Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Florida's Division of Sponsored Research received a $283,376 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under the Alcohol Research Programs (CFDA 93.273) on May 15, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. This Phase 1 clinical trial will deliver research services investigating the efficacy of sensory-enriched occupational therapy intervention for children aged 6-8 years with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The primary deliverables include characterization of changes in brain white matter microstructure related to sensory integration following intervention, assessment of improvements in sensory processing, self-regulation, and adaptive behavior, and development of a conceptual mediation model demonstrating how sensory enriched intervention alters neural architecture to produce behavioral improvements.

The research will advance the scientific understanding of FASD-related sensory processing deficits and establish preliminary evidence to support larger clinical trials. By examining neurobiological changes through white matter imaging and behavioral outcome measures, the project will generate empirical data on intervention effectiveness and contribute to the evidence base for developing improved treatment methods for alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders. The two-phase R61/R33 structure allows the research team to adapt study procedures and refine the intervention protocol based on preliminary findings prior to scaling to larger efficacy trials.