The Cell Death in Neurodegeneration [CDIN] Study Section addresses the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of chronic neural disorders across the life span. This includes studies of neuronal cell death and protein and macromolecular function in neurodegenerative disease. Relevant disorders include neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, and ALS, spinal cord injury, dystonia/ataxia, and neuropathies. This Study Section mainly reviews studies of animal models.  To a lesser extent, the Study Section reviews patient-oriented research and in vitro systems.

Specific areas covered by CDIN:

• Pathology and clinical interventions; molecular, cellular, and neurochemical changes in human brain associated with neurodegeneration; analysis of autopsy material; experimental therapeutic approaches and clinical trials to prevent or treat neuropathological damage, including gene therapy and tissue and cell transplantation.
• Tissue culture and animal models of neurodegeneration or trauma; generation of relevant transgenic models; development of models to evaluate treatments to limit or prevent cell injury and death.
• Metabolic abnormalities in degeneration; neuron viability; oxidative and free radical metabolism; mitochondrial function; glial cell metabolism; secondary inflammation; interaction of genetics, environment, drugs, metabolites, and age on cell dysfunction and neuropathology.
• Abnormal protein and macromolecular metabolism and function; synthesis, assembly, processing, trafficking, structure/function, regulation, and degradation of proteins and other macromolecules implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
• Mechanisms of cell degeneration; neurotoxicity and mechanisms of cell death in neurodegenerative diseases; the role of intracellular calcium, glutamate excitotoxicity, metals, oxidative stress and free radicals, amyloid and paired helical filaments.
• Genetic basis of neurodegeneration, including identification and expression of genes, genomic screening, and linkage analysis.

CDIN has the following shared interests within the BDCN IRG:

• With Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors [CNBT]: CNBT and CDIN review studies of neuropathologcial processes related to inflammation.  Studies reviewed by CNBT have as their focus neural disorders and injury for which immune and inflammatory mechanisms are principal components.  CDIN may be more appropriate for studies where inflammation is secondary to pathophysiological processes underlying neurodegeneration. 
• With Clinical Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration [CNN]: Both CNN and CDIN review studies that deal with chronic neurodegeneration.  CNN reviews studies on the anatomical and functional basis of neurodegenerative disorders, while CDIN reviews studies of chronic neurodegeneration at the cellular and molecular level.
• With Brain Injury and Neurovascular Pathologies [BINP]: CDIN and BINP review studies which focus on the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of neurodegeneration.  CDIN reviews studies that study chronic brain disorders in which neurodegeneration is a primary component of the pathological process, while BINP focuses on acute brain injury and disorders related to ischemic or hypoxic neuronal cell death, the blood brain barrier, and related vascular pathologies.
• With Developmental Brain Disorders [DBD]: DBD and CDIN review studies proposing studies of neurodegenerative processes.  DBD reviews neurodevelopmental disorders, including those that have a neurodegeneration component, especially when the focus is on unique aspects of the developing nervous system. CDIN reviews studies that deal with molecular and cellular processes associated with aspects of neurodegeneration that are common to children and adults.
• With Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters [CNNT]: CNNT reviews studies that focus primarily on abnormalities in specific neurotransmitter systems, neurotrophins, regeneration and stem cell or gene therapy for the replacement for specific neurotrophic or neurotransmitter systems, while CDIN reviews studies of the specific cell death mechanisms that are related to these same systems. 

 CDIN has the following shared interests outside the BDCN IRG:

• With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] and the Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB] IRGs: Studies with a primary focus on behavior and behavioral approaches, including outcomes, prevention and coping, could be reviewed in the BBBP or RPHB IRGs. Studies reviewed in CDIN may use these same behavioral methods as indices of neurological recovery and experimental models of neurodegenerative disorders, but the methods are not the focus of the studies reviewed in CDIN.
• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: BDA and CDIN share interest in certain age-related neurological diseases, for example, Alzheimer’s disease.  Studies with a focus on multiple system manifestations of age-related neurological diseases could be reviewed within the BDA IRG, while cellular and molecular changes associated with these diseases could be reviewed in CDIN.
• With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: Studies that focus on the design, development, and introduction of technology for gene and drug delivery in the nervous system could be assigned to the BST IRG, while studies focused on the mechanisms and functional outcomes associated with that drug or gene delivery into the central nervous system for treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases may be assigned to CDIN.
• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG: Studies focusing on basic cell processes including cell death or an emerging cell biology approach to explore cellular death processes may be assigned to the CB IRG, while studies on the cellular mechanism of neurodegenerative disorders may be assigned to CDIN.
• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: The GGG IRG has shared interests with CDIN with respect to an interest in neurodegenerative disorders. When the focus of the proposed studies is primarily on molecular genetic approaches, large-scale gene/genomic/genetic studies, gene discovery using complex or novel technologies, the application could be assigned to the GGG IRG. CDIN may be more appropriate for studies within the context of mechanisms and outcomes related to neurodegeneration.
• With the Health of the Population [HOP] IRG: HOP reviews studies dealing with descriptive and analytical epidemiologic aspects of a broad range of neurologic disorders, including those reviewed by CDIN.  However, CDIN reviews studies that focus primarily on basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of these disorders.
• With the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG: The IFCN IRG generally reviews normal aspects of brain function, while the study sections within review research relating to abnormal and pathological states. Studies that focus primarily on neurodegenerative disorders are more appropriate within CDIN. For example, IFCN and CDIN share common interests in the motor system.  If the focus of a study is to elucidate specific neural substrates of motor function, then the application may be assigned to IFCN. Studies that focus primarily on the cellular and molecular pathophysiology of motor disorders related to neurodegeneration may be more appropriate for CDIN.
• With the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN] IRG: The MDCN IRG reviews studies on the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of diseases of the nervous system. For example, MDCN and CDIN have shared interests in the analysis of cloned gene products involved in cell death. If the context is basic neuroscience, then MDCN may be a more appropriate locus for review. If the primary focus is on neurodegenerative disorders and their pathophysiology, then CDIN may be more appropriate.