The Anterior Eye Disease [AED] Study Section reviews basic, applied, and clinical research applications to investigate the cornea, lens, conjunctiva, ciliary body, trabecular meshwork, and lacrimal glands.  Applications reviewed by AED address anatomical, physiological, molecular and genetic aspects of the anterior eye related to normal and pathological processes.  In addition, applications to study retinal ganglion cell function in association with glaucoma are reviewed by AED.

Specific areas covered by AED:

• Disorders of the anterior segment of the eye, including the following: glaucoma; cataracts; dry eye; congenital and developmental abnormalities; inflammatory and infectious diseases; hereditary and degenerative diseases; and ocular manifestations of systemic diseases, tumors, injury, and trauma
• Experimental development and pathology of the eye
• Fundamental ophthalmic research, including: anatomy; physiology; genetics; cell biology, molecular biology; biochemistry; physical chemistry; immunochemistry
• Transport of ions and fluids through ocular membranes
• Development of normal and experimentally or pathologically altered eye tissues, excluding the retina/choroid
• Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of ocular infections
• Unique aspects of ocular immunology and inflammation
• Cell and tissue culture models, animal models, and clinical studies of the anterior eye

AED has the following shared interests within the BDCN IRG:

• Although components of the anterior eye share the neural crest as a common tissue of origin with some components of the nervous system, AED has limited shared interest with other study sections within BDCN.
  
  

AED has the following shared interests outside the BDCN IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] IRG: AED has shared interests with the BCMB IRG regarding studies that focus on the structure-function of lens proteins (e.g., crystallins), cell to cell communication via gap junction proteins (connexins), and ionic homeostasis of the cornea maintained by membrane transport proteins of the corneal epithelium and endothelium.  The BCMB IRG may review studies focusing on protein sequencing, or the theoretical and computational aspects of protein chemistry.  The AED Study Section focuses more on the functional consequences of protein structure related to lens or corneal clarity and preservation of visual acuity.
• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG:  AED has shared interests with BDA regarding studies that focus on ocular (globe) or lens development.  The BDA IRG may review studies focusing on the fundamental mechanisms of organogenesis, control of cell cycle, cell signaling and apoptosis, response to stress and tissue repair.  Similar topics may be reviewed by AED when they involve the unique requirements associated with optical clarity in the eye.

• With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: Applications that focus on the design, development, and introduction of technology for gene and drug delivery in the eye could be assigned to the BST IRG, while applications focused on mechanisms and functional implications associated with gene and drug delivery into the tissues of the anterior eye may be assigned to AED.

• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG: Studies of the retina/choroid are reviewed mainly by the CB IRG. However, studies focused on immunology, inflammation, and infections are more appropriate for AED, as are studies on glaucoma, when retinal ganglion cells are primarily involved.
• With the Emerging Technologies and Training in Neurosciences IRG [ETTN]: Studies reviewed by ETTN may focus on development of technologies for use in vision research.  These may be small business studies or basic research.  If a study is directed at development of a technology it is likely that ETTN is more appropriate for review, while if the focus of the study is the application of the technology for basic or clinical research, then AED would be more appropriate for review.
• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: AED has shared interests with the GGG IRG regarding studies dealing with the ocular diseases associated with complex genetic traits, for example glaucoma and various corneal dystrophies.  The GGG IRG may review studies focusing on computational genetics, mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression and chromosome maintenance.  The AED Study Section may review studies focusing on the regulation or patterns of gene expression that are fundamental for normal vision, or on the genetic mutations that underlie pathological processes leading to visual impairment (e.g., glaucoma, cataract, corneal dystrophies).
• With Health of the Population [HOP] IRG:  HOP and AED share interest in the epidemiology of ocular disease.  HOP reviews applications that focus on broader socio-environmental contexts in which health and health-related behavior are embedded and in which the interaction of these socio-environmental factors with the health and health-related behavior of individuals and populations are examined.  AED may review applications which examine the epidemiology of diseases of the anterior eye.
• With the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM] IRG:  IDM study sections reviews applications dealing with basic biology of microbes, multicellular parasites and their vectors, infections and diseases caused by these agents.  AED shares an interest in these areas.  When an application focuses on the infectious agent or general aspects of its infectious process, it is probably best suited to IDM.  However, if the studies focus on aspects of the pathogenesis of the agent that are unique to ocular infections, then AED is more appropriate for review. 
• With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: AED has shared interests with the IMM IRG regarding studies that focus on the immune system's role in host interactions with infectious agents, tumor cells and transplanted cells.  The AED Study Section may review studies that involve the unique ocular responses to infectious or autoimmune processes that impact the cornea (keratitis), ocular conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), uvea (uveitis), ocular immune privilege or ocular glandular tissue (dry eye syndrome, blepharitis, Sjogren’s syndrome). 
• With the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG: The IFCN IRG reviews studies that emphasize the normal visual process or that involve techniques that are primarily used by visual physiologists or visual psychophysicists. In addition, eye movement studies, both clinical and theoretical, may be reviewed by IFCN as well as psychophysical studies of glaucoma.  AED may be more appropriate if the focus is on the anatomical, physiological, molecular and genetic aspects of the anterior eye related to normal and pathological processes.
• With the Oncological Sciences [ONC] IRG:  The ONC IRG reviews applications involving basic, translational, and clinical investigations that encompass cancer prevention, initiation, promotion, progression, diagnosis and treatment.  AED has shared interest in these areas, reviewing applications that specifically deal with the aspects of tumors that are unique to their pathogenesis in the eye.