In 1999, Florida established legal authority for statewide birth defects surveillance, creating the Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR). For more than 25 years, the University of South Florida, through the Birth Defects Surveillance Program (BDSP), has served as a critical partner in this nationally recognized registry, advancing surveillance, prevention, and evaluation efforts that have impacted the lives of over 400,000 Florida infants and their families.

In collaboration with the Florida Department of Health, our efforts have also focused on providing vital resources to families affected by birth defects and neonatal abstinence syndrome, helping them access the care, information, and support they need to navigate these challenges.