Wednesday, March 12, 2025
3/12/2025
Project Summary/Abstract The Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) is a multidisciplinary, international consortium of research projects and resources charged with improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of FASD. The Administrative Core/Resource (AdminC) of CIFASD has led this consortium since it was first established in 2003 and plays a critical leadership role in coordinating research efforts and ensuring progress toward consortium goals. CIFASD consists of multiple collaborative components including three resource U24s (AdminC, Diagnostic-Telemedicine, and Data Coordination), eight clinical and/or translational U01 projects, and two exploratory UH2 projects. One goal of CIFASD is to improve identification of individuals affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). This will be accomplished by assessing biomarkers of exposure or effects, such as immune, HPA, and miRNA profiles. In addition, CIFASD is implementing novel tools, such as 3D facial and neurobehavioral screening to improve identification of FASD remotely through eHealth, providing more universal accessibility. A focus on telemedicine provides access to dysmorphology evaluations in more diverse and remote populations. CIFASD continues to study the effects of PAE on the whole body across the lifespan. Previous results from CIFASD suggest that PAE may be a risk factor for numerous health issues (e.g., hypertension and diabetes). By using interrelated clinical and preclinical research approaches, health outcomes and markers will be examined at several ages. CIFASD continues work on interventions to mitigate the damaging effects of PAE including a trial on tDCS, and expansions of eHealth initiatives to provide interventions to assist affected individuals and their families. To improve prevention of maternal alcohol consumption and reduce risk for FASD, a hybrid prevention strategy will be investigated. Implementation is a new focus of CIFASD; as unless tools created in CIFASD are utilized clinically, their potential won’t be fully realized. Collectively, CIFASD projects will move the FASD field forward, improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and with the technology available in eHealth serve a wide population. The Specific Aims of the AdminC are: 1) Provide scientific and administrative direction, leadership, and oversight; 2) Facilitate communication among the projects and result dissemination; 3) Assist with data management; 4) Provide annual progress evaluations, and 5) Support projects by providing outreach, eHealth, and implementation science resources and services. The AdminC supports the interactive framework of CIFASD by regular communications with all members through monthly and biannual meetings; leading the Steering Committee in the establishment and implementation of CIFASD priorities and policies; supporting the Science Advisory Board’s evaluations of progress on each component and the overall mission of CIFASD; serving as the liaison between the consortium’s project scientists and its NIAAA advisors; and supporting outreach, eHealth, and implementation efforts.
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