# Presentation: 184921

## Restructuring of Study Sections:Computational/Structural BiologySignaling Biology/Biochemistry Don Schneider, PhDAugust 2006National Institutes of HealthDepartment of Health and Human Services

**Restructuring of Study Sections:****Computational/Structural Biology****Signaling Biology/Biochemistry ****Don Schneider, PhD****August 2006****National Institutes of Health****Department of Health and Human Services**

## 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)

## Background

- Review Panels: Biochemistry, Physical Biochemistry, and Physiological Chemistry closed fall 2004
- Growing numbers of computational and structural biology applications
- Concerns expressed by members of professional societies about perceptions that degree of clustering is low

## Current Review Statusof computational and enzymatic applications in biochemistry/biophysics cluster

- Special emphasis panel (ZRG1 BCMB-Q) reviews about 45 applications a cycle in which computational technologies are applied to biochemical/biophysical questions
- Chartered Macromolecular Structure and Function study sections (-A, -B, and -C) handle about 300 applications a cycle with clustering of metals and mechanistic enzymology in MSFA

## Computational/Structural BiologyWorking Group Roster

- David Baker, U Washington
- Helen Berman, Rutgers U
- William DeGrado, U Penn
- David Eisenberg, UCLA
- Barry Honig, Columbia U
- Judith Klinman, UC Berkeley
- Greg Petsko, Brandeis U
- Douglas Rees, Caltech
- JoAnne Stubbe, MIT
- NIH staff: Don Schneider (CSR), John Bowers (CSR), and Janna Wehrle (NIGMS)

## NIH Information Shared with Working Group Members

- Links to CSR study section guidelines
- Recent numbers of applications and master lists for selected study sections
- 	- MSF-A, -B, & -C
- 	- ZRG1 BCMB-Q
- Possible options and redacted comments by members on options

## Consensus of Telephone Conference Call (August 3, 2006)

- Integrate Q into MSF study sections
- Form two new study sections
- 	- A, -B, & -C – remain quite the same
- 	- D – cluster computational applications, more emphasis on experimental validation
- 	- E – cluster mechanistic enzymology applications

## Possible Guidelines: Macromolecular Structure and Function D (MSFD)

- Computational analysis of questions in macromolecular biophysics
- Sequence-structure-function relationships
- Molecular modeling including interactions at different resolutions
- Biophysical theories, simulations, and complementary experiments

## Possible Guidelines: Macromolecular Structure and Function E (MSFE)

- Mechanistic enzymology
- Enzyme inhibitors and drug chemistry
- Computational and mechanism-based studies of enzymes and inhibitors
- Macromolecular aspects of metabolic pathways

## Current Review Statusof Signaling Applications

- Cellular Signaling and Dynamics (CSD) handles about 80 applications a cycle
- Across CSR about 800 signaling applications a cycle, with modest clustering outside of CSD

## Signaling Biology/Biochemistry Working Group Roster

- Richard Cerione, Cornell
- Joan Heller Brown, UCSD
- Jack Dixon, UCSD
- Henrik Dohlman, UNC
- Heidi Hamm, Vanderbilt, ASBMB President
- Brian Kobilka, Stanford
- Richard Neubig, U Michigan
- NIH Representatives: Don Schneider (CSR), Noni Byrnes (CSR), and Richard Anderson (NIGMS)

## NIH Information Shared with Working Group Members

- Links to CSR study section guidelines
- Recent numbers of applications and master lists for selected study sections
- Cell Signaling and Dynamics
- Membrane Biology and Protein Processing
- Nuclear Dynamics and Transport
- About 100 signaling applications a cycle are in Cell Biology cluster (perhaps two study sections)
- Possible options and redacted comments by members on options

## Consensus of Telephone Conference Call (July 24, 2006)

- Create a new signaling study section focused on molecular and integrative aspects of signaling
- Restructure CSD to retain cell cycle, mitosis, etc, but add imaging of signaling complexes
- Seed rosters with members of the Working Group
- Launch study sections for Feb/Mar receipt (Oct 2007 council)

## Possible Guidelines: Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems (CSRS)

- Integrative cell physiology
- Mitosis, meiosis, cell cycle
- Cell differentiation, transformation, growth, and death
- Associated proteolytic mechanisms
- Imaging of signaling complexes

## Possible Guidelines:Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction (MIST)

- Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction, including G-protein and 7TM receptors
- Protein kinases associated with signaling
- Protein phosphatases associated with signaling
- Second messenger mechanisms including lipid signaling molecules
- Simulations of signaling cascades/mechanisms

## Future Plans	

- Seek approval
- Constitute rosters
- Launch study sections for winter receipt dates (October 2007 council)

## PRAC Discussants	

- Leslie Leinwand
- Daria Mochly-Rosen
- Louise Ramm