The Clinical Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration [CNN] Study Section addresses the anatomical, cellular and functional basis of neural disease across the life span. Emphasis is on the neural substrate, functional consequences [cognitive, sensory/motor, behavioral, pathophysiological] and the development of therapeutic strategies for chronic/neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, dystonia/ataxia, and neuropathies. This Study Section considers patient-oriented research and animal models.

Specific areas covered by CNN:

• Anatomical, neuropathological, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, functional mapping, and autopsy studies to monitor the onset, progression and treatment of brain disorders; therapeutic approaches and clinical studies in the context of clinical neuroimaging
• Functional and anatomical changes in sensory and motor systems associated with the initiation, progression, and treatment of neural disorders
• Changes in learning, memory, language, attention, behavior, and other functional domains that are consequences of disease; strategies for therapeutic intervention
• Cellular, anatomical, and systems-based studies of changes in the neural substrate and function of brain in response to disease
• Evaluation of pharmacological, transplantational, surgical, physical or behavioral interventions to reduce loss, enhance function, and facilitate recovery 

CNN has the following shared interests within the BDCN IRG: 

• With Cell Death in Neurodegeneration [CDIN]: CDIN reviews studies of the molecular and cellular basis of neural disorders. CNN reviews studies that focus on the neuroanatomical substrate and functional consequences. CDIN may be more appropriate for studies of gene, cell and tissue transplantation, especially if the focus is on molecular and cellular mechanisms.
• With Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters [CNNT]: Brain imaging studies that focus on specific neurotransmitter systems and receptors should be reviewed in CNNT, while more general brain imaging studies of neuropathological pathways and brain dysfunction should be reviewed in CNN.
• With Developmental Brain Disorders [DBD]: DBD reviews studies of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially when the focus is on unique aspects of the developing nervous system. Neuroanatomical and functional disease processes that are in common between children and adults may be reviewed in CNN.
• With Neural Basis of Psychopathology, Addictions and Sleep Disorders [NPAS]: Although CNN may review studies on dementias, NPAS has particular expertise to review studies of psychiatric co-morbidities associated with dementia.
• With Acute Neural Injury and Epilepsy [ANIE]: ANIE reviews studies that focus on acute nervous system injury and epilepsy. CNN reviews studies that focus on chronic and neurodegenerative conditions. Chronic sequelae or secondary neurodegeneration resulting from acute insults may be reviewed in CNN.

CNN has the following shared interests outside the BDCN IRG:

• With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] IRG: Studies that focus primarily on behavior and behavioral approaches to neural diseases may be reviewed in the BBBP IRG. Studies that focus mainly on the anatomical and functional basis of the neural disorder could be reviewed in CNN.
• With the Biology of  Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: Studies with a focus on multiple system manifestations of age-related neurological diseases may be reviewed within BDA, while functional and neuroanatomical changes associated with specific diseases could be reviewed in CNN.
• With the Emerging Technologies and Training in Neuroscience [ETTN] IRG: Studies on brain disorders and treatment are shared interests. If the focus is basic molecular neurogenetics associated with neural dysfunction or technological developments, assignment could be to ETTN. If the focus is a clinical study or a response to drugs in model systems, assignment could be to CNN.
• With the Health of the Population (HOP) IRG:  HOP and CNN share interest in neurodegenerative conditions. Studies dealing with descriptive and analytic epidemiologic aspects of various neurological conditions or with a focus on behavioral, environmental or genetic risk and/or protective factors in population-based or clinically-ascertained samples could be reviewed by the HOP IRG, while studies on the neural basis of these disorders in patients/small populations could be reviewed within CNN.

• With the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG: IFCN and CNN share common interests in understanding the neurobiological basis of cognitive or sensory/motor function.  When the focus is to elucidate specific normal cognitive processes or the neural substrates of sensory/motor function, then studies may be assigned to IFCN.  Studies that focus largely on neurological disorders and their treatment may be reviewed within CNN.

• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: GGG has shared interests with CNN with respect to an interest in diseases of the nervous system.  However, when the focus is primarily on molecular genetic approaches, large-scale gene/genomic/genetic studies and gene discovery using complex or novel technologies, the application may be reviewed in the GGG IRG.  Studies that have a genetic component but focus primarily on the anatomical, functional and pathologic basis of the neural disorder may be reviewed in CNN.
• With the Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN] IRG:  MDCN and CNN share a common interest in neurologic diseases.  However, MDCN focuses largely on basic cellular and molecular processes whereas, CNN reviews studies related to the cellular, anatomical and functional aspects these diseases within a clinical context.
   
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: CNN has shared interests within the MOSS IRG with respect to research on recovery and rehabilitation. While MOSS has broad expertise in physical therapy, physiology, and non-neuronal systems, CNN has particular expertise in the neural basis of rehabilitation and recovery as well as disease that effect motor control (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Huntington disease, essential tremor).
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG:  CNN and the SBIB IRG review studies dealing with functional brain imaging; however, CNN may review those studies using imaging as a tool to study neurological disorders or injury or their treatment. SBIB may review studies concerning the development and evaluation of imaging procedures.  SBIB is appropriate for studies with focus on the development of imaging technology. However, if the proposed research is more oriented toward the application of imaging techniques for studying injury or their treatment, ANIE may be more appropriate to review the study.