PCOM Researchers Awarded Grant to Help Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

September 18, 2026

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) researchers are advancing efforts to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) and improve health outcomes for children and families through a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

FASDs refers to the wide range of physical, behavioral and cognitive impairments that occur due to alcohol exposure during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to one in 20 school-age children may have FASDs. 

Funded by the NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the research is led by Yukiko Washio, PhD, a clinical researcher and professor in PCOM’s School of Professional and Applied Psychology. Washio has more than 15 years of experience studying maternal mental health, and substance and alcohol use. Amanda Fisher, PhD, BCBA-D, a professor in the School of Professional and Applied Psychology and certified behavioral analyst, is co-leading the study.

The nearly three-year research project is evaluating a behavioral intervention to reduce alcohol and other substance use during pregnancy and lactation, with the goal of preventing FASDs and other adverse outcomes for infants. The clinical trial uses an incentive-based approach, providing financial incentives when urine testing confirms abstinence from alcohol and tobacco or cannabis. Researchers will evaluate changes in substance-use behaviors and key pregnancy outcomes, including birth weight, head circumference and gestational age. 

The findings may help inform future approaches to maternal and pediatric care, support early prevention of FASDs, and determine whether incentive-based interventions are a cost-effective way to promote healthier behaviors and improve outcomes for both mothers and their children. 

“Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are preventable,” Washio said. “By developing and testing effective ways to reduce alcohol exposure during pregnancy, we can move from awareness to action and help give children the healthiest possible start to life.”

Washio and Fisher hope the study’s findings can inform prevention efforts and support families in communities throughout the region. “In areas surrounding Philadelphia, we see many families affected by substance-use challenges,” Fisher said. “Research like this could be especially valuable in healthcare centers by helping us support parents and improve outcomes for children and families.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism within the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R33AA030043. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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