At CanFASD, we believe that research informs action.  Whether you’re a caregiver, clinician, educator, policymaker, or an individual with FASD, access to reliable, up-to-date information is essential.  

However, research journals are a business. Journals charge users to access the information to cover the costs of publishing so that they can continue to release high-quality research. But this means that the research published is often out of the reach of the people who need this information most.  

That’s why we’re proud to launch the CanFASD Open-Access Research Fund – a new initiative designed to ensure that the important work we do remains freely available to everyone who needs it.  

What is open-access research?  

Open-access research refers to scholarly work that is freely available online. It allows anyone to read, share, and use research articles without barriers. This means a caregiver in a remote community, a service provider working on the front lines, or a policymaker drafting legislation can access the same high-quality research without paying for a subscription.  

About the fund  

While the benefits of open-access are clear, the cost of publishing in open-access journals is significant – often between $3,000 and $6,000 per article. At CanFASD, we do our best to include these costs in our research grants, so that we can publish our research open-access. But many of our projects fall outside traditional funding models, so the costs fall onto our organization. And with the number of publications we produce each year, the expenses quickly add up. We are stuck making tough decisions about which research we can publish open-access and which ones we cannot afford to.  

That’s where the Open-Access Research Fund comes in. This fund will help cover the costs of publishing our research in open-access formats, so it never gets locked behind a paywall.  

Examples of open-access research  

Open-access isn’t just a publishing choice – it’s a commitment to knowledge sharing. It’s how our research reaches the people who need it most and contributes to real-world change in the field of FASD.  

For example, some of the recent open-access publications from our team have included:  

• An updated systematic review on FASD and the criminal legal system  
• A study on women’s experiences with nicotine and cannabis vaping during pregnancy and postpartum  
• Insights into the resiliencies and experiences of caregivers raising individuals with FASD  

These studies – and many more – are already helping professionals, families, and communities make informed decisions and deliver better support.  

How you can help  

Many in the FASD community have relied on CanFASD research to better understand the disorder and improve support strategies. We’re excited to continue making research available to all who need it – and to keep building a stronger, more informed FASD community together.  

To learn more or make a donation to the fund, please visit our donate webpage. As the initiative grows, we’ll continue to highlight how the Open-Access Research Fund is helping to make our research more accessible and impactful.