1. Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Progress Reports June Presented CIFASD Steering Committee Meeting Santa Barbara, CA June 23-24, 2005

2. Progress Report for Administrative Core
The Specific Aims of the Consortium are as follows.
Establish procedures for better defining the range of outcomes from prenatal alcohol exposure.
Build upon existing research programs on FASD to meet this outcome.
Establish a basic science program assessing mechanisms of alcohol damage and translate this work into effective interventions.
Attract new and innovative investigators to the study of FASD by recruiting individuals for the development of U01 grants and pilot projects.
Secure additional funding to implement innovative interventions and treatment strategies on a wide scale.
Make available the data collected through this consortium to all interested parties.

3. Specific Aims
Since no single research site will have enough subjects to adequately address many important questions, this consortium builds upon existing programs on FASD.
Some countries have much higher rates and levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and of FASD than in the United States.
Our goal is to obtain concordance on a set of diagnostic criteria between sites, basing these criteria on the diagnostic techniques established in Aim #1.

4. Specific Aims
A Basic Science Cluster seeks to uncovering the basic mechanisms involved in alcohol teratogenesis and to design effective interventions to mitigate or prevent the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
The Cluster utilizes a spectrum of models, from molecular analysis of alcohol antagonist actions to prenatal ethanol effects in mice and rats
Projects will be integrated through a common focus on neural systems that are vulnerable to ethanol in humans, and effects of agents that prevent ethanol teratogenesis.
The Basic Science Cluster will work with the other clusters to translate fundamental scientific observations into clinically useful diagnostic tools and treatments.

5. Summary
Currently in the 03 year and plan on going into a 4th year as a no-cost extension
Progress has been slow and steady, but accelerating

6. Accomplishments of Admin Core
Convened twice yearly meetings
Convened conference calls of Steering Committee
Established web site.
Tests, minutes of meetings, manuals are on website
Developed statement on data sharing and authorship rights
Assisted projects with funds
Established online submission of pilot project program

7. Summary Dysmorphology Neurobehavioral Imaging
Data obtained from 6 sites
Over 1000 exams in Central Repository
Approximately 200 confirmed FAS cases
Over D images including over 100 confirmed FAS cases
Neurobehavioral
Exams completed on the majority of children - >400
Imaging
Scanned 30 children in San Diego and 20 in Finland
Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis are usually thought to be two independent processes that occur with aging. However, there is an increasing interest that these conditions are associated.
Links between the two conditions were first noted more than one hundred years ago by German Pathologist Rudolf Virchow who first reported morphologic similarities between calcified plaque and bone tissue.
Roentgenographic studies in the 1970s showed an association between calcification of the abdominal aorta and osteoporosis of the lumbar spine
Recent molecular biology studies discovered cells with both osteoblastic and osteoclastic potential in vascular tissue, and bone-related proteins have been identified in calcified arterial and valvular lesions.
Historically, this ectopic calcification was considered a degenerative process leading to passive precipitation of calcium phosphate. Molecular biology revealed that artery calcification is in fact an active process which is regulated by biological mechanisms similar to those of bone formation

8. Progress to date 13 Manuscripts accepted, in press or published
5 Additional manuscripts submitted
36 Posters, presentations, abstracts
Approximately 50% of the abstracts submitted on FAS to the 2006 RSA cite the consortium
1 Grant submitted

14. Progress Report for Pilot Project Core
Pilot Projects:
PILOT PROJECT 1 – FASD in the Ukraine. KL Jones
PILOT PROJECT 2 – A FASD Epidemiology in Italy. Philip May,
PILOT PROJECT 3 – Detecting FASD from Neonatal Ultrasound. A Streissguth.
PILOT PROJECT 4 Comparison of Three Diagnostic Modalities in FASD and Related Disorders. L Robinson

15. Progress Report for Pilot Project Core
Pilot Projects:
For the 03 year new pilots were solicited and reviewed by a panel chaired by Dr. West.
However, the Steering Committee decided a better use of those funds was to fund the basic science cluster in the 04 year.
Funds were secured for two new one year pilots. One new pilot has been awarded, one applicant decided to withdraw. Requests for funds are being considered.