[SBCA Roster]   [SBCB Roster]

These study sections review research activities central to biology and medicine in which chemical synthesis, molecular structure, and reaction mechanism have central roles.  The SBCA and SBCB study sections review applications in synthetic and biological chemistry ranging from fundamental to applied research.  The SBCA and SBCB study sections both integrate synthetic methods and target directed synthesis with chemical biology and medicinal chemistry. 

Specific areas covered by SBCA and SBCB:

• Bioinorganic and bioorganic /chemical biology
  Discovery, invention, and application of synthetic chemistry and reagents to problems in biology.
  
  
• Drug design/medicinal chemistry
  The design and synthesis of novel molecules that modulate biochemical processes of potential clinical relevance, including the study of physiochemical, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion), pharmacokinetic, and pharmacological properties.
  
  
• Enzymology
  Studies of enzymes that focus predominantly on the design and synthesis of drugs or compounds with pharmaceutical potential.
  
  
• Synthetic methods
  Discovery and development of strategies, reactions, reagents, and catalysts for use in synthesis.
  
  
• Target-directed synthesis
  Total synthesis of natural products and other biologically interesting targets of defined structure.

Additional areas for SBCA may include include:

• Bioconjugate chemistry: The attachment of active molecules to biopolymers, including proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids.
  
  
• Biomaterials: The synthesis and study of polymers, molecular assemblies, and nanostructured materials of potential use in biological systems and medicine.
  
  
• Biomimetic chemistry: Development of molecules with structures and functions based on extrapolation from biological examples.
  
  
• Imaging agents: Synthesis of molecules to improve the detection of cellular processes and structures and diagnosis of disease states.
  
  
• Inorganic and organic reactions and mechanisms: Fundamental studies of chemical reactivity of biological relevance.
  
  
• Metals in chemistry: Investigation of the roles, both natural and designed, of metal ions in chemical structure and function.
  
  
• Molecular recognition: Elucidation of inter- and intramolecular noncovalently controlled phenomena of chemical and biological relevance.
  
  
• Molecular design: The use of biological molecules or their analogs as fundamental building blocks for the synthesis of compounds with novel functions.

Additional areas for SBCB may include include:

• Biosynthetic pathways: Elucidation and manipulation of the pathways by which primary and secondary metabolites are produced, including chemical strategies for combating infective agents and disease vectors.
  
    
• Diversity oriented synthesis: Development and application of synthetic strategies for the preparation of structurally diverse compounds and compound libraries of potential utility. 
  
  
• Natural Products Discovery: Isolation and characterization of compounds of potential importance to human medicine from terrestrial and aquatic microbiological, plant, and animal sources.

The SBC Study Sections have the following shared interests within the BCMB IRG:

• With Synthetic and Biological Chemistry A and B [SBCA & SBCB]: SBCA and SBCB share interest in synthetic chemistry such that applications concerned with development of synthetic methods and total synthesis may be assigned equally to either study section. Although both study sections share interests in bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry, SBCA could be assigned applications with emphasis on bioconjugates, biomaterials, biomimetics, metals, and imaging. SBCB could be assigned applications with emphasis on bioorganic chemistry, biosynthetic pathways, and chemical diversity.
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function A [MSF-A]:  The SBCA and SBCB study sections have shared interests in structure- and mechanism-based drug design with the MSFA study section.  Applications that emphasize synthetic or medicinal chemistry may be assigned to SBCA or SBCB.  Applications that emphasize biochemical, structural, mechanistic or computational approaches may be assigned to MSFA.  
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function B [MSFB]:  The SBCA study section has shared interests in peptide, protein, and nucleic acid design with MSFB. Applications that emphasize chemical synthesis or drug design may be assigned for review by SBCA. Applications that emphasize macromolecular structure or function may be assigned for review by MSFB.
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function C [MSFC]:  The SBCA study section has shared interests in imaging agents and approaches with MSFC. Applications that emphasize chemical synthesis or design of imaging agents may be assigned for review by SBCA. Applications that emphasize application of imaging agents to macromolecular structure or function may be assigned for review by MSF-C (or -A or- B as appropriate).
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function A, B, and C [MSFA, MSFB, & MSFC]:  The SBCA and SBCB study sections have shared interests with MSFA, MSFB, and MSFC in development and analysis of inhibitors of macromolecular interactions (protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, etc.).  Applications that emphasize inhibitor synthesis or design could be assigned to SBCA or SBCB. Applications that emphasize macromolecule and inhibitor interactions or functions could be assigned to MSFA, MSFB, or MSFC.
  
  
• With Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes [BBM]:  The SBCA study section has a shared interest in development of reagents for manipulation and crystallization of membrane proteins with the BBM study section.  Applications that are more synthetically oriented may be appropriate for SBCA. Applications that are more structurally oriented may be appropriate for BBM. The SBCA and SBCB study sections have shared interests in enzymology with BBM. Applications with emphasis on enzymes that are potential targets for drug design and approach these targets using medicinal/synthetic chemistry methodologies may be assigned to SBCA or SBCB.  Studies with emphasis on membrane enzymes as potential targets for drugs and approach these targets using biochemical, structural or computational methodologies may be assigned to BBM.
  
  
• With Enabling Bioanalytical and Biophysical Technologies [EBT]:  Combinatorial chemistry and novel materials are shared interests. If the emphasis is synthetic chemistry, then assignment could be to SBCA or SBCB. If the emphasis is analytical chemistry, then assignment could be to EBT.

The SBC Study Sections have the following shared interests outside the BCMB IRG:

• With the Genes, Genomes, and Genetics [GGG] IRG:  SBCA and SBCB share interests with the GGG IRG in the area of small molecule regulation of gene expression.  If emphasis is on the chemistry or design of small molecule regulators, then assignment could be to SBCA or SBCB. If emphasis is on genetic aspects of expression, then assignment could be to GGG.
  
  
• With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: SBCA and SBCB share interests with the BST IRG in the areas of biomaterials, imaging agents, gene delivery strategies, and molecular design.  Applications focusing on chemical aspects of these topics could be assigned to SBCA or SBCB.  Applications focusing on bioengineering aspects could be assigned to BST.
  
  
• With the Immunology [IMM]; Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM]; AIDS and Related Research [AARR]; Oncological Sciences [ONC]; Hematology [HEME]; Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS]; Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition, and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR]; Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences [MOSS]; Digestive Sciences [DIG]; Respiratory Sciences [RES]; Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS]; and the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRGs: The SBCA and SBCB study sections have shared interests in drug design and medicinal chemistry with the organ and disease-oriented IRGs.  Applications that emphasize early drug discovery (hit to lead and lead optimization) could generally be assigned to SBCA and SBCB.  Studies that emphasize candidate selection, preclinical and clinical evaluation could be assigned to the organ and disease-oriented IRGs.
  
  
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: SBCA and SBCB share interests with the SBIB IRG in the areas of biomaterials and imaging agents.  Applications emphasizing chemical aspects of these topics could be assigned to SBCA or SBCB.  Applications emphasizing medical bioengineering aspects could be assigned to SBIB.