Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention

01/14/2026

Birth Defects Awareness Month is a meaningful time to reflect on the science that helps protect the earliest stages of life 💛

Teratology is the study of birth defects, including how genetic factors and environmental exposures can disrupt fetal development. Over the decades, teratology has led to life-saving public health discoveries, including identifying harmful exposures (teratogens), understanding real-world tragedies like the thalidomide crisis, and supporting major prevention successes like folic acid supplementation.

This field continues to guide safer pregnancy care, inform medication decisions, and empower families and educators with evidence-based knowledge.

The Teratology Primer, 3rd Edition is a free, trusted educational resource with chapters written by experts in developmental and reproductive science.

Read the Teratology Primer chapter ‘What is Teratology?’:
https://www.birthdefectsresearch.org/primer/foreword.asp

F. Clarke Fraser, 1920-2014, was one of the founders of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. This original foreword is included for historical perspective.

09/24/2025

The recent White House announcement on acetaminophen and autism has raised concerns. Since its founding in 1960, the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention has evaluated potential risks to pregnant women and their babies—including those linked to high fevers in early pregnancy—and continues to affirm that acetaminophen is appropriate for use during pregnancy.

Here’s what other leading experts say:
➡ ACOG & SMFM: No strong evidence shows acetaminophen causes autism/ADHD; it remains appropriate for treating pain and fever in pregnancy.
➡ AAP: Warns against “dangerous and misleading” claims; autism is complex and strongly influenced by genetics, not a single medication.
➡ Important: Untreated high fever in pregnancy is known to cause adverse outcomes — treatment matters.

📖 Helpful explainer by Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention member and expert Dr. Sura Alwan: Autism is not a scare story – The Conversation https://ow.ly/cjFz50X1yU6

📰Quick 6-minute read from Scientific American: Does Tylenol Use during Pregnancy Cause Autism? What the Research Shows https://ow.ly/NuNh50X1yxL

✅ Use ONLY the recommended dose. Do not take more medicine than recommended. Do not take the medicine more often than recommended. Consult your care provider.

Trusted resources:
📌ACOG: https://ow.ly/jlHM50X1yWf
📌SMFM: https://ow.ly/ey1G50X2Pv1
📌AAP: https://ow.ly/exUY50X1yZM
📌MotherToBaby: https://ow.ly/s5hJ50X1z26

08/15/2025

The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention expresses our deepest support for colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the broader public health workforce following the tragic events at CDC headquarters in Atlanta last week.

Public health professionals dedicate their careers to protecting and improving the health of every community. Their work is essential to the safety, well-being, and future of our nation. We honor their commitment, share in their grief, and reaffirm the importance of supporting those who serve in these vital roles.

We urge all Americans to recognize and uphold the value of public health and those who dedicate their lives to it.

Read the Public Health Leaders’ Joint Statement in Response to the Attack on CDC here:https://www.aphl.org/news/Documents/8-14-2025_Public-Health-Joint-Statement-on-Attack-on-CDC-FINAL-8-14-25.pdf

06/18/2025

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02/12/2025

Stay Connected with BDRP on LinkedIn!

Are you following the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (BDRP) on LinkedIn? That’s where we’re sharing the latest research highlights, policy updates, event announcements, and more!

Whether you’re a researcher, healthcare professional, student, or industry stakeholder, our LinkedIn page is the best way to stay engaged with BDRP’s work and connect with a global community focused on improving birth outcomes.

Follow us today:

1 billion members | Manage your professional identity. Build and engage with your professional network. Access knowledge, insights and opportunities.

01/30/2025

New Blog Post – Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A (Toxicologist) Mother’s Perspective

The latest Birth Defects Insights Blog post offers a unique and personal perspective on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).

In 2017, Dr. Melissa Beck learned that her daughter had been prenatally exposed to opioids and that her daughter’s birthmother had not had access to consistent prenatal care. As both a developmental toxicologist and a mother, Dr. Beck shares her experience navigating her daughter's NAS diagnosis, treatment, and long-term health. Drawing on her scientific background, she sought evidence-based information to better understand NAS and the gaps in our knowledge about the long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure.

As Birth Defects Awareness Month comes to a close, Dr. Beck expresses deep appreciation for the scientists, clinicians, and public health professionals working to prevent birth defects, improve diagnostic and treatment protocols, and provide critical support for affected families.

🔗 Read the full blog post: https://birthdefectsresearch.medium.com/neonatal-abstinence-syndrome-a-toxicologist-mothers-perspective-b03c6d4a27bc

📢 Upcoming BDRP Annual Meeting (Denver, CO): Dr. Beck will co-chair the session The Ripple Effect: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome from Birth to Adolescence.

A Birth Defects Insights Blog by Melissa J. Beck, PhD

01/29/2025

Updated Joint Position Statement on Vaccines 💉

The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (BDRP) and the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) have released an updated position statement reinforcing the critical role of vaccination in protecting the health of pregnant individuals and their children.

Key Updates:
✔️ Continuing support for vaccination – Evidence continues to accumulate supporting the value of vaccines in reducing mortality and morbidity, with an estimated 154 million deaths averted globally in the last 50 years.
✔️ New maternal vaccines – Two new effective and safe vaccines available during pregnancy have been introduced since the previous position statement released in 2020:
🔹 COVID-19 vaccine
🔹 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
✔️ Challenges to vaccine uptake – The rise of misinformation and declining vaccination rates threaten decades of progress in preventing vaccine-preventable birth defects and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
✔️ Support for ongoing research and development on future maternal vaccines – Research is ongoing for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccines, which have the potential to prevent birth defects and severe neonatal infections.

BDRP and OTIS continue to advocate for vaccine education and aim to address public concerns regarding vaccine safety to ensure the best possible outcomes for future generations.

📄 Read the full position statement here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bdr2.2433

Click on the article title to read more.

01/28/2025

📘 Discover the Third Edition of the Teratology Primer!
As part of our ongoing mission to promote awareness during Birth Defects Awareness Month, the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention is excited to share the Teratology Primer, 3rd Edition—a cornerstone resource for professionals, educators, and students in the field.

The Primer offers a comprehensive exploration of teratology. From the foundational principles, to the latest advances in developmental biology and toxicology, this edition encapsulates decades of progress and ongoing challenges in understanding how environmental and genetic factors shape human development.

📌 Explore the full Teratology Primer, 3rd Edition here: https://www.birthdefectsresearch.org/primer/index.asp

The Teratology Primer introduces teachers and students to the field of birth defects research and is made freely available for download.

01/21/2025

🌟 Educational Resources for Birth Defects Awareness Month 🌟

MotherToBaby, in partnership with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, has launched exciting new tools and resources to raise awareness and enhance understanding of prenatal exposures and their impacts:

🎯 Interactive Pregnancy Tool:
The Critical Periods of Pregnancy Tool allows users to explore how prenatal exposures can impact different stages of development. By entering the last menstrual period or estimated due date, users can visualize key developmental milestones, such as the formation of the heart and lungs, and learn about their timing relative to exposures.

Visit this tool here: https://mothertobaby.org/critical-periods-pregnancy-development-tool/

🎙️ FASD Podcast Series:
MotherToBaby’s 3-part podcast series on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), developed in collaboration with the CDC and FASD United (formerly NOFAS), provides critical education on recognizing and addressing FASD.

Listen here: https://mothertobaby.org/podcast/ep-81-fasd-discovery-and-prevalence/

📅 Free Webinar on FASD:
Join Dr. Noemi Spinazzi of the American Academy of Pediatrics for a free webinar on January 31, 2025, at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET. Designed for healthcare providers, the webinar will provide actionable insights into FASD prevention, diagnosis, and care.

Register here: https://momtobaby.org/FASDwebinar2025

At the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, we celebrate these innovative efforts to educate families, healthcare professionals, researchers and the public to prevent and address birth defects.

Use the MotherToBaby pregnancy calculator and chart below to determine how far along you are and see how your baby develops during pregnancy. This interactive tool shows when the baby’s body parts could be most sensitive to exposures, and is best displayed on a desktop. Please click on each part o...

01/06/2025

🎗️ January is Birth Defects Awareness Month 🎗️

According to the CDC, every 4.5 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect. Help us raise awareness for these conditions this January during Birth Defects Awareness Month.

We celebrate the impactful work of our global scientific community, reaffirm our dedication to educating future researchers and advocate for initiatives that promote maternal and child health. As researchers and educators, let's continue to raise awareness, drive research & innovation, and collaborate across disciplines to work towards healthier beginnings for generations to come!

💡 Learn more about Birth Defects Awareness Month: https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/awareness-month/index.html #

January is Birth Defects Awareness Month. Join the effort to raise awareness of birth defects.

12/12/2024

A heartfelt thank you to our 2024 Sustaining Members!

Platinum Level: Charles River Labs
Gold Level: AbbVie and GSK
Silver Level: Pfizer, , and Eli Lilly and Company

Your support enables BDRP to remain a vital platform for fostering multi-disciplinary research, exchange of ideas, and continuing education throughout the year.

Together, we are advancing toward a future where all babies are born free from preventable birth defects and disorders of developmental origin. We look forward to continuing this important work with you!

11/14/2024

Great article about BDRP member Dr. Julia Gohlke and the important work that she and her team at Virginia Tech do.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/scientific-journeys-confronting-health-vz9ye/

By Lindsay Key Rural landscapes make up about 90% of the United States’ land area and provide most of the nation’s food, energy, water, and other natural resources. Yet only 20% of Americans live in a rural area.