Formerly MDCN-7

[NDPR Roster]

The Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, and Regeneration [NDPR] Study Section reviews applications focused on differentiation, plasticity, aging and regeneration of neuronal connectivity. This area includes process outgrowth, axon guidance, selection of synaptic targets, dendrite differentiation, establishment of neural maps, and formation and elimination of synaptic connections. Emphasis is on fundamental mechanisms underlying these processes in normal development and aging, and in response to disease, injury, and extrinsic factors, including prenatal exposure to drugs. The study section also reviews studies of the reestablishment of connectivity in aging, disease, and following injury, but with a focus on the analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms that stimulate, inhibit, or otherwise perturb process growth and synapse formation.

Specific areas covered by NDPR:

• Substrates for neuronal and glial cell migration, including scaffolds; permissive and directional cues, and mechanisms through which they control cell motility, outgrowth and directional migration
  
  
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms, including signal transduction pathways that regulate axonal and dendritic outgrowth, fasciculation, branching and guidance; mechanisms regulating the selection of synaptic partners, including formation of topographic and laminar-specific projections
  
  
• Synapse formation and developmental plasticity. Initial formation and maturation of pre- and postsynaptic elements; mechanisms regulating the elaboration of arbors and retraction of processes, including the role of growth factors, cell-cell recognition molecules, electrical activity, and experience
  
  
• Regeneration of connections; positive factors [e.g., simulators of growth, directional cues, cell grafts (including stem cell grafts) and prosthetics] that can promote or direct axon sprouting, axon regrowth, and reestablishment of appropriate connections following injury; factors that inhibit these processes, and development of tools to overcome their effects
  

NDPR has the following shared interests within the MDCN IRG:

• With Synapses, Cytoskeleton and Trafficking [SYN]: (1) SYN and NDPR share interests in the area of neuroplasticity. Studies focused on fundamental mechanisms of trafficking, basic cytoskeletal interactions, and synaptic function, including vesicular release, endocytosis, and receptor turnover may be appropriate for SYN. Studies focused on developmental and regenerative events, including process outgrowth and guidance, dendritic development, and synaptogenesis, may be appropriate for NDPR. (2) SYN and NDPR share interests in the study of cytoskeletal, cell membrane and extracellular matrix components. Those studies that focus on issues of trafficking or basic synaptic function may be appropriate for SYN, while studies that focus on developmental events or repair mechanisms may be appropriate for NDPR.
  
  
• With Neural Degenerative Disorders and Glial Biology [NDGB]: NDGB and NDPR share an interest in the areas of glial-neuronal interactions and repair following injury. Studies focused on mechanisms of neurodegeneration, neuronal survival, glial responses to injury, or myelination may be appropriate for NDGB. Studies focused on the role of glia in axon outgrowth, nerve regeneration, and synapse formation and studies examining spinal cord regeneration, peripheral nerve regeneration, and the restoration of synaptic function may be appropriate for NDPR.
  
  
• With Neurogenesis and Cell Fate [NCF]: NCF and NDPR share an interest in (1) studies of axonal projection patterns. Studies in which axonal projection patterns are used as markers of cell identity or of nervous system regionalization may be appropriate for NCF, while studies of mechanisms of axonal growth or establishment of connectivity per se may be appropriate for NDPR. (2) NCF and NDPR also share an interest in studies of signaling molecules [e.g., growth factors] that affect multiple aspects of development.  These studies are appropriate for NCF if the primary focus is on the role of these molecules in neural induction or specification, while NDPR may be appropriate when the principal focus is the role of these molecules in migratory events or in the establishment or modification of connectivity. (3) NCF and NDPR share an interest in neurogenetics. Those studies in which the aim is to relate mutations to fundamental processes that regulate neural induction or specification may be appropriate for NCF. 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.
  

NDPR has the following shared interests outside the MDCN IRG:

• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG:  The CB IRG and NDPR share interests in cellular development. CB IRG may be appropriate if the main focus is cellular biology and physiology. NDPR may be appropriate if the system under study is CNS- or PNS-based. (2) The CB IRG and NDPR also share interests in the area of vision research.  Applications that require specialized knowledge or appreciation of the posterior portion of the eye or the retina may be appropriate for the CB IRG. Applications focused on basic neurological aspects of nervous system development may be appropriate for NDPR.
  
  
• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG:  The GGG IRG and NDPR share interests in neurogenetics. Applications focused on emerging genetic techniques or on genetics using the nervous system as a model may be appropriate for the GGG IRG.  Applications focused on the molecular bases of neurogenetic development may be appropriate for NDPR.
  
  
• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: (1) The BDA IRG and NDPR share interests in embryogenesis and morphogenesis. Applications that emphasize general aspects of embryogenesis or morphogenesis may be appropriate for the BDA IRG. Applications with a specific focus on nervous system development may be appropriate for NDPR. (2) The BDA IRG and NDPR also share an interest in cell polarity, differentiation and regeneration. Studies focused on general mechanisms in these areas may be appropriate for the BDA IRG. Studies focused on the nervous system in these areas may be appropriate for NDPR.
  
  
• With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP]; Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB]; and Health of the Population [HOP] IRGs: The behavioral and social science IRGs [BBBP, RPHB, and HOP] and NDPR share interests in neural development, aging, and injury. Applications that focus on behavioral or social aspects of neural development, aging and injury may be assigned to BBBP, RPHB, or HOP. Applications that focus on cellular or molecular aspects of neural development, aging and injury may be assigned to NDPR.
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: The MOSS IRG and NDPR share an interest in skeletal muscle. MOSS may be appropriate for studies of clinical aspects of skeletal muscle, skeletal muscle development and/or skeletal muscle force production, but NDPR may be appropriate when the primary focus in on neural structure and function, or the neuronal control of muscle force production or development.
  
  
• With the Respiratory Sciences [RES] IRG:  The RES IRG and NDPR have shared interests in the areas of (1) neurotransmitters, (2) neural plasticity and (3) development. Studies of neurotransmitters, when in the context of understanding the central control of breathing, may be appropriate for RES, while studies focused on the broader understanding of neurotransmitter function may be appropriate for NDPR. Studies of respiratory neural plasticity, when in the context of response to hypoxia, may be appropriate for RES, while studies on broader aspects of neural plasticity may be appropriate for NDPR. 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 NDPR share an interest in development. Such studies that focus on motivation and emotion may be appropriate for the IFCN IRG. Such studies that focus on general neural development may be appropriate for NDPR. (2)  The IFCN IRG and NDPR also share interests in the regulation of brain activity and behavior. Those studies focusing on neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems may be appropriate for the IFCN IRG. Those studies focusing on development may be appropriate for NDPR.  (3)  The IFCN IRG and NDPR also share interests in sleep, biorhythms, and the autonomic nervous system. If the focus is regulatory and integrative activity, the IFCN IRG may be appropriate. If the focus is development, NDPR may be appropriate. (4)  The IFCN IRG and NDPR also share interests in sensory systems. The IFCN IRG may review applications where a sensory system is used to study the specifics of sensation. NDPR may be appropriate for applications where a sensory system is used as a model to study principles of nervous system development. (5) The IFCN IRG and NDPR also share interests in motor systems. The IFCN IRG may review applications if the focus is specifically the motor system. NDPR may review applications if the focus is principles of nervous system development. (6) The IFCN IRG and NDPR also share interests in synaptic plasticity.  Studies of plasticity associated with cognitive processes such as learning and memory may be appropriate for the IFCN IRG. Studies of plasticity associated with the establishment, maintenance, and reorganization of synaptic connections may be appropriate for NDPR.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: The BDCN IRG and NDPR have shared interests in the area of spinal cord and nerve regeneration. The BDCN IRG may be appropriate for studies focused on clinical aspects of regeneration. NDPR may be appropriate for studies focused on basic aspects of regeneration.