The New Mexico Alcohol Research Center (NMARC) at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences has received a five-year, $7.3 million extension of its National Institutes of Health program grant, supporting the center’s ongoing study of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
“We’re looking at mechanisms responsible for the effects of alcohol on the brain,” said center director C. Fernando Valenzuela, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurosciences in the UNM School of Medicine. “We mainly focus on neurological, behavioral and neuro-psychiatric deficits.”
FASD, which results from prenatal exposure to alcohol, can lead to significant neurological deficits and is widespread in New Mexico and across the nation.
“FASD is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, and in theory, it’s completely preventable,” Valenzuela stated. However, he noted that many women of reproductive age consume alcohol and may not realize they are pregnant for up to a month, during which time significant fetal exposure can occur.
The grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism represents the third round of full funding for NMARC since its inception in 2008 with a three-year exploratory grant. Researchers affiliated with NMARC have investigated unique biomarkers for diagnosing FASD and evaluated potential therapeutic interventions such as music training and specialized video games aimed at enhancing cognition.
The next phase will focus on specific deficits experienced by individuals living with FASD. “We’re trying to understand how alcohol exposure in utero affects visual spatial memory and cognitive flexibility,” Valenzuela explained. “Sometimes, memory is not so good and the ability to learn things related to space and time can be impaired.”
NMARC collaborates with faculty members from various departments within UNM Health Sciences and other university divisions including Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Pharmacy, Psychology, as well as partnering with researchers at the Mind Research Network for critical neuro-imaging support.
Additionally, NMARC partners with the UNM Center for Development & Disability (CDD) within the Department of Pediatrics. CDD provides clinical care for children and adolescents with developmental disorders and serves as a pathway for recruiting participants in neuroimaging studies while informing research priorities.
“The human work is informing our laboratory studies,” Valenzuela said. “That’s the strength of the center. They tell us what they see in clinics so we can focus our research accordingly.”
Valenzuela highlighted that individuals with FASD possess numerous strengths. “The field is shifting in recognizing that,” he said. “They have tremendous abilities that we can foster and facilitate.”
NMARC also contributes significantly to employment opportunities for scientists, research technicians, students, and provides important training prospects within New Mexico.
“I’m very excited for what we can contribute to help with this condition,” Valenzuela remarked. “I’m also excited to be working with this talented group of scientists and trainees.”
