Referral & Review

The Cell Development and Function [CDF] IRG is mainly focused on fundamental aspects of cellular function ineukaryotic cells and tissues. These include the genesis, structure, and function of cells and organelles; cell compartmentalization and vesicular transport; cell motility; chromatin structure and function; transcription, DNA replication; RNA processing and stability; translational control; regulation of the cell cycle; cell death; cell-cell and cell- substrate interactions; intracellular and intercellular signal transduction; growth factors; oncogene and tumor suppressor function in mitogenesis and transformation; membrane transport processes; some aspects of  developmental biology; and differentiation of cells and tissues.

 The following study sections are included within the CDF IRG:

Cell Development and Function 1 Study Section[CDF-1]
Cell Development and Function 2 Study Section[CDF-2]
Cell Development and Function 3 Study Section[CDF-3]
Cell Development and Function 4 Study Section[CDF-4]

Fellowship Study Section: Cell and Developmental Biology [ZRG1 F05]

Special Study Section U [SSS-U]
CDF Small Business Activities [SBIR/STTR]
Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye Study Section [BDPE]

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Cell Development and Function 1 Study Section [CDF-1]

[CDF-1 Roster]

The Cell Development and Function 1 Study Section [CDF-1] Study Section addresses molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic gene regulation and related cellular functions.

Specific areas covered by CDF-1:

·         Chromosome structure and dynamics

·         Mechanisms and regulation of gene transcription

·         RNA processing, nuclear export and stability

·         Control of mRNA translation

·         Genetic regulation of cell growth and differentiation

·         Intracellular signal transduction pathways impinging on nuclear functions, cell proliferation and differentiation

·         Studies include in vitro systems and organisms ranging from yeast, plants, and invertebrate animals to mice and human cultured cell lines.

CDF-1 has the following shared interests within the CDF IRG:

·         With CDF-2 regarding chromatin structure and dynamics; transcription mechanisms and control; and RNA processing, export and turnover

·         With CDF-3 and CDF-4 regarding intracellular protein kinase signaling pathways, cell cycle control, and oncogene and tumor suppressor functions

CDF-1 has the following shared interests outside the CDF IRG:

·         With the BIO Study Section regarding nucleic acid enzymology, DNA- and RNA-protein interactions, and protein kinase signaling mechanisms

·         With the GNS IRG regarding regulation of gene expression, mechanisms and regulation of DNA synthesis and genetic recombination, and chromatin structure and dynamics

·         With the REB Study Section regarding gene expression, regulation, transcription, translation, and chromosome structure relative to germ cells and early development

·         With the ENR IRG regarding mechanisms and regulation of gene transcription, RNA processing, nuclear export and stability, control of mRNA translation, genetic regulation of cell growth and differentiation, and intracellular signal transduction pathways

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Cell Development and Function 2 Study Section [CDF-2]

[CDF-2 Roster]

The Cell Development and Function 2 [CDF-2] Study Section addresses mechanistic and structural aspects of membrane biology, cell motility, cell division, molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic gene regulation, and basic cellular and molecular aspects of cell senescence.

Specific areas covered by CDF-2:

·         DNA replication

·         Chromatin structure including telomeres and telomerase

·         Transcription

·         RNA processing, transport and stability

·         Cell senescence; cell and organelle motility [microtubules, microfilaments and molecular motor molecules]

·         Membrane molecular biology [endocytosis, exocytosis, and targeting of proteins to specific cell organelles and/or compartments]

·         In vitro biological systems as well as both animal and plant cells are studied.

CDF-2 has the following shared interests within the CDF IRG:

·         With CDF-1 regarding chromatin structure and function, transcriptional mechanisms and control, and RNA processing, export and turnover

·         With CDF-3 regarding cell senescence, cell cycle control, and transcriptional regulation

·         With CDF-4 regarding membrane molecular biology and cell motility

CDF-2 has the following shared interests outside the CDF IRG:

·         With the BIO Study Section regarding DNA replication, protein degradation, and transcription

·         With the PC Study Section regarding DNA replication, protein processing, and trafficking

·         With the GEN Study Section regarding chromatin structure and function

·         With the REB Study Section regarding meiotic cell division

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Cell Development and Function 3 Study Section [CDF-3]

[CDF-3 Roster]

The Cell Development and Function 3 [CDF-3] Study Section addresses growth and phenotypic expression of cells in vitro, regulation of the cell cycle, and structure and function of the plasma membrane.

Specific areas covered by CDF-3:

·         Intracellular and intercellular signal transduction

·         Regulation of the cell cycle

·         Growth factors, oncogene and tumor suppressor function in mitogenesis, transformation, and apoptosis

·         Related areas of transcription

·         Structure and function of membrane transport processes and signal transduction.

CDF-3 has the following shared interests within the CDF IRG:

·         With CDF-1 and CDF-2 regarding transcriptional regulation and nuclear processes

·         With CDF-4 regarding membrane transport functions

CDF-3 has the following shared interests outside the CDF IRG:

·         With the ENR IRG for research on signaling by hormones, meiotic cell cycle control, and apoptosis in reproductive tissues, especially gonads

·         With the GMB Study Section for studies on ion and solute transport across membranes and epithelia

·         With the NTRC, MNPS, and NCF Study Sections for research emphasizing transport processes and excitation-coupling [signaling] in muscle and nervous systems

·         With the PHRA Study Section regarding receptor/ion channel/signal transduction, and G proteins, especially related to cardiovascular systems

·         With the PTHB Study Section regarding research on tumor cells, tumor progression, metastasis, related in vivo studies, and cancer treatment

·         With the BCS IRG regarding signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, membrane structure, cell-cell interaction

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Cell Development and Function 4 Study Section [CDF-4]

[CDF-4 Roster]

The Cell Development and Function 4 [CDF-4] Study Section addresses cell motility; cell compartmentalization and vesicular transport mechanisms; cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions; signaling; and developmental biology.

Specific areas covered by CDF-4:

·         Studies of cellular organelles

·         Cell and organelle motility

·         Endocytosis, exocytosis, and intracellular targeting of proteins

·         Developmental biology.

CDF-4 has the following shared interests within the CDF IRG:

·         With CDF-1 regarding intracellular protein kinase signaling pathways and cell cycle control

·         With CDF-2 regarding cell and organelle motility, endocytosis, exocytosis, and protein targeting

·         With CDF-3 regarding membrane transport functions

CDF-4 has the following shared interests outside the CDF IRG:

·         With the PBC Study Section for research on cell matrix and cell-cell interactions

·         WithBSCT within the MDCN IRG, and CVA within the CVS IRG,regarding gap junction structure andf unction

·         With the BBCB s tudy s ection for studies on the physical properties of cytoskeleton, actin and myosin

·         With the DEV-1, DEV-2 andREB study section s for studies on early development and embryogenesis

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In addition to thecommonalitiesidentifiedabove,more than oneCDFstudy sectionmay have shared interests withthe followingstudy sections inother IRGs:

·         With the ELB and HT Study Sections in the HEME IRGregardinggeneral principles of protein or membrane structure or cell function, that use blood elements primarily as a convenient source of material.

·         With DEV-2 within the BDA IRG regarding cell biological and genetic studies, if the focus is cell biological or genetic.

·         With CMADwithin the BDA IRGregarding general principles of gene and cell function, unrelated to whole organism development, aging and their perturbations. 

·         With SMEPwithin the MOSS IRGregarding general principles of protein or membrane structure, or cell function, using skeletal muscle elements primarily as a convenient source of material.

·         With CEwithin the ONC IRGregarding findings that could be relevant to other areas of biomedical research, rather than to the etiology of cancer.

·         With CAMP within the ONC IRG regarding normal cell biology processes that are not critical for transformation and/or tumor progression.  Studies that combine both normal cell biological processes and processes critical for transformation and/or tumor progression would be assigned to an IRG according to the main focus of the research.

·          With TCBwithin the ONC IRGregarding signaling in normal cells. Proposals that combine studies of signaling in both normal cells and neoplastic cells would be assigned to an IRG according to the main focus of the proposal.

·         With TPM within the ONC IRG regarding extracellular matrix and proteolysis dealing with normal cell function rather than relating solely to neoplastic progression would be assigned to TPM.

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Special Study Section U [SSS-U Roster]

SSS-U [Formerly SSS-I]

This special emphasis group reviews applications for small business [SBIR/STTR] applications [see below],shared instrumentation [S10], program projects [P01 and P41] that involve: innovative microscopic instrumentation and techniques, such as imaging algorithms and software or reporter cytochemical agents and procedures; integrated research facilities for microscopy and innovative developmental microscopy; cell sorting, and other special reviews. SSS-U also reviews P01, and P41 and referred R01 applications that cover the entire range of cell biology research reviewed by CDF 1-4.

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Small Business Activities of the CDF IRG

SSS-U reviews proposals from the small business community [SBIR/STTR] that involve use or development of instrumentation for light, electron, and confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, high throughput screening and image analysis using specific natural or synthetic contrast agents. Often applications will contain complementary innovative technology or software development for analysis of cellular processes or three- dimensional images. New products or processes are the anticipated outcomes of these SBIR proposals. In addition, applications are accepted from the small business community in the full range of research areas in cell biology reviewed in CDF 1-4 .

The CDF IRG Small Business Activities have the following shared interests outside the CDF IRG:

·         With the BPC IRG regarding the application or development of microscopic instrumentation, metho do logies, or modeling for determining structure/function relationships for biological macromolecules

·         With the SRB IRG regarding the development and evaluation of new technology for cellular imaging, including applications for instrumentation or software development.

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Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye [BDPE]

[BDPE Roster]

The Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye [BDPE] Study Section reviews applications for basic, applied, and clinical research on the posterior portion of the eye, i.e., that are focused on the structure, function, and disorders of the retina, retinal pigmented epithelium, choroid, and retinal vasculature. It also addresses related disorders such as degenerative and vascular diseases and the retinal involvement in diabetes.

Specific areas covered by BDPE:

·         Basic research dealing focused on the retina, retinal pigmented epithelium, choroid, and retinal vasculature; anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, pharmacology, development, genetics, cell and molecular biology

·         Phototransduction processes in rods and cones

·         Neural interconnections in the retina and cellular electrophysiology

·         Clinical investigations and fundamental research on the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of retinal and choroidal diseases, including degeneration, diabetes, and vascular diseases

·         Instrumentation and applications of computer technology to the retina

BDPE has the following shared interests within the  CDF IRG:

·         Cell biology as applied to the posterior eye

BDPE has the following shared interests outside the CDF IRG:

·         With SYN within the MDCN IRGregarding aspects of trafficking, cytoskeletal interactions, and cell surface or extracellular matrix molecules

·         With NDBG within the MDCN IRGregarding aspects of neurodegeneration, oxidative and energy metabolism, and excitotoxicity

·         With BSCT within the MDCN IRGregarding molecular, structural, and biophysical studies of signal transduction

·         With NTRC within the MDCN IRGregarding molecular transporters, ion pumps, and cellular electrophysiology, especially involving calcium

·         With MNPS within the MDCN IRGregarding neurochemical and pharmacological aspects of signal transduction

·         With NCF within the MDCN IRGregarding regulation of cell cycle, cell specification and patterning, cell differentiation, and the initiation and regulation of rhythmicity

·         With NDPR within the MDCN IRGregarding the development, aging, and regeneration of neural connections

·         AED reviews applications that focus primarily on the anterior chamber of the eye, including inflammatory and infectious diseases. Studies dealing primarily with immunology, inflammation, or infection may be reviewed by AED, particularly those dealing with uveitis, even if retinal cells are involved.

·         AED also has primary responsibility for studies of glaucoma.

·         BDPE has shared interests with BBCA regarding applications that focus on the biophysical and physical chemistry of transduction-related proteins, e.g. opsins, transducins, and phosphodiesterase; BDPE is more appropriate if the focus is on retina-specific mechanisms or outcomes.

·         BDPE has shared interests with MGN regarding applications dealing with genetic components of retinal diseases, e.g. gene structure and function, mapping, linkage, or population-based research; BDPE is more appropriate if the focus is on retina-specific mechanisms or outcomes.

·         CVP reviews neurophysiological and psychophysical research applications involving the retina, extraocular muscles, optic nerve, and the visual cortex.

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