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MU researcher receives grant for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention

MU School of Social Work

MU School of Social Work researcher Dr. Leigh Tenkku Lepper is receiving funding for her research on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The grant is for more than one million dollars, and is aimed at enhancing prevention efforts towards FASD. Tenkku Lepper knows what needs to be done to increase prevention towards the disease.

"We will train them on the identification of what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is, and in particular we will be doing discipline specific training," Tenkuu Lepper said.

Tenkku Lepper says she will also work with woman to feel more comfortable asking questions regarding the use of alcohol.

She believes that getting national exposure from organizations will also help them improve on their teaching techniques.

"This time with this new grant, the Practice Implementation Center, we've partnered with national organizations to help us improve the strength of our training and to get a national presence," Tenkku Lepper said.

According to Dr. Mansoo Yu, an Associate Professor for the School of Social Work, the grant will have a huge impact on what the school can do.

"I think this is really a good contribution to the School of Social Work because the School is now a more research oriented unit," Yu said.

Tenkku Lepper received grants from the CDC in the past and her total funding from the group now exceeds two million dollars. The last grant she received went towards leading the Midwest Regional Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Training Center.