NIH-CSR <script type="text/javascript"> var wmNotice = "UNT Web Archive - External links, forms, and search boxes may not function within this collection. Url: http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescription/EMNRIRG/ICER.htm time: 15:09:44 Sep 20, 2008"; var wmHideNotice = "hide"; var contextRoot = "https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/js/disclaim.js"></script> <span id="Postingname3_PostingDisplayName">Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction Study Section [ICER]</span> (EMNRIRG)

[ICER Roster]

The Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction Study Section [ICER] reviews applications that focus on the physiology and pathophysiology of endocrine systems, and clinical endocrine and reproductive science investigations. Areas of interest also include adaptation and response to environmental stress and homeostatic challenge; genetics and genomics; growth, development, and aging; neuroendocrinology, including neuroendocrine control of reproductive processes; cancer; interactions with the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and immune systems; endocrine disruptors/xenobiotics; pharmacology; novel hormone-based therapies; and comparative endocrinology.

Specific areas covered by ICER:

Pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal physiology and pathophysiology
Cancers of the endocrine system
Growth, development, and disorders of endocrine organs and their products
Neuroendocrinology
Reproductive neuroendocrinology including, development of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis and mechanisms underlying biorhythms of reproductive hormones
Hormone interactions with other organ systems and tissues
Hormones and immunobiology
Pediatric and developmental endocrinology
Endocrinology of aging
Endocrine pharmacology and toxicology, including the actions of endocrine disrupters and xenobiotics
Endocrine-related disorders of the male and female reproductive systems
Hormones, stress, and the autonomic system
Hormone-based therapies
Comparative endocrinology
Animal models of endocrine disorders
Mammary gland development (including maturation and physiology) and hormonal control of lactation

ICER has the following shared interests within the EMNR IRG:

With Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology [MCE]: There are shared interests with MCE on effects of hormones on growth and developmental disorders, and on key components of the hypothalamic-pituitary end-organ axis. While MCE addresses the mechanistic basis of these physiological changes, ICER focuses on integrative aspects of physiological processes and clinical studies.
With Cellular, Molecular, and Interactive Reproduction [CMIR] : CMIR focuses on reproductive organ physiology and pathobiology. Studies that focus on the physiological activity of the hypothalamus and pituitary may be better suited for ICER. Conversely, studies that include contributions from the hypothalamus and pituitary, but emphasize targets in the gonads or reproductive tract, could be referred to CMIR. Other areas of common interest include hormones and aging as related to menopause, endocrine disruptors that affect reproductive function, growth and development (including neonatal biology), and hormonal therapies (including hormone replacement).
With Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity [CADO] and Interactive Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes [IPOD]: Factors that affect the physiology and pathophysiology of diabetes and obesity could be referred to CADO or IPOD, except when the focus is on reproduction, as may occur in some studies of disorders such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Other areas of shared interest with CADO or IPOD include endocrine/immune interactions, hormones and aging, regulation of the autonomic nervous system, and neuroendocrinology related to satiety and glucose metabolism. When these types of studies target the reproductive system, they could be referred to CMIR if the study is cellular or molecular in nature or ICER if the study is physiological or clinical in nature.

ICER has the following shared interests outside the EMNR IRG:

With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: Shared interest exists for studies of the age dependence of endocrine physiology and pharmacology. Physiological or clinical studies of age-related changes involving the endocrine system could be referred to ICER. Studies focused on multiple physiologic systems, life-span extension, or caloric restriction could be referred to BDA. Male and female reproductive aging across and within the HPG axis is another area of shared interest. Where the focus is the endocrine system, the application could be referred to ICER. If the focus is on mechanisms of aging (such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, or cell senescence), or when the study addresses the "primordial organ" or has implications that transcend a single organ system or discipline, the application could be referred to BDA. Studies of interactions between the HPG axis and non-reproductive physiologic systems could be referred to BDA if the focus is aging.
With the Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB] IRG: Shared interest exists for the adaptation and response to environmental stress and resultant homeostatic challenge, particularly regarding regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and as a precursor to, or risk factor for, clinical morbidity (such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression). Applications that deal with adaptation and response at the hormonal or cellular level could be assigned to ICER. Those that deal with an individual behavioral response, as an adaptation or response to stress, and that are associated with the prevention, exacerbation, or treatment of clinical or psychological illness could be assigned to RPHB.
With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] IRG: Studies that focus on basic aspects of neuroendocrinology (including effects on reproduction), endocrine pharmacology and toxicology, hormones and immunobiology, hormones and the cardiovascular system, or stress and autonomic regulation could be assigned to ICER. When the focus is the role of biobehavioral processes, such as: psychoneuroimmunology, effects of behavioral stress, psychoneuroendocrinology, behavioral development, feeding behavior, cognition, psychopathology, regulation of emotion, parental and affiliative behavior, or other socio-sexual processes assignment could be to BBBP.
With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: Basic and clinical studies of autoimmunity and inflammation as related to endocrine disorders (including diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, and other non-gonadal glands) could be referred to ICER. In contrast, studies focused on fundamental aspects of immunochemistry; immunogenetics; and cellular, molecular, and developmental immunology could be referred to IMM.
With the Oncological Sciences [ONC] IRG: In general, studies of endocrine cancers (such as pituitary, thyroid, and other endocrine glands) would be referred to ICER. Studies of the effect of hormones on the progression of other cancers could be referred to ONC. When the primary focus of basic or clinical studies is on the hormone or endocrine organ, assignment may be made to ICER. Proposals that focus on the biology or clinical aspects of cancer, where hormones receive a secondary consideration, are better suited to ONC.
With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRG: Shared interest exists for studies of the effect of hormones on the vascular system, cardiac physiology, and hypertension. Physiological or clinical studies that focus on the role of hormones could be referred to ICER. In contrast, if focus is on the vascular system, cardiac physiology, or hypertension, assignment could be to CVS.
With the Musculoskeletal, Oral, and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: There are shared interests in the role of hormones on regulation of musculoskeletal, oral, and skin development and physiology. Applications that focus on hormonal control or growth factor control could be referred to ICER, studies that focus on the tissue could be referred to MOSS.
With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG: (1) Shared interest exists for the metabolism, pharmacology and toxicology of xenobiotics, and endocrine disruptors. Studies focused on the action of xenobiotics, and endocrine disruptors on endocrine systems could be referred to ICER. When interaction with the endocrine system is not the primary focus, assignment could be to DIG. (2) When the primary focus is on hormones of the gastrointestinal tract or peptides and neurotransmitters of the brain-gut axis, the application could be assigned to DIG. Applications that focus on GI hormones that interact with pituitary or pancreatic hormones at the endocrine gland level could be assigned to ICER.
With the Respiratory Sciences [RES] IRG: There is shared interest in the physiology or pathology of the respiratory system. Studies focused on endocrine interactions could be referred to ICER. When interaction with the endocrine system is not the primary focus, assignment could be to RES.
With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRG : Studies of the mechanism of action of hormones on urologic or renal development or diseases of the urinary tract could be assigned to RUS. Studies of the mechanism of action of hormones on the male genital system could be assigned to ICER or RUS depending on the focus of the application.
With the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN] IRG: There are shared interests in the areas of development of the HPG axis and its dysfunction, behavior, and memory. Applications involved with sexually determined nervous system differentiation and neural regulation of reproductive function and gonadal feedback may be referred to ICER. Applications that focus on the nervous system may be referred to MDCN. Projects that focus on hormone actions in the brain (such as estrogens, adrenal corticosteroids and other endocrine agents) may be referred to ICER. When the focus is on regulation of synaptic plasticity or other aspects of neural biology, assignment to MDCN may be more appropriate.
With the Integrative, Functional, and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG : Projects that focus on the HPG axis interactions may be of shared interest. IFCN could consider applications dealing with stress and the HPG axis, where the focus is the underlying neural mechanisms of feeding, cognition, emotional regulation, parental and affiliative behavior, and other reproductive behavior processes may be assigned to IFCN. ICER could consider studies involving neuroendocrine organs (e.g., pituitary, hypothalamus) where the focus is on the hormone (e.g., its synthesis, release, regulation, and/or mechanism of action.) Also, studies of neural or neuroendocrine control of reproductive processes such as gonadal function, fertilization, implantation, or parturition, or related events (e.g., GnRH secretion, the LH surge, lactation) may be assigned to ICER.
With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: ICER has shared interests with the BDCN IRG. BDCN could be assigned applications that focus on neural disorders and/or injury of the nervous system, whereas ICER could be assigned applications related to neuroendocrine control of reproduction. Thus, ICER could be assigned applications in the area of gonadotrophin releasing hormones, pituitary hypothalamic connections and pituitary gonadal interactions.