(Formerly ALTX-3)

[NAL Roster]

The Neurotoxicology and Alcohol [NAL] Study Section addresses the effects of toxicants and alcohol on the central nervous system. Parameters that may be studied include behavior, behavioral genetics, neuropathology, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuroendocrinology, neuroimmunology, neuromuscular toxicology, and neuroteratology.

Specific areas covered by NAL:

• Neuropharmacology/toxicology; behavior affected by or related to toxicants and alcohol, e.g. craving, cue reactivity, initiation and reinforcement of drinking, drug discrimination, place preference, tolerance, dependence, alterations in behavior, effects on learning and memory; cellular and subcellular effects of toxicants and alcohol, including structure-function of channels/receptors, signal transduction, cytoskeletal elements
  
  
• Both cellular and whole animal neuropathological effects of toxicants and alcohol. This includes morphological consequences of acute and chronic exposure as well as in vitro model systems such as effects on cultured neurons
  
  
• Neurophysiological studies of the actions of toxicants and alcohol on various components of the CNS expressed at a systems level in humans, animal models, tissue culture, and single cell model systems.
  
  
• The role of toxicants and alcohol on neuroendocrine systems such as the HPA and HPG axes, and CNS specific actions.
  
  
• Neuroteratology; brain and behavioral effects of prenatal exposure
  
  
• Studies relating to the interaction of the brain and immune systems, e.g., the role of cytokines in the effects of toxicants and alcohol.

NAL has the following shared interests within the IFCN IRG:

• NMB deals with the neural substrates of various behaviors, including the influence of drugs, while NAL should be considered if the focus of the application is on alcohol or environmental toxicants.
  
  
• NNB deals with neuroendocrinology and neuroimmunology and should be considered if the focus is not on alcohol or environmental toxicants.

NAL has the following shared interests outside the IFCN IRG:    

• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: Studies in which the primary focus is on multisystem teratology may be more appropriate for the BDA IRG, while such studies with toxicants or alcohol in the context of the development of the nervous system are more appropriate for NAL.
  
  
• With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] IRG: Studies in which the primary focus is behavioral may be more appropriate for the BBBP IRG, while such studies with toxicants or alcohol in the context of neurobiology are more appropriate for NAL.
  
  
• With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: Studies in which the primary focus is immunological may be more appropriate for the IMM IRG, while such studies with toxicants or alcohol in the context of neurobiology are more appropriate for NAL.
  
  
• With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG: There is shared interest in the areas of the endocrinological aspects of pregnancy, pregnancy-related studies of pharmacology and toxicology, and fetal or neonatal growth and development.  Applications focused on neurotoxicology during pregnancy and neonatal growth could be assigned to NAL. Applications focused on pregnancy and neonatal growth themselves could be assigned to the EMNR IRG.  
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: Studies in which the primary focus is on muscle may be more appropriate for the MOSS IRG, while studies with toxicants or alcohol in the context of the neurobiology of muscular control are more appropriate for NAL.
  
  
• With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG:  Shared interests exist in areas where the pharmacological and/or toxicological effects of xenobiotics, including alcohol, on the nervous system are studied.  Where studies relate primarily to the disposition of such xenobiotics, or toxicity to the digestive system, they could be assigned to the DIG IRG.  Where studies of xenobiotics relate primarily to effects on the nervous system, they could be assigned to the NAL.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: (1) BDCN and NAL have shared interests with respect to the interaction of alcohol and the developing nervous system. BDCN should be considered if the primary focus is on the neural substrate and the vulnerability of the developing brain. NAL is more appropriate for general studies of alcohol or toxicant teratogenesis and pathophysiology. (2)  Applications focused primarily on alcohol or toxicant pathophysiology should be reviewed in NAL, but projects in which alcoholism is a comorbid factor can be reviewed in the BDCN IRG.