Scientific Area of Research

Neurological disorders may result when extra-neuronal cells are compromised, as in demyelinating and cerebrovascular diseases; when extra-neuronal cells themselves become aggressors, as in inflammatory responses within the nervous system, when viruses, bacteria, or parasites infect the cells of the nervous system, when autoimmune responses damage nerve and muscle; when cells of the blood-brain barrier are dysfunctional, or when glial dysfunction in the developing nervous system results in developmental abnormalities. Glial cells, microvascular endothelia, and cells of hematopoetic origin are integrally involved in the normal development and/or functioning of the nervous system and play a crucial role in disease. Emerging concepts on the interaction among all of these cells hold great promise for increasing our understanding of how the nervous system works in normal and diseased states, and will broaden our perspective on how we think about the nervous system.

The Neural Environment cluster promotes translating scientific knowledge into useful diagnostic tools, research on the implementation of preventive measures, and development and delivery of targeted therapeutic agents for neurological diseases.

Current Funding Announcements

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Funding announcement information is updated daily throughout the NINDS website. If individual funding announcements are not listed below, it means that there are no current solicitations available for this particular Program Area. Please continue to check this web page for the latest RFA's, PA's, RFP's and Notices related to this Program Area.

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Additional Information

Mission:
The mission of the Neural Environment Cluster is to reduce the burden of neurological diseases by facilitating research that increases knowledge of glial and cerebrovascular cell function in normal and pathological states, as well as immune cell function and infectious agents in the diseased nervous system.

The NINDS Neural Environment Cluster facilitates research on the neural environment by:

1. To encourage studies on the role of diverse cell populations of the nervous system and mechanisms of cell-cell interaction responsible for the normal function and maintenance of the nervous system as an organ, including the function of glial cells, brain blood supply, and CSF flow.
2. To encourage research on infectious, immune, and inflammatory mechanisms in nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, prion diseases, stroke, CNS and PNS tumors, and neuroAIDS.
3. To encourage studies to identify the molecular mechanisms of cell injury and death in the nervous system.
4. To foster studies on vascular mechanisms of neurological disorders, CNS vascular development, and the role of microvascular endothelia, extracellular matrix, and cells of hematopoietic origin within the CNS.
5. To promote the development of diagnostics and of therapies that will prevent, arrest, or reverse autoimmune neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
6. To expand studies on the mechanisms of blood-brain and brain-CSF barrier functions and of cell migration (and/or trafficking) into the CNS in stroke, immune disorders, brain tumors, and CNS infections.
7. To encourage the development of animal models for infectious and immune disorders, CNS and PNS tumors, and stroke (e.g., transgenic or knockout/in models, viral models).
8. To encourage the study of normal glial or progenitor/stem cell populations and their role in the development or treatment of CNS and PNS tumors.
9. To promote the study of biomarkers for vascular, tumorigenic, and immune diseases of the nervous system.
10. To strongly encourage bi-directional translational research that transfers insights gained from basic research and clinical investigations.

Major Program Portfolios include:

Stroke
Multiple Sclerosis
Neuro-AIDS
Prion Diseases
Encephalitis

NIH-Supported Clinical Trials in Neural Environment Areas:

Cerebrovascular Disorders:	Neuroimmunological Disorders:	Nervous System Infections:
Stroke Cerebral Aneurysm Mini-Strokes (TIAs) Vasculitis	Multiple Sclerosis Inclusion Body Myositis Vasculitis Encephalitis/Meningitis Neuro-AIDS	HIV Associated Myelopathy Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) Prion Diseases Encephalitis/Meningitis Lyme Disease Herpes Zoster Post-Polio Syndrome

Quick Links

• Stroke Progress Review Group
• Other Brain and Nervous System diseases
• Grants Policy
• National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium

Workshops and Summaries

NeuroAIDS in the Asia-Pacific Region July 19, 2007

Selective Adhesion Molecule Inhibitors and CNS Disease July 26, 2005

Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis - Workshop Summary  April 14-16, 2004

Genetics and Multiple Sclerosis: Future Prospects September 8-10, 2003

Astrocyte Function in Health and Disease September 23 - 25, 2002

International Workshop on Brain Banking March 11-12, 2002

NIH Myositis Outcomes Workshop November 9 - 10, 2001

Workshop on Research Opportunities on Human Neuroborreliosis September 9 - 12, 2001

NINDS Health Disparities Planning Panel on NeuroAIDS in Minority Populations July 16, 2001
Multiple Sclerosis and Chemokines: Prospects for Therapeutic and Prophylactic Intervention July 9 - 10, 2001

Personnel

Address

Neural Environment
Neuroscience Center
Room NSC 2110
6001 Executive Blvd.
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9521
For courier service only, use Rockville, Maryland 20852
Call: (301) 496-1431