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/MOSSIRG/MOSSSEPS.htm time: 13:41:53 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">Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences Small Business Activities [SBIR/STTR] Special Emphasis Panels [MOSS Small Business SEPs]</span> (MOSSIRG)

[MOSS Small Business SEPs]

[SBIR/STTR Scientific Review Administrators]

The MOSS IRG evaluates Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] grant applications for areas of science noted above. There are five regularly occurring panels, one each for the fields of orthopedics and skeletal biology [MOSS (10)]; oral, dental and craniofacial sciences [MOSS (11)]; therapeutic developments for dermatological diseases [MOSS (12)]; biology of rheumatoid diseases and novel therapeutic developments [MOSS (13)]; and skeletal muscle and exercise physiology [MOSS (14)]. Small business activities in rehabilitation medicine are covered in the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences [MRS] study section described above.

Specific areas covered by Small Business Orthopedics and Skeletal Biology [MOSS (10)]:

Orthopedics, including: physiological, chemical, biological and bioengineering aspects of orthopedic research, bone fragility (osteoporosis) and studies of joint mechanics or joint replacement, orthopedic biomaterials, cell biology of mineralized tissues, tissue-engineering and implants, and prosthetic devices. Spinal and neuromuscular prostheses for restoration of movement are also appropriate when the emphasis is internal to the tissue/body are appropriate.

Specific areas covered by Small Business Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences [MOSS (11)]:

Head and neck, oral cavity and the clinical practice of dentistry including aspects of: anatomy, biochemistry, biometry, chemistry, cell biology of oral soft tissues, computer software development, diagnostic imaging, dental materials, developmental biology, implantology, laser technology, oral, pathology, oral surgery, teratogenesis, and sterilization of dental devices.

Specific areas covered by Small Business Therapeutic Developments of Dermatological Diseases, and the Small Busines Biology of Rheumatoid Diseases and Novel Therapeutics panels [MOSS (12) and (13), respectively]:

Connective tissue, skin, and inflammatory conditions of the joints including: products and devices used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders or injuries; the validation of imaging methods or device development related specifically to evaluation of function or the assessment and treatment of diseases; gene or drug delivery, when the purpose is treatment of inherited or acquired disorders; wound healing and skin substitutes; photobiology and the skin; alopecia; treatment of connective tissue and skin function in diabetic complications.

Specific areas covered by Small Business Skeletal Muscle and Exercise Physiology [MOSS (14)]:

Skeletal muscle diseases, disorders and injuries, including: the development of products and devices for diagnosis and treatment; application of material science and biomedical engineering to replace or repair damaged missing or poorly functioning skeletal muscle; use of exercise or inactivity in skeletal muscle biology therapeutics.

The MOSS Small Business SEPs have the following shared interests within the MOSS IRG:

With the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences [MRS] study section: SBIR/STTR studies on musculoskeletal rehabilitation medicine and assistive technologies and devices may be assigned to MRS. These include gait analysis and human motion, monitoring of body external body movements and temperature, orthotics, prosthetic development and devices for motor function, wheelchairs and mobility aids, and exercise equipment. Small business activities on bone fragility (osteoporosis) and studies of joint mechanics, or joint replacement, when the emphasis is internal to the tissue/body may be reviewed in the MOSS Small Business SEPs. Similarly, studies of the repair of elements of the musculoskeletal system (using biomaterials, mechanical/cellular approaches, tissue engineering strategies), when the emphasis is internal to the tissue/body, or studies dealing with exercise and inactivity that focus on skeletal muscle growth and regeneration, contractile activity, or metabolism may be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs.

The MOSS Small Business SEPs have the following shared interests outside the MOSS IRG:

With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] and Cell Biology [CB] IRGs: There is shared interest with the BCMB and CB IRGs with respect to the extracellular matrix. If an application involves the role of extracellular matrix in normal biological and disease processes, then the CB IRG may be appropriate. If an application focuses on the biochemical or structural properties of extracellular matrix, then assignment to the BCMB IRG may be appropriate. If musculoskeletal, oral and/or dermal tissue repair or replacement is the major concern the MOSS Small Business SEPs may be appropriate.
With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: Applications studying the use of stem cell technology for musculoskeletal, oral and/or skin science -specific issues could be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs. BDA may be considered for more general developmental studies. Applications that involve human embryonic stem cells might also be clustered in the BDA IRG, even if studying musculoskeletal, oral and/or skin sciences -specific issues.
With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: (1) Applications to develop fundamental bioengineering methods related to devices, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, gene therapy, and computational/modeling approaches could be assigned to the BST IRG, whereas those proposing development and validation of methods focusing on musculoskeletal, oral and/or skin diseases, and their use in injury and repair of these tissues may be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs. (2) Applications that focus on gene or drug delivery, when the purpose is treatment of inherited or acquired musculoskeletal, oral or skin disorders may be appropriate for the MOSS Small Business SEPs. General development of novel gene and drug delivery technologies may be assigned to the BST IRG.
With the Risk, Prevention, and Health Behavior [RPHB] and the Health of the Population [HOP] IRGs: Studies of behavior modification, including patient health education or training, directed toward the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal, oral or skin diseases, including psychological aspects, could be assigned to the RPHB IRG, or to the HOP IRG, depending on the level of analysis and the nature of the intervention. Applications on the diseases, disorders, or functional consequences of behaviors related to the musculoskeletal, oral or skin sciences could be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs. Health education or training directed to the health care provider, not the patient, may also be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs.
With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: The IMM IRG may be assigned applications concerning the etiology and pathogenesis of organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases. This includes the development of immunoassays, monoclonal antibodies, immunosuppressive agents, and vaccines. Applications on the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of oral soft and hard tissues, bone, joints and connective tissues, particularly where pathogenic effector mechanisms and specific factors or structures relevant to target organ damage and repair are critical, may be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs. Areas of unavoidable shared interest such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis would be resolved according to the central focus of the application.
With the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM] IRG: The IDM IRG and MOSS Small Business SEPs have a shared interest in oral microbiology applications. The IDM IRG may be assigned applications where the focus is on the bacteria per se rather than the oral hard and soft tissues. The IDM IRG reviews SBIR/STTR applications that focus on the development and testing of diagnostic methods and devices, and therapeutic agents that target microbial, fungal, parasitic, viral, or biofilm-related diseases. When the emphasis is on the response of tissues of the oral cavity, assignment could be to the MOSS Small Business SEP. Applications that focus on the development or evaluation of approaches to sterilization or disinfecting may be assigned to the IDM IRG, however, applications on sterilization of dental devices may be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs.
With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRG: There is shared interest with the CVS IRG with respect to vascular assembly and repair. If the intent of the application is the development, pathology and gene therapy of the vascular system, then assignment to CVS may be appropriate. If the focus is vascular assembly for bone and connective tissue engineering, then the MOSS Small Business SEPs may be appropriate.
With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: (1) Applications to develop fundamental imaging methods or early stages of development of sensors may be assigned to the SBIB IRG, whereas those proposing development and validation of methods focusing on evaluation of musculoskeletal, oral and/or skin function could be assigned to the MOSS Small Business SEPs. (2) Applications having a bioengineering or device development focus could be referred to SBIB, or to the MOSS Small Business SEPs, depending on the focus of the proposal. If the device relates to multiple organs, the application would be referred to SBIB. Proposals on bioengineering related specifically to devices for the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal, oral and/or skin diseases are appropriate for the MOSS Small Business SEPs.
With the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG: There is shared interest with the IFCN IRG with respect to motor systems and sensorimotor integration. If the application addresses neural control of normal biological motor function and disease pathology, then the IFCN IRG may be appropriate. If the application addresses rehabilitation, electromyography, neural prostheses or restoration of body movement, then the MOSS Small Business SEPs may be appropriate.
With the Brain Disorders and Cognitive Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: There is shared interest with the BDCN IRG with respect to rehabilitation as a result of brain or spinal cord injury. If the application addresses neural control in central and peripheral nervous system disorders, then assignment to BDCN may be appropriate. If the application addresses rehabilitation, electromyography, neural prostheses or restoration of body movement, then the MOSS Small Business SEPs may be appropriate.