Tuesday June 10th 2025
FASD
Conference 2025: FASD in The UK: Shaping Future Research and Practice
Social
Sciences | University of Salford
Please join us at the University of Salford on Tuesday,
10th June 2025 for a pivotal conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders (FASD) as we explore the latest advances in research and its impact
on practice in the UK. This event is designed for health and social care
practitioners, educators, those working in the voluntary and charity sectors,
and researchers seeking to deepen their understanding of FASD. The conference
is co-created with families with lived experience, ensuring that families are
at the heart of the discussions.
Why
Attend?
·
Learn from Experts and Families: Discover the latest research on FASD, with key presentations
shaped by the expertise of both leading researchers and the lived experiences
of families. These insights will directly inform practice and policy
development in the UK.
·
Networking Opportunities: Engage with a diverse community of professionals, including
healthcare providers, educators, researchers, and most importantly, families
who have navigated the challenges of FASD. This is a unique opportunity to
exchange knowledge and form new collaborations.
·
Practical and Technical Insights: Main sessions will offer accessible and relevant information
that can be applied in your work, while parallel sessions will delve deeper
into more technical aspects of the field. User-friendly summaries of complex
research will be available. You’ll leave with tangible tools to support your
work, all framed within the context of real-world experiences.
This conference offers more
than just academic knowledge; it is an opportunity to contribute to the
conversation and impact future research and practices that will support those
affected by FASD in the UK.
NEWS and ARTICLES
News-Medical (Sweden) – Swedish study highlights prevalence of fetal alcohol
spectrum disorders
Out of 206 fourth-grade students, 19 met criteria for fetal alcohol
spectrum disorders. This was found in a pilot study conducted at the University
of Gothenburg. The results indicate that birth defects caused by alcohol
consumption during pregnancy may be as common in Sweden as in several other
European countries.
Read more
NZ Herald (New
Zealand) – ROCKING THE RED SHOES
BREAKFAST was off the menu today for the Tairawhiti Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Disorder Group.
Read more
Irish Examiner
(Ireland) – Silent epidemic of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder ‘coming down
the road at us fast and furiously’
The Government is being urged to recognise foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
as a disability by a support group which warns it is a silent epidemic “coming
down the road at us fast and furiously”.
Read more
Todayville (Canada) – Red
Deer RCMP receive 2021 FASD Champion Award
Members of the Red Deer RCMP’s Community Policing unit were honoured with
the Central Alberta FASD Network’s 2021 FASD Champion Award last month.
Read more
CBC (Canada) – Judge
acquits vulnerable man of murder due to ‘oppressive’ Winnipeg police
interrogation
A man described as a vulnerable person with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
was acquitted of second-degree murder last month, after a Winnipeg judge found
his police statement was made up of details he fabricated under pressure — as
two detectives took turns screaming at him “at the top of their
lungs” — and barred it from being used as evidence in his trial.
Read more
FASD-CAN (New Zealand)
– Northland Psychologist cuts off dreadlocks to raise money for FASD-CAN
Every year up to 3,000 babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
(FASD) in Aotearoa, New Zealand — a preventable but incurable brain-based
disorder that impacts the lives of families for a lifetime.
Read more
CanFASD – World
Health Day 2025: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures
Monday was World Health Day – an annual global event which provides an
opportunity to highlight pressing health issues affecting communities
worldwide. This year’s theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, underscores
the importance of supporting maternal and newborn health.
Read more
VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute – Supporting Young Children with FASD
This video provides basic information about FASD and how to support young
children with diagnosed or undiagnosed FASD. The tips provided can also be
helpful for parents and caregivers in different contexts.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – Patima Sing-Eisen – FASD Research Conference 2025
What a Diagnosis Could Mean. 9th International Research Conference on Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Read more
Health Nexus Santé – Discovering
FASD Later in Life: Understanding and Embracing a Late Diagnosis
In this virtual training, Nancy Lockwood interviews Reinier deSmit about
receiving an FASD diagnosis at the age of 56. Reinier shares how he always felt
different but never knew why until his diagnosis provided clarity and
self-acceptance. He discusses the impact on his relationships, health, and
finances, as well as the challenges and benefits of disclosure.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – FASD at Mid-Life: What Have We Learned? – FASD Research Conference
2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, Dr. Susan Stoner from the University of Washington presented on
“FASD at mid-life: what have we learned?”, highlighting emerging
research on mental health and substance use, physical characteristics and
conditions associated with FASD in midlife, and areas where affected
individuals show similarities or strengths compared to their peers.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – FASD: What’s in a Name? – FASD Research Conference 2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, Prof. Elizabeth Elliott led a roundtable titled “FASD: what’s
in a name?” examining the utility and implications of FASD as a diagnostic
term, including its links to stigma, confidentiality, and access to care, while
exploring evolving understandings of neurodevelopmental conditions and their
broader societal impacts.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – Paternal Drinking and the Epigenetic Influences on FASD – FASD
Research Conference 2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, Dr. Michael C. Golding presented on “Paternal drinking and the
epigenetic influences on mitochondrial function, child health, and FASD,”
exploring how paternal alcohol use affects offspring through epigenetic
mechanisms, impacts sperm and mitochondrial function, and may interact with
maternal drinking to influence FASD outcomes.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – Laura Bousquet – FASD Research Conference 2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, self-advocate and FASD United Family Navigator Laura Bousquet
presented “Nothing about us without us: exploring possibilities for
thriving with FASD,” sharing insights from lived experience and
emphasizing the importance of including individuals with FASD in shaping the
supports and systems that affect their lives.
Read more
Me and My FASD – Why
an FASD Diagnosis Matters and the Importance of Staying Positive
In this video Professor Raja Mukherjee, who is the UK’s leading FASD
specialist, talks with Georgia and Paul – two young adults with FASD – about
why having a diagnosis matters.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – Modifiable Lifestyle Factors to Support Neurodevelopment in FASD –
FASD Research Conference 2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, Dr. Jeffrey Wozniak and Dr. Blake Gimbel presented on
“Modifiable lifestyle factors to support neurodevelopment in individuals
with FASD,” highlighting evidence-based strategies such as nutrition,
sleep, and exercise that can positively influence brain development and
functioning in people with FASD.
Read more
FASDSUCCESS – #076
The Bofenkamps: An FASD Family Divided Then United
Today I chat with my good friend, and Caregiver Kickstart Coaching program
alumni, Christine and her daughter Angelina. Not only has their relationship
improved in the last year, since getting real about FASD, and working through
their grief and loss, they have emerged the other side and are kicking some
advocacy ass right now in their home state of Kansas.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – The Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD) Symposium: Part I –
FASD Research Conference 2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, the first part of the CIFASD symposium featured presentations by
Drs. Edward Riley, Amanda Mahnke, Claire Coles, and Blake Gimbel, offering
insights into the Collaborative Initiative on FASD’s current research,
including the use of microRNAs as biomarkers, long-term health impacts of
prenatal alcohol exposure, and advanced brain imaging to study neurodevelopment
in individuals with FASD.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – The Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD) Symposium: Part II –
FASD Research Conference 2025
At the 9th International Research Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders, the second part of the CIFASD symposium featured presentations by
Drs. Michael Suttie, Miguel del Campo, Jeffrey Wozniak, Christie Petrenko, and
Cristiano Tapparello, highlighting advances in 3D imaging for diagnosing facial
features of FASD, evaluation methods for dysmorphology, combined brain
stimulation and cognitive training interventions, and the use of digital tools
to improve access to care across the lifespan.
Read more
FASD United (formerly
NOFAS) – We Can Destigmatize FASD – Video from International FASD Research
Conference 2025
This interactive full-day pre-conference session builds on the dialogue
started at the 2017 Pre-Conference in Vancouver, and will focus on the
pervasive stigma and stereotypes associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders (FASD).
Read more
Patricia Kasper, Your
FASD Coach – The Now What: Tools for Parenting & Understanding FASD with
Antonia Rathbun Lindsey
In this captivating episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper reunites
with the insightful Antonia Rathbun Lindsay to celebrate the impending release
of her highly anticipated book, Parenting Your Porcupine: Tools for Working
with Children with FASD, Drug Effects, and Other Neurodiversities.
Read more
Early Years TV – Free
Video: Dr Carolyn Blackburn on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Dr Carolyn Blackburn has worked in childcare and education for 20 years and
has established a reputation for supporting children with special educational
needs and disabilities.
Read more
RESEARCH
East Tennessee State University – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Implications and Interventions
This study examines socioeconomic and healthcare barriers contributing to
underdiagnosis and limited educational interventions in this region (Department
of Education, 2021).
Read more
European Journal of Paediatric
Neurology – Transcranial magnetic stimulation in children with fetal alcohol
spectrum disorder: A randomised, crossover pilot-trial
In this crossover study, we evaluated the feasibility and effects of
high-frequency 10Hz-rTMS and iTBS over the left and right DLPFC, respectively,
in children with FASD. Real low-frequency 1Hz-rTMS – expected to have no effect
on FASD-symptoms – was used as control.
Read more
Alcohol: Clinical and
Experimental Research – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder identification in
Australia: A qualitative analysis of perspectives from psychologists and
individuals with lived and living experience
Recognition of the impact of PAE is growing in Australia; however, there is
a need to embed this topic within university training for psychologists.
Read more
Eastern Ukrainian
Medical Journal – EFFECTS OF PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE ON CHILD HEALTH
Clinical observation of a child with FAS in the neonatal period correlates
with data from the literature on the impact of high doses of alcohol on fetal
development, which leads to the formation of congenital malformations, mainly
in the central nervous system and complicates the course of postnatal
adaptation due to severe neurological disorders.
Read more
Australian and New
Zealand Journal of Public Health – Suboptimal industry adherence to the
design specifications of the mandatory pregnancy warning label
The findings indicate that the application of the mandatory pregnancy
warning label may be suboptimal in the Australian alcohol market. The lower
adherence among spirits and wine products is concerning given their higher
alcohol content.
Read more
Alcohol: Clinical and
Experimental Research – Prenatal alcohol exposure alters brain structure and
neurocognitive outcomes for 6- to 7-year-old children in a South African birth
cohort
This study suggests that there is persistent altered brain structural
development in children with PAE, consistent with previous findings in this
cohort at infancy and age 2–3 years.
Read more
Pediatrics &
Neonatology – Does Supplementation of Choline During or After Pregnancies
Exposed to Alcohol Improve Neurocognitive Development of Children? A
Meta-Analysis
Supplementation of choline in either period could benefit neurocognitive
development in children of heavy-drinking mothers.
Read more
Autism Research – Prenatal
Maternal Alcohol Exposure During the First Trimester of Pregnancy in Relation
to Early Learning Ability, Behavioral Problems, and Autistic Traits in
Preschool Children With or Without Autism Spectrum Disorder
As expected, our findings suggest that PAE-FT is associated with adverse
behavioral development of children regardless of ASD status. However, PAE-FT
may exacerbate autism-specific developmental problems and learning difficulties
in children with ASD.
Read more
NeoReviews – Plans
of Safe Care in Substance-Exposed Infants: Components, Complexities, and
Collaboration
Plans of Safe Care, first mentioned in US federal legislation in 2003, are
intended to address the health and safety of infants and families impacted by
prenatal substance exposure.
Read more
Alcohol: Clinical and
Experimental Research – Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy
andchild development: Role of ADH1B and ALDH2 genepolymorphisms—The Yamanashi
Adjunct Study of the JapanEnvironment and Children’s Study
The role of polymorphisms in genes regulating alcohol metabolism,
particularly those modulating the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the
neurodevelopment of offspring, remains inconclusive.
Read more
J Midwifery Womens
Health – Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Educational Content in US
Midwifery Training Programs: A Survey
Program directors identified several barriers to enhanced PSUD education
and clinical experience for their students, including lack of dedicated
perinatal addiction clinicians, lack of faculty expertise, lack of time in the
curriculum, and lack of time by faculty, among others.
Read more
Midwifery – Pregnancy,
risk behaviors and adverse reproductive outcomes: Is preconception care working
in Italy?
Our survey showed a limited use of the preconception visit among Italian
women. It may represent a valid resource to improve the folic acid
supplementation and immunization before pregnancy.
Read more
IN OTHER LANGUAGES
WELT Podcast (Germany) – Diagnose FASD — Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft und
die Folgen
Studien gehen davon aus, dass etwa jede vierte Frau in Deutschland Alkohol
trinkt, während sie schwanger ist. Ab welcher Menge schadet Alkohol dem
Ungeborenen? Welche körperlichen und psychischen Folgen hat der Konsum für das
Kind?
Read more
Göteborgs Universitet
(Sweden) – Alkoholskador hos barn kan vara underskattade
Av 206 fjärdeklassare hade 19 tecken på skador som orsakats av alkohol i
fosterlivet. Det visar en pilotstudie vid Göteborgs universitet.
Read more
FASD Suomi (Finland) –
Webinaari: Miten FASD vaikuttaa lapseen?
FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) tarkoittaa alkoholin aiheuttamien
sikiövaurioiden laajaa kirjoa. Webinaarissa käsitellään sitä, miten FASD
vaikuttaa lapsen kehitykseen ja miten tukea FASD-lasta ja -nuorta.
Read more
