# Early Predictors of FASD in Ukraine

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $360,729

## Abstract

Project Summary
Accurate diagnosis and early identification of infants or children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
is essential to initiating early intervention leading to improved outcomes for affected children. However,
children with FASD are most often not diagnosed until many years after birth. As a result, many years of
appropriate and beneficial intervention or treatment are missed. Given the high prevalence of FASD in areas of
the world where the disorder has been studied, earlier and more accurate recognition of children with FASD is
of high public health importance. Building on the existing Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders (CIFASD) longitudinal cohort study in Ukraine, we aim to fill this critical gap in knowledge in two
ways. First, we will develop a panel of three prenatal/early infancy biomarkers that can predict FASD. These
biomarkers include maternal and infant microRNA expression profile, maternal and infant cytokine expression
profile, and an early infancy measure of neurobehavioral performance. Second, we will develop risk/resilience
prediction models based on the developmental trajectories of children enrolled in the cohort. These models will
identify the characteristics of a prenatally exposed infant/child at a given age that are predictive of the child's
later growth and performance. This work will support earlier identification of affected children and can help to
determine appropriate early allocation of resources for intervention and treatment to those children most likely
to benefit. Furthermore, our findings may suggest novel approaches to biological and environmental targets for
treatment and intervention. We will also work collaboratively with other investigators in the CIFASD
Consortium to interactively address the overall goals of the Consortium in improving diagnosis and treatment of
FASD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940991
- **Project number:** 5U01AA014835-17
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTINA CHAMBERS
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $360,729
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2003-09-30 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940991

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940991, Early Predictors of FASD in Ukraine (5U01AA014835-17). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940991. Licensed CC0.

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