By Sarah Klein
Research for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the province is getting a hand thanks to $1.35 million in funding from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries.
The investment by the Crown corporation will go to the Canada-Israel International Fetal Alcohol Consortium (CIIFAC), made up of research teams from the University of Manitoba and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
“We want to provide families living with FASD the services and supports they need to live successfully — and to support women to have healthy pregnancies,” said Kevin Chief, Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities.
The funding will support research projects led by three Manitoba doctors, aimed at understanding the role of genetics to identify children affected by FASD at a younger age, and the role of nutrition in mitigating the risk and reducing the effects of FASD when women consume alcohol during pregnancy.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries will spend $11.6 million this year on liquor and gaming social responsibility programs in research, education, and awareness. Funding is based on a commitment of two percent of the organization’s annual net income for such purposes.
