fetal vulnerability to prenatal alcohol exposure. By using data from existing cohorts and new analyses, researchers aim to uncover rare and common genetic variants that contribute to FASD risk. The goal is to identify genetic factors that help explain why FASD outcomes vary so much among children with similar exposure. This work could point to biological pathways and potential targets for prevention or intervention in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Identifying genetic factors could lead to better risk assessment and the development of targeted prevention or early intervention strategies for at-risk families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous FASD genetics studies have identified limited genetic determinants; this project aims to expand to genome-wide, mother-child analyses which is a novel and potentially impactful approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carter, Robert Colin — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Carter, Robert Colin
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.