His contributions are well recognized world wide. Riley also directs the Center for Behavioral Teratology at SDSU, which is involved in the study of brain and behavioral changes associated with prenatal drug and alcohol exposure.
Teratology is the scientific discipline involved with the study of birth defects.
The National Task Force will serve to foster coordination among government agencies, academic bodies, and community groups that conduct or support FAS and FAE research and programs. Furthermore, the Task Force will advise federal, state, and local programs concerning issues such as public awareness and education about the consequences of alcohol use during pregnancy. These children affected by alcohol, especially those without the characteristics of FAS, often fall through the cracks in our support systems and because of the damage caused by their prenatal alcohol exposure they may have behavioral problems that eventually lead to their living on the fringes of society, winding up in jail, or becoming substance abusers themselves. The task force will begin to make recommendations at the highest levels for dealing with specific problems that affect these children and their families. The Task Force will consist of 13 members who will meet two times annually from which they will generate a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the current and planned activities of the participating agencies.