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/MDCNIRG/NCF.htm time: 14:51:42 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">Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section [NCF]</span> (MDCNIRG)

Formerly MDCN-6

[NCF Roster]

The Neurogenesis and Cell Fate [NCF] Study Section reviews applications concerned with the initial formation of cells in the developing nervous system, as well as cell specification, determination, and differentiation. Areas to be included are: regulation of the cell cycle; induction of neural tissue; brain region specification and patterning; stem cell and progenitor cell proliferation, migration, and phenotypic determination; development and regulation of circadian rhythms and oscillatory processes; and neuronal and glial differentiation. Emphasis is on fundamental mechanisms underlying these processes in normal development, and in responses to disease, injury, and extrinsic factors, including circadian events and prenatal exposure to drugs.

Specific areas covered by NCF:

Regulation of the cell cycle; mechanisms of growth arrest and re-initiation of cell division and differentiation; initiation and regulation of circadian and oscillatory processes
Fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural induction in normal development, including transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways; the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which the embryonic neural ectoderm acquires the characteristics of adult brain regions, including regionalization of gene transcription, cell-cell interactions, migration, circadian rhythmicity, and secreted signals that influence these events; effects of extrinsic factors, such as teratogens and drugs on these processes
Neuronal and glial progenitors; cellular and molecular mechanisms of stem cell and progenitor cell induction, proliferation, migration, and phenotypic restriction; the influence of aging, extrinsic factors, disease and injury on these processes; characterization of stem cells for the purpose of repair following developmental and degenerative disease and injury
Cell fate specification; effects of cell lineage, cell-intrinsic components [such as transcription factors], cell-cell interactions [before, during and after migration], secreted factors [such as growth factors, cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters], and drugs on the phenotypic determination of neurons and non-neuronal cells, particularly glia
Neuronal and glial cell differentiation and specialization; transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of the acquisition of the differentiated cellular and molecular characteristics of neurons and glia, including cell morphology, excitability, growth factor responsiveness and expression of specific neurotransmitters and their receptors; cell-cell interactions, among neurons and non-neuronal cells, such as glia and other cells participating in the development of the nervous system, leading to cell specializations such as myelin, and the development of specialized structures like the blood-brain barrier
Circadian rhythm and other oscillatory processes; cell and molecular genetics producing rhythmicity, genomic mechanisms, pathways, transcripts, intracellular pathways, cell cultures, mutagenesis, regulation of clock-controlled genes, and the modulation of oscillatory functions

NCF has the following shared interests within the MDCN IRG:

With Synapses, Cytoskeleton and Trafficking [SYN]: SYN and NCF share an interest in the area of neuroplasticity. Applications dealing with fundamental mechanisms of neuroplasticity or with cytoskeletal functions and cell surface molecules may be more appropriate for SYN, while studies of plasticity associated with the establishment, maintenance, and reorganization of synaptic connections may be more appropriate for NCF.
With Neural Degenerative Disorders and Glial Biology [NDGB]: NDGB and NCF share an interest in (1) studies of cell death. Studies of mechanisms of neuronal cell death per se may be appropriate for NDGB, but studies that focus on cell death in lineage restriction or patterning in the developing nervous system may be appropriate for NCF. (2) NDGB and NCF also share an interest in the study of signaling molecules [e.g., growth factors]. Studies in which the principal focus is the role of these molecules in neural induction, specification, or differentiation may be appropriate for NCF whereas studies of the neuroprotective effects of such factors or studies involving factors related to glial differentiation may be appropriate for NDGB.
With Neural Degenerative Disorders and Glial Biology [NDGB] and Neural Oxidative Metabolism and Death [NOMD]: NCF, NDGB and NOMD all review studies of cell death. Studies that focus on the involvement of cell death in lineage restriction or patterning in the developing nervous system may be appropriate for NCF. Studies of signaling molecules [e.g., growth factors] that affect multiple aspects of development may be appropriate for NDGB when the principal focus is on the role of these molecules in neuroprotection. Studies of mechanisms of cell death per se may be appropriate for review in NOMD.
With Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, and Regeneration [NDPR]: NDPR and NCF share an interest in (1) studies of axonal projection patterns. Studies of mechanisms of axonal growth or establishment of connectivity per se may be appropriate for NDPR, while studies in which axonal projection patterns are used as markers of cell identity or of nervous system regionalization may be appropriate for NCF. (2) NDPR and NCF also share an interest in studies of signaling molecules [e.g., growth factors] that affect multiple aspects of development. These studies are appropriate for NDPR when the principal focus is the role of these molecules in migratory events or in the establishment or modification of connectivity, whereas if the primary focus is on the role of these molecules in neural induction or specification, the studies may be appropriate for NCF. (3) NDPR and NCF share an interest in neurogenetics. Genetic screens [e.g., in invertebrate] that initially involve screening of non-developmental characteristics [such as the organization, function or behavior of mature nervous systems], may be appropriate for NDPR if the principal aim is to relate mutations to fundamental processes that regulate migratory events or the establishment or modification of connectivity. Those studies in which the aim is to relate mutations to fundamental processes that regulate neural induction or specification may be appropriate for NCF.

NCF has the following shared interests outside the MDCN IRG:

With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG: The CB IRG and NCF share an interest in circadian rhythms. (1) Studies that focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in circadian rhythms and general phototransduction mechanisms may be appropriate for the CB IRG; whereas studies that focus on the neural cellular and molecular mechanisms involved may be appropriate for NCF. (2) The CB IRG and NCF share an interest in cell death as it relates to lineage restriction or patterning. Applications that deal with the death of cells in a general context may be appropriate for the CB IRG. Applications that deal with the death of cells in the context of the developing nervous system may be appropriate for NCF. (3) The CB IRG and NCF share an interest in cell cycle regulation and transcription. Applications that focus on cell cycle regulation and transcription in general may be appropriate for the CB IRG; whereas applications that focus on the nervous system may be appropriate for NCF. (4) The CB IRG and NCF share an interest in the visual system. Applications that require specialized knowledge or appreciation of the posterior portion of the eye or the retina may be reviewed in the CB IRG. Applications focusing on fundamental aspects of nervous system development may be reviewed in NCF.
With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: 1) The GGG IRG and NCF share interests in neurogenetics. Applications having a primary focus on genetics or emerging genetic techniques may be reviewed by GGG. However, applications having a primary focus on fundamental issues of neurodevelopment may be reviewed by NCF. (2) GGG and NCF also share an interest in cell cycle regulation and transcription. Applications that focus on cell cycle regulation and transcription may be appropriate for the GGG IRG. Applications that focus on cell cycle regulation and transcription in the nervous system may be appropriate for NCF.
With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: (1) The BDA IRG and NCF share an interest in the regulation of gene expression, patterning, cell fate specification and stem cells. Studies focused on general mechanisms applicable to all organ systems, whether CNS- or PNS-related, may be appropriate for the BDA IRG. Studies focused on the nervous system in these areas, whether CNS- or PNS-related, may be appropriate for NCF. (2) The BDA IRG and NCF share an interest in the general area of cellular development. If processes of general or non-neuronal cellular development are the focus, the BDA IRG may be appropriate. However, if processes of neuronal cellular development are the focus, NCF may be appropriate. (3) The BDA IRG and NCF also share an interest in embryogenesis and morphogenesis. Applications with a focus on general aspects of embryogenesis or morphogenesis may be appropriate for the BDA IRG, whereas applications with a specific focus on nervous system development may be appropriate for NCF. (4) The BDA IRG and NCF share an interest in cell death as it relates to lineage restriction or patterning. Applications that deal with the death of cells in a general context may be appropriate for BDA. Applications that deal with the death of cells in the context of the developing nervous system may be appropriate for NCF.
With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP]; Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB]; and Health of the Population [HOP] IRGs: The BBBP, RPHB, and HOP IRGs and NCF share interests in neural development. Applications emphasizing the behavioral or social science aspects of neural development may be reviewed in BBBP, RPHB, or HOP. Applications emphasizing the cellular, molecular or biochemical aspects of neural development may be reviewed in NCF.
With the Respiratory Sciences [RES] IRG: The RES IRG and NCF have shared interests in the areas of rhythm generation. Studies of respiratory rhythm generation, including developmental studies in this area, may be appropriate for RES, while studies focused on basic neural mechanisms of central pattern generators versus respiratory rhythm generation per se, may be appropriate for NCF.
With the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG: (1) The IFCN IRG and NCF share interests in development and the effects of exposure to exogenous agents or stress. Those studies that focus on analysis of the organization, function or behavior of mature nervous systems may be appropriate for the IFCN IRG. Those studies that focus on fundamental processes involved in neural induction, specification, or differentiation may be appropriate for the NCF. (2) The IFCN IRG and NCF share an interest in circadian rhythms and oscillatory processes. If studies involve a largely systems approach, they may be appropriate for the IFCN IRG. If studies involve molecular and cellular mechanisms, they may be appropriate for NCF. (3) The IFCN IRG and NCF share an interest in the functionality of the developing chemosensory, visual, auditory, and vestibular systems. Where specific knowledge of the systems is essential, the IFCN IRG may be appropriate; where specific knowledge of basic development or model systems is essential, NCF may be appropriate.
With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: (1) The BDCN IRG and NCF share an interest in developmental defects. Studies of developmental effects of prenatal exposure to drugs may be appropriate for the BDCN IRG, particularly if the focus is on clinical aspects. Studies of neural induction, specification, or differentiation may be appropriate for NCF. (2) The BDCN IRG and NCF share an interest in studies involving stem cells. Studies in which the primary goal is a restorative/therapeutic outcome may be appropriate for the BDCN IRG. Studies in which the primary goal is an understanding of neural induction, specification, or differentiation may be appropriate for NCF. (3) The BDCN IRG and NCF also share an interest in the visual system. Applications that require specialized knowledge or appreciation of the anterior portion of the eye may be reviewed in the BDCN IRG. Applications focusing on fundamental aspects of nervous system development may be reviewed in NCF.