This FOA solicits applications in the form of cooperative agreements to investigate potentially modifiable risk factors for spina bifida in the presence of adequate folate (i.e.
where there is established mandatory folic acid fortification or among populations for which there is individual-level
data on periconceptional folic acid use), including identification of novel risk factors, identification of factors that may alter the impact of established risk factors (e.g.
physical activity and obesity), and replication of previously observed associations from population-based epidemiological studies (e.g.
National Birth Defects Prevention Study).