Every two years, the European FASD Alliance (EUFASD) host an FASD research conference somewhere in Europe. This year (2026), the 8th EUFASD conference was held in the city of Amiens in northern France.
Salford FASD members, as well as many of our colleagues from across the UK, attended and presented their research.
Professor Penny Cook delivered a plenary talk on our parent training programme, SPECIFiC, which has shown promising results in a feasibility trial. She also delivered a parallel talk on a UK survey of public attitudes on molecular screening for prenatal alcohol exposure, which showed that there was broad support, alongside concerns about stigma, consent, privacy, and misuse of results.
Dr Alan Price delivered a parallel talk describing the pilot study of our classroom intervention, The Animation Curriculum, and a poster describing an ongoing scoping review of FASD interventions and service provision.
Alan Price speaking about The Animation Curriculum
Alan Price speaking about a scoping review of FASD interventions
Kathy Perryman presented a poster describing facilitators’ and participants’ experiences of the SPECIFiC programme. This qualitative study showed that the programme positively impacted caregivers by increasing engagement, confidence, knowledge, and advocacy skills. Participants reported improved understanding of FASD, changed expectations of children’s abilities, and enhanced family well-being through practical support strategies.
Professor Arijit Mukhopadhyay delivered a parallel talk on a study of how alcohol exposure affects developing nerve cells, which found lasting changes in specific genetic markers (microRNAs). These markers could potentially be detected non-invasively and help identify prenatal alcohol exposure earlier, improving diagnosis and support for people with FASD.
Anna Webster (Salford) and Rebecca Govan (Birmingham City University) delivered a plenary talk on the Neurowise model, their integrative psychoeducation and therapeutic coaching approach for FASD care.
Anna Webster and Rebecca Govan speaking about the Neurowise model
Dr Stewart McDougall (University of Edinburgh) presented a poster on designing qualitative research with children with PAE and their parents to inform patient engagement and clinical practice, which was conducted alongside Salford Honorary Fellow Dr Jack Purrington
Ellie Shepherd (Lancaster University PhD candidate, working with Salford honorary research fellow Dr Jack Purington) delivered a parallel talk on “Caregivers’ Experiences of Family-Based Trauma-Informed Interventions for Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure”.
Ellie Shepherd
Dr Jack Purrington (Clinical Psychologist at Chrysalis Associates and Honorary Research Fellow at University of Salford) presented a poster on therapists’ experiences of adapting Theraplay to better meet the needs of care experienced children with developmental trauma, attachment disruptions, and FASD.
Dr Jack Purrington presenting his poster on trauma therapy for people with FASD
Professor Arijit Mukhopadhyay chaired a Plenary session on Biomarkers and new technologies for FASD, and Professor Raja Mukherjee chaired a parallel session on multiple environmental risk factors and mental health issues.
And last but not least, Professor Raja Mukherjee announced that EUFASD2028 would be hosted by Salford FASD in the city of Manchester!
Raja Mukherjee announcing the location for EUFASD2028, with (from left to right) Alan Price, Anna Webster, Arijit Mukhopadhyay, and Kathy Perryman