[GDD Roster]

The Gene and Drug Delivery Systems [GDD] study section  considers grant applications (R01, R21, SBIR/STTR, etc.) focused on the development and delivery of drugs, genes, and gene products that alter gene function or expression in the living organism. Research grant applications driven by bioengineering principle, design, or validation, but not necessarily driven by hypothesis, are expected. Related small business applications (SBIR and STTR) are reviewed in special emphasis panels.

Specific areas covered by GDD include:

• Agents delivered: Include DNA, RNA, RNA interference (RNAi), antisense oligonucleotides, large and small insert vectors, aptamers, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), small molecule activators and inhibitors, antibiotics, vaccines, peptides, proteins, cells, and other drugs.
  
  
• Vehicles: Include viral and other vectors, liposomes, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and lipid-based transfection agents.
  
  
• Delivery strategies: Include electroporation, ultrasound, receptor mediated translocation, opto-injection, ballistic methods, vesicles, and viral agents.
  
  
• Gene regulation of active agents: Includes enhancers and silencers, tissue specificity, external control, nuclear vs. cytoplasmic localization, and targeted integration.
  
  
• Expression patterns: Include tissue and cellular localization, markers for expression, copy number, transcriptional and translational products, and activity-dependent probes.

GDD has the following shared interests within the BST IRG:

• With Instrumentation and Systems Development [ISD]: GDD shares interests with the ISD study section in the area of instruments for gene and drug delivery. Applications on nano or microfabricated delivery vehicles and ballistic methods could be assigned to GDD.  Design and development of instrumentation to deliver samples and to monitor delivery could be reviewed by ISD.
  
  
• With Biomaterials and Biointerfaces [BMBI]: GDD could be assigned studies on using biomaterials to deliver genes and drugs into cells.  BMBI could be assigned related studies emphasizing synthesis, physical characterization, biocompatibility, and toxicity of new synthetic materials intended for use as gene or drug delivery vehicles.
  
  
• With Modeling and Analysis of Biological Systems [MABS]: GDD shares interests with the MABS study section in the areas of gene regulatory networks, metabolic pathways and studies to perturb individual genes or regulatory factors. Applications on systems biology could be assigned to MABS.  Applications on the delivery and expression of introduced genes, or on the restoration and enhancement of metabolic pathways could be assigned to GDD.
  
  
• With Microscopic Imaging [MI]: The GDD study section shares interests with the MI study section in the areas of cellular imaging as a readout, e.g., activity dependent probes, expression patterns, interaction probes, and single molecule reporters. Normally, applications focusing on imaging technology and development will be assigned to MI.  Applications focusing on the delivery vehicle could be assigned to GDD.
  

GDD has the following shared interests outside the BST IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB], Cell Biology [CB], and Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRGs: Grant applications focused on basic biological mechanisms may be relevant to one or more of the IRGs indicated above. Applications focused on the design, development, and introduction of technology in support of gene, drug, and cell delivery are relevant to GDD.
  
  
• With the Genes, Genomes, and Genetics [GGG] IRG: Applications addressing research questions in genetics could be reviewed by the GGG IRG, whereas applications that are more broadly technology oriented or where an applied endpoint is not specified could be reviewed by GDD.
  
  
• With the Health of the Population [HOP]; Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB]; and Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] IRGs: Grant applications focused on basic health behavior and behavioral genetics are relevant to the indicated IRGs. Grant applications focused on the design, development, and introduction of technology in support of gene and drug delivery are relevant to GDD.
  
  
• With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: Grant applications focused on basic immunological mechanisms could be assigned to the IMM IRG. Grant applications focused on the design and development of technology in support of gene and drug delivery, and development of delivery strategies based on antibodies, could be assigned to GDD.
  
  
• With the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM] and AIDS and Related Research [AARR] IRGs: Grant applications focused on infectious diseases and virology mechanisms, including diagnostics, vaccines, and delivery mechanisms, could be assigned to either IDM or AARR. Applications focused on developing technologies to introduce genes and drugs in a basic virology context or developing viral vectors for delivery could be assigned to GDD.
  
  
• With the 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]; and Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRGs: Grant applications focused on organ/disease specific biological mechanisms and therapies could be assigned to the relevant organ/disease indicated IRG. Applications focused on basic or developing technologies to introduce genes and drugs in a general cellular context could be assigned to GDD.
  
  
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: SBIB shares interests with GDD in the delivery of drugs, genes, and gene products. Development of delivery techniques could be reviewed in SBIB if the objective of the study is to address questions of either diagnosis or pathology. If the study objective is to address questions of basic delivery techniques, or techniques for which specific applied endpoints are not defined, review could be in GDD.
  
  
• With the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN]; Integrative, Functional, and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN]; and Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRGs: Grant applications focused on neuroscientific mechanisms could be assigned to one of the indicated IRGs. Applications focused on the design, development, and introduction of technology for gene and drug delivery in nervous systems could be assigned to GDD.