Poster presented on Society of Toxicology Canada – 51st Annual Symposium_Sidra Shafique_December 2019_Shaw Centre Ottawa, Ontario. Canada Valproic acid (VPA), is a widely used antiepileptic drug and an effective treatment of a variety of seizures, bipolar disorders, and migraine [Fig 1]. The incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) is 1-2% following VPA exposure during pregnancy. Stat3 is a critical signaling molecule [Fig 2]. We hypothesized that in utero VPA exposure alters Stat3 expression in neural tube defects. The significant downregulation of phosphorylated Stat3 levels suggests that decreased Stat3 activity and resulting induction of apoptosis may lead to the failure of the neural tube to close during mouse embryo neurulation.