Dual Grants Advance NRI’s Mission to Prevent FASD

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is celebrating new momentum in the fight against fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Two recently awarded grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will fuel research aimed at better understanding, and ultimately preventing, the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Susan Smith, PhD and her team have received a continuation of their R01 grant, first awarded in 1996, for their project, “Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.” This renewal ensures uninterrupted funding through 2029—an uncommon span of support in biomedical research that underscores the lasting significance of Smith’s work.

“This kind of long-term support is critical,” said Smith. “It allows us to follow the science wherever it leads and build the kind of evidence that makes a real difference in the field.”

This new renewal focuses on how alcohol disrupts glucose metabolism in these early facial cells, bringing nutrition into understanding alcohol’s embryo toxicity. Her research has helped clarify how alcohol disrupts early human development by interfering with the genetic and cellular instructions that guide the formation of the face during pregnancy. These disruptions can lead to the characteristic facial differences seen in some children with FASD, such as a smooth upper lip, small eye openings, and a flat philtrum (the groove between the nose and upper lip). Understanding how and when these features develop has become essential to recognizing FASD early and accurately.

Adding to this momentum is a new R33 grant awarded to Carol Cheatham, PhD, and Julie Hasken, PhD, MPH, for their project, “Adventures in the Design and Trial of an Innovative FASD Risk Assessment.” This study takes a step forward in improving early detection and prevention by integrating weekly measures of prenatal alcohol exposure, maternal mental health, and – importantly – paternal alcohol use into a new risk model. It builds on years of collaborative research led by Phil May, PhD (retired NRI Principal Investigator) and includes an international collaboration with Stellenbosch University in South Africa, expanding the project’s reach and allowing the team to test their approach in a different cultural and research setting.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder encompasses a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. It remains among the leading preventable developmental disorders worldwide. Yet diagnosing FASD can be difficult, especially when exposure is unreported or when symptoms are subtle. By refining risk assessments and incorporating more comprehensive data from both parents, the new R33 project aims to address this gap with tools that can be used in clinics and communities around the globe.

The inclusion of an international partner is more than a logistical extension, it reflects the global burden of FASD and the need for culturally sensitive, data-driven approaches. “South Africa has the highest rates of FASD in the world. Working with colleagues at Stellenbosch University in South Africa allows us to more readily determine risk factors for having a child diagnosed with fetal alcohol effects,” said Cheatham. “With this grant, we will explore the father as a risk factor, which has not been done previously in a population with high incidence rates. Alongside our research, we also provide an education program that has been proven to lower rates of FASD in the catchment area.”

For Hasken, this grant also represents a professional milestone. Having joined the NRI in 2012 as a project manager, she followed the academia path and moved forward first as a doctoral student, then a postdoctoral research associate, and is now undertaking major federally funded research alongside long-time colleagues and mentors. “This work has always been deeply meaningful to me,” said Hasken. “To continue this line of research at an institute that invests in both its people and having a long-term impact is very fulfilling.”

These awards provide strong support for addressing FASD through both foundational science and real-world application – reflecting continued confidence in the NRI’s research amid a competitive funding landscape. The studies span from the molecular to the societal, from the earliest stages of craniofacial development to the complex web of factors that shape risk across families and cultures. As these projects move forward, they build on decades of sustained scientific effort and offer new opportunities to improve outcomes for children and families around the world.

Congratulations to Drs. Smith, Cheatham, and Hasken, and the entire research teams advancing this important work.