[KNOD Roster] 

The Kidney, Nutrition, Obesity and Diabetes [KNOD] Study Section reviews applications for descriptive and analytic epidemiologic research in kidney disease, nutrition and obesity, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (with multiple outcomes). 

Specific areas covered by KNOD:

• The general characteristics of the distribution of kidney diseases/conditions,nutritional processes, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (multiple outcomes) in human populations in relation to time, place, and personal characteristics.
  
  
• Elucidation of the determinants of kidney diseases/conditions, nutritional processes, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (multiple outcomes) in human populations in relation to time, place, and personal characteristics by assembling groups of individuals to determine systematically whether the risk of disease/condition is different for individuals who are exposed or not exposed to specific factors (or combinations of factors) of interest. These may be either risk or protective factors.
  
  
• Development and improvement of research designs and methodologies addressing epidemiologic questions in  kidney diseases/conditions, nutrition, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (multiple outcomes) in human populations in relation to time, place, and personal characteristics.

KNOD has the following shared interests within the HOP IRG: 

• With Biostatistical Methods and Research Design [BMRD]:  BMRD also reviews applications dealing with epidemiologic methods and research design. If the primary thrust of the application is to develop new statistical methodologies, the application may be reviewed by BMRD. If the focus is on improving existing methodologies for epidemiologic research related to kidney diseases/conditions, nutrition, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (multiple outcomes), the application may be assigned to KNOD.
  
  
• With Community Influences on Health Behavior [CIHB] and Community-Level Health Promotion [CLHP]: CIHB and CLHP also review applications dealing with kidney disease, nutrition and obesity, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (with multiple outcomes). If the primary focus of the proposed study is on kidney disease, nutrition and obesity, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (with multiple outcomes), the application may be reviewed by KNOD; but if the application emphasizes community or societal institutions such as school, church, work site, or mass media the application may be reviewed by CIHB or CLHP, depending on whether a community-based intervention is involved.
  
  
• With Nursing Science: Adults and Aging [NSAA] and Nursing Science: Children and Families [NSCF]: The NSAA and NSCF Study Sections also review applications dealing with kidney disease, nutrition and obesity, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (with multiple outcomes). When the primary focus is on nursing science, the application may be assigned to NSAA or NSCF, depending upon the age range involved. An application may be assigned to KNOD when it is an overall epidemiological study.
  
  
• With Social Sciences and Population Studies [SSPS]: SSPS also reviews applicationsdealing with the incidence and prevalence of kidney disease, nutrition and obesity, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (with multiple outcomes). Applications that rely primarily upon epidemiologic methods may be reviewed by KNOD. Applications relating levels of morbidity and mortality to demographic or socioenvironmental factors or the effects of public policy on morbidity or mortality levels may be reviewed by SSPS.

KNOD has the following shared interests outside the HOP IRG:

• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: KNOD has extensive shared interests with GGG for applications involving genetic epidemiology to study kidney diseases/conditions, nutritional processes, diabetes, gastro-intestinal conditions, and environmental influences on health (multiple outcomes). The level of genetic technology relative to epidemiology needs to be considered in assignment decisions between these two study sections. More technical applications could be reviewed by GGG. Studies with substantial laboratory components are appropriate for KNOD when the primary thrust is epidemiologic and laboratory data are to be collected by methods that are largely already developed. Genetic linkage studies could go to either the GGG IRG or to KNOD. Molecular epidemiology studies alone or in combination with linkage studies could be reviewed in KNOD. Genetic studies using animals could be assigned to GGG or another IRG, depending upon the primary thrust of the application.
  
  
• With the Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB] IRG: The RPHB IRG also reviews applications dealing with variations in risk behavior. Epidemiologic studies examining behavior as a risk factor could be referred to KNOD. Non-epidemiologic studies with a behavioral intervention component to change health behavior could be referred to RPHB or KNOD, depending upon whether the emphasis is upon the individual or the community level context.
  
  
• With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG: KNOD has shared interests with the EMNR IRG regarding nutrition, diabetes and obesity. Clinical trials may be reviewed in EMNR. Applications may be assigned to KNOD when nutritional evaluation or practices are part of an overall epidemiological study of diabetes and obesity. Studies of the metabolic consequences and nutritional evaluation of non-behavioral dietary interventions are more appropriate for EMNR. Studies that utilize methodologies focusing on regulation at cellular and molecular level could be assigned to EMNR. Nutritional or hormonal studies of diabetes or obesity in animals may be reviewed in either the EMNR or the DIG IRGs. Nutritional or hormonal studies of humans with substantial laboratory components are appropriate for KNOD when the primary thrust is epidemiologic and laboratory data are to be collected by methods that are largely already developed. Animal studies could be reviewed in EMNR.
  
  
• With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG: DIG also reviews studies of digestive system disorders. Clinical trials of these conditions may be reviewed in DIG.Epidemiologic studies of digestive system disorders may generally be assigned to KNOD. Non-epidemiologic studies on digestive system diseases, disorders, or functional consequences of behaviors could be assigned to the DIG IRG. Animal studies of these disorders may be assigned to the DIG IRG.
  
  
• With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRG: KNOD has shared interests with the RUS IRG regarding renal and urological diseases and disorders. In general, epidemiologic studies of renal and urologic diseases are appropriate for review in KNOD. Animal studies and other non-epidemiologic studies of renal and urologic diseases may be reviewed in the RUS IRG.