Center for Spina Bifida Prevention

 

The Center for Spina Bifida Prevention (CSBP) is working to prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects through widespread fortification of food with folic acid.

Learn more about the center's work, history, and leadership here.

About the Center

CSBP's mission is to preventing every possible folic acid-preventable neural tube defect around the world. The center brings a unique approach focused on prevention, directing its attention to capturing the political will to mandate fortification of foods with folic acid, a B vitamin that has been proven to prevent spina bifida and anencephaly.

The center achieves its mission through collaboration with international partners such as:

  • Food Fortification Initiative
  • International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
  • International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research
  • Global Alliance for Prevention of Spina Bifida F
  • ReachAnother Foundation
  • Nutrition International
  • March of Dimes

 

Our Program

Advocacy

CSBP develops and supports country-level science-based advocacy by identifying and supporting in-country champions and facilitators. These advocates include physicians, parents of affected babies and children, and other influencers who will build the necessary social and political support for mandating, successfully implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of folic acid fortification.

Technical Assistance

The center provides technical support to country partners to strengthen the design, implementation, and monitoring of mandatory cereal grain fortification processes and integrates these programs into the existing government and milling systems to make prevention sustainable.

Monitoring Programs

CSBP will develop a biomarker surveillance program (based upon serum and red blood cell folate concentrations) and assist governments in using biomarker surveys to assess the success of required fortification programs.