Svetlana Popova

Research Synopsis

Dr. Popova has a particular interest in the epidemiology, economic cost, prevention and intervention strategies related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Dr. Popova currently leading two of the largest FASD studies in Canada: 1) the estimation of burden and economic costs associated with FASD, and 2) the estimation of the prevalence of FASD among 8,000 elementary school children in Ontario, which is a part of the FASD National Strategic Projects Fund. These projects received attention from both the media and from the Canadian federal Ministry of Health. Both of these studies will serve as models for use in other countries. Dr. Popova is also a co-principal investigator of a twelve-country international study on estimating prevalence and incidence of FASD supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Dr. Popova has been published in high-impact journals such as the Lancet, International Journal of Epidemiology, American Journal of Epidemiology, International Journal of Cancer, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and Addiction. Her research is widely read and cited, and her publications have received over 350 citations per year over the last five years.

Dr. Popova is an associated editor of several peer-reviewed journals including BioMed Central Public Health, The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, and Journal of Addiction Research and Therapy.

Dr. Popova collaborated on the WHO Global Burden of Disease studies on alcohol consumption as a risk factor for burden of disease. She was also one of the conductors of the second Canadian Cost Study on Substance Abuse and Avoidable Cost of Alcohol Abuse in Canada.