# Presentation: 245699

## Restructuring of Study Sections in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental NeuroscienceDon Schneider, PhDDiscussants Drs. Leinwand, Pugh, & McClainPeer Review Advisory CommitteeDecember 4, 2006National Institutes of HealthDepartment of Health and Human Services

**Restructuring of Study Sections in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience**Don Schneider, PhDDiscussants Drs. Leinwand, Pugh, & McClainPeer Review Advisory CommitteeDecember 4, 2006National Institutes of HealthDepartment of Health and Human Services

## Study Section Organization

- Core Values of Peer Review
- Fair, expert, & timely
- Free from influence/conflict
- Organizational Approach:
- 	Integrated Review Groups (IRGs)
- Good size work unit
- Cluster related science

## Five Year AssessmentsWorking Groups

- Full cycle of assessments completed 2001
- Second cycle started with Neuroscience IRGs
- Other IRGs will follow in order of reorganization, AIDS and Behavioral/Social Science IRGs, then HEME (2003) and ending with BCMB and CB (2005)
- Working Groups meet by email, telephone/video conference, asynchronous electronic discussion, or face-to-face
- Results are presented to PRAC (a Federal Advisory Committee Act requirement)

## CSR IRG Review

- Initiated February 2006, one IRG a month
- Review sequence determined by:
- Known/emerging issues
- Scientifically related areas
- For local matter, such as overload in one study section, CSR develops plan of action
- For substantial matter, e.g., formation of new study section, a Working Group is formed, and the issue is presented and discussed at PRAC

## Principles

- Be guided by Core Values of NIH peer review (fair, expert, and timely peer review free from influence/conflict)
- Monitor study sections continuously (rosters, meetings, and summary statements)
- Change study sections as the science changes (involve all stakeholders)

## MDCN Pre-Working Group(December 2005)

- Paul Brehm, SUNY SB
- Sandra Hewett, U Connecticut
- Harry Ischiropoulos, U Pennsylvania
- Robert Miller, Case Western Reserve U
- Patricia Sonsalla, UMDNJ
- Richard Tsien, Stanford U
- Harel Weinstein, Cornell Weill

## PRAC (January 2006)

- Restructure Biophysics of Synapses, Channels and Transporters (BSCT) as Biophysics of Neural Systems (BPNS)
- Divide Neurodegeneration and the Biology of Glia (NDBG) into Neurodegeneration and Glial Biology (NDGB) and Neural Oxidative Metabolism and Death (NOMD)
- [BPNS, NDGB, & NOMD first met June 2006]

## Assessment of MDCN IRG

- Pre-Working Group – December 2005; PRAC – January 2006
- CSR internal review – September 25, 2006
- Working Group – June 2005 – October 2006 (comments from reviewers over four cycles)
- Working Group telephone conference – November 9, 2006

## MDCN Working Group(roster November 2006)

- Nancy Bonini, U Penn
- Iain Campbell, U Sydney
- Gino Cortopassi, UC Davis
- David Friel, CWRU
- Vittorio Gallo, CNMC, Wash DC
- Alex Kolodkin, JHU
- Patricia Reggio, UNC Greensboro
- Jose Rizo-Rey, UTSW

- David Rottenberg, U Minn
- William Shain, Wadsworth
- Claudio Soto, UTMB
- Harel Weinstein, Cornell Weill
- NIH: Chiiko Asanuma, Linda Brady, Yuan Liu, Larry Refolo, Steve Snyder, Carole Jelsema, Don Schneider

## Working GroupTelephone Conference

- Draft report, issues, options, and master lists of applications provided in advance of call
- Feedback from WG with names removed collated and returned to WG in advance of call
- Discussion by teleconference November 9, 2006
- Development of written recommendations by email

## MDCN Assessment Issues

- Telephone reviewers
- Senior vs. Junior reviewers
- Workloads
- Large size of NDGB (already above 80 again)
- Small sizes of SEPs (scientific/clustering and efficiency issues)

## Consensus view of WG on restructuring of study sections

- Split NDGB along degenerative and glial lines
- Develop guidelines for two standing SEPs in neuroengineering and in neuroinformatics/imaging
- Continue neurogenetics SEP as needed; wait and see about guidelines

## Possible Guidelines: Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration [CMND]

- Molecular characterization of abnormal protein processing
- Molecular mechanisms underlying triple repeat neurodegenerative disorders
- Molecular mechanisms for developing neuroprotection
- Molecular analysis of gene products involved in neurodegeneration/protection, including ApoE

## Possible Guidelines:Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia [CMBG]

- Biology of glial cells
- Neuroglial interactions
- Glial response to injury or infection
- Neuroimmune function
- Metabolic disorders of glial cells

## Possible Guidelines:Neuroengineering SEP[ZRG1 MDCN-K(50)]

- Neural multi-electrode array construction
- Optimization of electrode/neural prosthesis biocompatibility
- Microfluidic-based neural tissue culture platforms
- Promotion of axon regrowth over engineered surfaces

## Possible Guidelines:Neuroinformatics/Imaging SEP[ZRG1 MDCN-K(51)]

- Neurodatabase construction and sharing
- Modeling of neural circuitry
- Brain structure atlas creation
- Registration of multi-modality brain images
- Computational analysis of neurobiological data

## MDCN SEPs share interests outside of IRG

- Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies – basic bioengineering or emerging approach vs. nervous system
- Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering – biomedical engineering or emerging approach vs. nervous system
- Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience – whole organ, translational, or clinical vs. cellular or molecular
- Genes, Genomes and Genetics – basic genetics or emerging approach vs. nervous system

## Summary(seeking approval)

- Divide NDGB into CMND (Neurodegeneration) and CMBG (Glia)
- Form two recurring SEPs: Neuroengineering and Neuroinformatics/Imaging
- Continue Neurogenetics SEP as needed; wait and see about guidelines

## DISCUSSANTS

- Dr. Leslie Leinwand
- Dr. Edward Pugh
- Dr. Craig McClain
- PRAC