The Manitoba government will provide up to $750,000 to support new research between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Manitoba to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
"This new collaboration and partnership is absolutely essential if we want to find solutions to the complicated health challenges facing our world in the 21st century," said Dr. Digvir S. Jayas with the University of Manitoba. "Our researchers, working alongside colleagues at Hebrew University in Israel, will help unlock the key to preventing FASD and translate those findings into better treatments for people around the world."
FASD is an umbrella term for the range of effects that can occur in children after their mothers drink alcohol while pregnant.
"Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a serious concern in communities around the world," said Faith Kaplan with the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University. "We are confident our research consortium will improve the understanding of what leads to children being born with FASD. Such collaboration is completely consistent with Hebrew University's mission to improve the world."
The government says the funding announcement is part of a larger strategy to "aggressively tackle" the issue of FASD. The government says it is committing $11.5 million this year to support ongoing prevention, education, diagnostics, support services and research.
