[CMIR Roster]

The Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Reproduction study section [CMIR] reviews applications concerned with molecular, cellular, systems, and integrative aspects of reproductive biology. This encompasses the biology of germ cells and gametes, early events in conception (including research relevant to assisted reproductive technologies), and embryo development (including embryonic stem cells until the stage of implantation).  Also included are reproductive toxicology; gonadal function; puberty; male and female reproductive aging; the male and female reproductive tracts and their disorders; and research on infertility, contraception, gynecology, and andrology.

Specific areas covered by CMIR:

• Origin and differentiation of germ cells: the endocrine, paracrine and physiologic mechanisms involved in oogenesis and spermatogenesis (including: germ-cell/somatic-cell interactions, germ-cell proliferation and apoptosis, and germ-cell transplantation)
• Pre-implantation embryonic development, including: zygotic gene activation, autocrine/paracrine factors, and environmental influences on gene expression
• Embryo implantation, including uterine receptivity and embryo/trophoblast-maternal tissue interactions
• Sexual development, maturation, and sex determination of the male and female gonads and reproductive tracts, including issues relevant to imprinting
• Embryonic stem cell biology, including mechanisms regulating stem cell differentiation
• Epigenetic factors in development
• Animal cloning and nuclear reprogramming
• Structure, function, and regulation of the male reproductive system
• Fertilization, including: sperm motility and capacitation, zona pellucida binding, and mechanisms to block polyspermy
• Basic mechanistic and physiological studies of infertility in males and females (including reproductive failure associated with metabolic diseases)
• Studies directed toward the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including aspects of cryobiology
• Effects of pharmaceuticals, xenobiotics and environmental factors on reproduction
• Contraception
• Puberty, male and female reproductive aging, and the menopausal transition
• Mammary gland development (including maturation and physiology) and hormonal control of lactation
• Physiology and pathophysiology of the female reproductive system and tract

CMIR has the following shared interests within the EMNR IRG:

• With Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology [MCE]: There is shared interest in reproductive organ physiology and pathobiology.  CMIR may be assigned projects that link molecular mechanisms with physiological outcomes; whereas, reproductive studies that focus on molecular aspects of hormone action would be better suited for MCE.  Although MCE focuses on steroidogenesis, CMIR could be assigned proposals dealing with gonadal steroidogenesis and its regulation.
  
  
• With Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction [ICER]: ICER may review applications involved with physiology and pathophysiology of endocrine systems other than reproductive systems and neuroendocrine studies, including neuroendocrine effects on the reproductive system.  Clinical studies of the female reproductive system may be referred to ICER.  Applications involving growth, development and aging of the reproductive system, feed back, and gonadal hormone replacement therapies may be referred to CMIR.
  
  
• With Pregnancy and Neonatology [PN]: There is shared interest in the peri-implantation period.  If the focus of the application is cellular or molecular in nature, assignment may be to CMIR.  If the focus of the application is more physiological or clinical in nature, assignment may be to PN.  Clinical studies of the female reproductive system may be referred to PN.
  
  
• With Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity [CADO] and Integrative Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes [IPOD]: Studies of factors that affect the physiology and pathophysiology of diabetes and obesity could be referred to CADO or IPOD.  However, when the focus is reproduction, as may occur in some studies of disorders such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), CMIR may be more appropriate.  Applications that focus on reproduction or gonadal biology could be referred to CMIR, whereas applications that focus on insulin action may be referred to CADO or IPOD.  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.

CMIR has the following shared interests outside the EMNR IRG:

• With the Genes, Genomes, and Genetics [GGG] IRG:  The study of epigenetic factors in development and genetic imprinting are a shared interest between GGG and CMIR.  Where emphasis is on the mechanism of imprinting or another epigenetic phenomenon, assignment to GGG may be appropriate.  Where emphasis is on regulating a reproductive process, assignment to CMIR may be appropriate.
  
  
• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG: Cell biology studies of gametogenesis and reproductive tract remodeling are shared interests and could be assigned to CB or CMIR depending on whether the focus of the study is cell biology or reproduction.
  
  
• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: There is extensive shared interest in the areas of gametogenesis and fertilization, including: formation of egg and sperm, fertilization, pre-implantation, animal cloning and organogenesis.  When the focus of the application is reproduction, assignment may be to CMIR; when the focus is on development, assignment may be to BDA.
  
  
• With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: There are shared interests in the areas of reproductive immunology, autoimmune ovarian failure, immune infertility, and immuno-contraception.  Applications investigating basic immune mechanisms could be referred to IMM, whereas those that focus on reproductive aspects or ramifications could be referred to CMIR.
  
  
• With the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM] IRG: There is shared interest in genital tract infections related to infertility.  Applications that focus on damage to the genital system or alteration of reproductive capacity caused by infectious agents could be referred to CMIR; those that focus on the infectious agent or its treatment could be referred to IDM.
  
  
• With the Oncological Sciences [ONC] IRG: Areas of shared interest include endometrial hyperplasia, mammary neoplasia, and germ cell tumors.  Applications that involve hormonal alterations in reproductive tissues producing neoplasia could be referred to CMIR.  Applications that focus on malignancy could be referred to ONC.
  
  
• With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRG: There is shared interest in ovarian angiogenesis and luteal development.  Angiogenesis affecting ovarian function could be referred to CMIR.  Applications on other aspects of angiogenesis and vascular cell biology could be assigned to CVS.
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral, and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: There are shared interests in the areas of menopause and osteoporosis, uterine tissue/menstruation, ovulation-related remodeling and pelvic floor support.  Applications whose endpoints are remodeling of reproductive tissues or reproductive function may be assigned to CMIR.  Basic or translational studies evaluating alterations in the supporting pelvic floor musculoskeletal structures, or with a primary focus of bone disease, including osteoporosis, may be assigned to MOSS.
  
  
• With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRG:  There is shared interest between CMIR and RUS in the areas of male reproductive biology and the male reproductive tract, including the prostate.  The perspective of the applicant should determine assignment, but in general the central focus of applications reviewed in CMIR is on reproductive competency (e.g., the role of prostatic fluids in sperm motility), the focus of RUS is urology (e.g., BPH, including its effect on urinary tract function).  While CMIR will review the full spectrum of reproductive sciences, including molecular, cellular, and physiological studies, RUS could offer its review expertise in clinical urology research, particularly in the areas of male infertility and sexual function, as an alternative review venue.
  
  
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging, and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: There is shared interest in the area of diagnostic imaging of the reproductive systems.  Studies that relate to reproductive function and structures could be referred to CMIR.  Studies that focus on the development of imaging equipment or protocols could be referred to SBIB.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: There is shared interest in the areas of hormonal influences on neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury.  Proposals that deal with effects of neurodegenerative brain injury on reproduction or effects of gonadal steroids on neurological diseases and brain injury may be referred to CMIR or to BDCN depending on the focus of the study.