Below is a list of ongoing research studies and projects currently looking for participants.

CAREGIVERS

Daily Parenting in Families of Adolescents with FASD
Researchers at the Enhance Lab are looking for caregivers of adolescents with FASD to be part of a Family Advisory Board for a new project on daily dynamics in parenting. Caregivers must be available to attend virtual meetings to give feedback on the study plan and the results of the study. To be eligible you must care for an adolescent with FASD (between 12 and 18 years old), live Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, and have access to technology to attend virtual meetings. If you are interested in participating in our committee or have any questions, please contact: enhancelab@ucalgary.ca

Seeking Family Advisory Members

C.A.R.E. Caregiver Approaches, Resiliencies, and Experiences
FASD is a complex disability. Caring for someone who has FASD comes with unique challenges and successes. Unfortunately, there has not been much research to understand the whole experience of caring for someone with FASD across the lifespan. This study aims to learn about the lived experiences of people who care for someone with FASD.

Substance Use Treatment in Youth with FASD – Caregivers
Are you a caregiver of someone with FASD between 12 and 24 years old? Did you support them through substance use treatment? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you can participate in our new study!

We are recruiting for an interview study to talk about your experience caring for someone through substance use treatment. The interview will take about 30-45 minutes of your time. If you’re interested in participating, please contact emcarlso@ualberta.ca.

INDIVIDUALS WITH FASD

Substance Use Treatment in Youth with FASD – Individuals with FASD
Do you have FASD? Are you between 12 and 24 years old? Have you gone through substance use treatment? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you can participate in our study.

We are recruiting for an interview study to talk about your lived experience in substance use treatment. The interview will take about 30-45 minutes of your time. If you’re interested in participating, please contact emcarlso@ualberta.ca.

Legal Decision-Making in Youth – Youth and Young Adults
PLAN Lab is inviting youth and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 with and without FASD who currently reside in Canada and speak English to participate in this study. The private meeting will take up to 2.5 hours, over one or two sessions, with breaks. Currently, the study meetings are taking place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Participants will be asked to read stories about a crime, make legal decisions, and answer interview questions about themselves, their decision-making, and knowledge of the legal system. Finally, participants will be asked to do some problem-solving activities to better understand their thinking and decision-making. Participants are eligible for compensation for their time. Learn more.

PROFESSIONALS

Substance Use Treatment in Youth with FASD – Service Providers
Are you a service provider who works with Indigenous youth in substance use treatment? Are you willing to share your experiences? We want to hear from you for a new research study.

Participation would include a phone or virtual interview (approximately 45 minutes long). For more information or to participate, contact project lead, Elizabeth Carlson at emcarlso@ualberta.ca

We are inviting professionals, clinicians and service providers who work in forensic and legal contexts to participate in an online survey examining practices around identifying and screening for FASD. The goal of this research is to better understand current practices and needs to inform the development of helpful tools and resources to support improved recognition, understanding, and support of people with FASD in criminal justice contexts. We are interested in hearing from those with and without experience identifying or screening for FASD in their role.

This study is being conducted by Dr. Kaitlyn McLachlan at the University of Guelph, Dr. Jacqueline Pei and Dr. Melissa Tremblay from the University of Alberta, Dr. Mansfield Mela at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Katy Flannigan from the Canada FASD Research Network, and the Asante Centre.

If you would like to participate or find out more about this study, you can access the survey here or contact us at planlab@uoguelph.ca or by phone: 518-824-4129, extension 53622

Evaluating the Psychotropic Medication Algorithm for FASD
Dr. Mela and a team of 12 multidisciplinary international experts spent over 2 years developing a decision-tree style medication algorithm to guide prescribers as they see patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder/Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (FASD/ND-PAE). This survey is to be completed by prescribers who are using the medication algorithm with their patients.

Transition to Adulthood

Lauren Gnat and Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya (Wilfrid Laurier University) are looking for adults with FASD or people who support an adult with FASD to tell them about how the transition to adulthood has been. Learn more and participate.

Poster advertising Transition to Adulthood Study

Brain Development in Children and Youth with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

The Developmental Neuroimaging Lab is looking for children and youth (7-18 years old) with and without prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) to participate in a study at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary or the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Learn more and participate.

UBC Health Study

Researchers from UBC are conducting a virtual study to learn whether exposure to alcohol prior to birth changes the microbial population of the gut, possibly leading to lifelong effects on a person’s health. They are looking adults from across Canada to participate, as well as children from Calgary, Alberta and Australia. Fill out the interest form here.