[CASE Roster] 

The Cardiovascular and Sleep Epidemiology [CASE] Study Section reviews applications on epidemiologic research in cardiovascular and sleep conditions. 

Specific areas covered by CASE: 

• The general characteristics of the distribution of cardiovascular conditions (including myocardial ischemia and infarction, cardiac hypertrophy and failure, cardiovascular arrhythmia, vascular hemodymanics and inflammation and atherosclerosis) and sleep conditions (including insomnia, sleep apnea and narcolepsy) in human populations in relation to time, place, and personal characteristics.
  
  
• Elucidation of the determinants of cardiovascular and sleep conditions by assembling groups of individuals to determine systematically whether the risk of disease/condition is different for individuals who are exposed or not exposed to specific factors (or combinations of factors) of interest. These may be either risk or protective factors.
  
  
• Development and improvement of research designs and methodologies addressing epidemiologic questions in cardiovascular and sleep conditions.
  
  

CASE has the following shared interests within the HOP IRG: 

• With Biostatistical Methods and Research Design [BMRD]: BMRD also reviews applications dealing with epidemiologic methods and research design. If the primary emphasis of the application is to develop new statistical methodologies, the application may be reviewed in BMRD. If the focus is on improving existing methodologies for epidemiologic research related to cardiovascular and sleep conditions, the application may be assigned to CASE.
  
  
• With Community Influences on Health Behavior [CIHB] and Community-Level Health Promotion [CLHP]: CIHB and CLHP also review applications dealing with cardiovascular or sleep conditions and their risk factors. If the primary focus of the proposed study is cardiovascular or sleep conditions or their risk factors and if the application emphasizes community or societal institutions such as school, church, work site, or mass media, the application may be reviewed by CIHB or CLHP, depending upon whether a community-based intervention is involved.
  
  
• With Nursing Science: Adults and Aging [NSAA] and Nursing Science: Children and Families [NSCF]: The NSAA and NSCF Study Sections also review applications dealing with cardiovascular or sleep conditions. When the primary focus is on nursing science, the application may be assigned to NSAA or NSCF, depending upon the age range involved. An application may be assigned to CASE when it is an overall epidemiological study.
  
• With Social Sciences and Population Studies [SSPS]: SSPS also reviews applications dealing with the incidence and prevalence of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular conditions or sleep conditions. Applications that rely primarily upon epidemiologic methods may be reviewed by CASE. Applications relating levels of morbidity and mortality to demographic or socioenvironmental factors or the effects of public policy on morbidity or mortality levels may be reviewed by SSPS.
  
  

CASE has the following shared interests outside the HOP IRG: 

• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: CASE has extensive shared interests with GGG for applications involving using genetic epidemiology to study cardiovascular or sleep conditions. The level of molecular and genetic technology relative to epidemiology needs to be considered before assigning to CASE. More genetically technical applications could be reviewed by GGG. Studies with substantial laboratory components are appropriate for CASE when the primary thrust is epidemiologic and laboratory data are to be collected by methods that are largely already developed. Genetic linkage studies could be reviewed by the GGG IRG or CASE. Molecular epidemiology studies alone or in combination with linkage studies could be reviewed in CASE. Genetic studies using animals could be assigned to GGG or another IRG, depending upon the primary thrust of the application.
  
  
• With the Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior [RPHB] IRG: RPHB also reviews applications dealing with variations in risk behavior. Epidemiologic studies examining behavior as a risk factor could be referred to CASE. Non-epidemiologic studies with a behavioral intervention component to change health behavior could be referred to RPHB, depending upon whether the emphasis is on the individual or the community level context.
  
  
• With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRG: CVS also reviews applications dealing with cardiovascular conditions. Primary preventive clinical trials with an emphasis on cardiovascular health may be reviewed in CASE. Other clinical trials with an emphasis on cardiovascular conditions may be reviewed in CVS. Epidemiologic studies of cardiovascular conditions could be reviewed in CASE. Nonintervention studies with substantial laboratory components are appropriate for CASE when the primary thrust is epidemiologic and laboratory data are to be collected by methods that are largely already developed. All other applications whose emphasis is on cardiovascular disease could be reviewed in the CVS IRG. Non-epidemiologic applications on the diseases, disorders, genetics or functional consequences of behaviors associated with the cardiovascular system could be assigned to CVS. Applications that focus on physiologic mechanisms related to cardiovascular conditions, including genetic studies, may be assigned to CVS. Applications that focus on the general characteristics, at a population level, with respect to the risk or protective factors that might lead to cardiovascular conditions may be referred to CASE. Animal studies could be reviewed in CVS or another IRG, depending upon the primary thrust of the application.
  
  
• With the Respiratory Sciences [RES] IRG: RES also reviews applications dealing with sleep apnea. Primary preventive clinical trials with an emphasis on sleep apnea may be reviewed in CASE. Other clinical trials with an emphasis on sleep apnea may be reviewed in RES. Epidemiologic studies of sleep apnea could be reviewed in CASE. Nonintervention studies with substantial laboratory components are appropriate for CASE when the primary thrust is epidemiologic and laboratory data are to be collected by methods that are largely already developed. All other applications whose emphasis is on sleep apnea could be reviewed in the CVS IRG. Non-epidemiologic applications on the diseases, disorders, genetics or functional consequences of behaviors associated with the respiratory system could be assigned to RES. Applications that focus on physiologic mechanisms related to sleep apnea, including genetic studies, may be assigned to RES. Applications that focus on the general characteristics, at a population level, with respect to the risk or protective factors that might lead to sleep apnea may be referred to CASE. Animal studies of sleep apnea or cardiovascular conditions related to respiratory factors could be reviewed in RES.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] and the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRGs: BDCN and IFCN also review applications dealing with sleep disorders/conditions. Primary preventive clinical trials with an emphasis on sleep disorders/conditions may be reviewed in CASE. Other clinical trials with an emphasis on sleep disorders/conditions may be reviewed in BDCN or IFCN, depending upon the focus of the application. Epidemiologic studies of sleep disorders/conditions could be reviewed in CASE. Nonintervention studies with substantial laboratory components are appropriate for CASE when the primary thrust is epidemiologic and laboratory data are to be collected by methods that are largely already developed. All other applications whose emphasis is on sleep disorders/conditions could be reviewed in BDCN or IFCN, depending upon the primary thrust of the application. Non-epidemiologic applications on the diseases, disorders, genetics or functional consequences of behaviors associated with the neurological system could be assigned to BDCN or IFCN, depending upon the primary thrust of the application. Applications that focus on physiologic mechanisms related to sleep disorders/conditions, including genetic studies, may be assigned to BDCN or IFCN, depending upon the primary thrust of the application.  Applications that focus on the general characteristics, at a population level, with respect to the risk or protective factors that might lead to sleep apnea may be referred to CASE. Animal studies of sleep disorders/conditions could be reviewed in BDCN or IFCN, depending upon the primary thrust of the application.