Biology and Development of the Eye – BDE
Biology and Development of the Eye Study Section (BDE) reviews applications to study the basic biology of the eye and other light sensing systems. It reviews applications where the major focus is the elucidation of the fundamental biology and mechanisms important for normal visual function or non-visual light sensing systems. Basic studies of eye development are also reviewed here. Studies may use mammalian, vertebrate, invertebrate, bioengineered tissue (e.g. organoids), cell lines, and computational approaches in pursuit of fundamental knowledge.
Review Dates
Topics
- Anatomy, physiology, cellular biology, molecular biology, vasculogenesis, and biochemistry that underlie the function of the ocular system.
- Control of cell signaling, cell cycle, neuroprotection, autophagy, and apoptosis.
- Ocular stem and progenitor cells and regeneration.
- Photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelial cell biology and function, including phototransduction, visual cycle, outer segment disc morphogenesis, phagocytosis, etc.
- Retinal circuitry and signaling between photoreceptors and neurons.
- Development or morphogenesis of any part of the eye or light sensing cells.
- Basic biology of aqueous humor outflow and dynamics.
- Mechanisms of non-image forming light sensation and contributions of these systems to animal behavior.
- Development and biology of the ocular surface, cornea, lens, lacrimal and meibomian glands.
- Biology of refractive error.
Shared Interests and Overlaps
There are shared interests with Pathophysiology of Eye Disease vs BDE. The basic biological studies of the eye with the focus on the fundamental processes and mechanisms are reviewed in BDE. Applications where the major focus is on etiology, pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders are reviewed in PED 1 & 2. Applications focused on basic biological aspects of the lens are reviewed in BDE, and those studying cataract are reviewed in PED 1 & 2. Normal and abnormal retinal and ocular development (not vasculature) are reviewed in BDE.
There are shared interests with Neuroscience of Basic Visual Processes Study Section (NBVP). BDE reviews applications addressing signaling mechanisms within photoreceptors; applications involving retinal circuitry, photoreceptor synapses, and signaling between photoreceptors and retinal neurons. Applications emphasizing circuitry beyond the optic nerve, or cognition and visual processing in the neuronal circuits are generally reviewed in NBVP.
There are shared interests with Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, Rhythmicity and Regeneration (NDPR) and Neurogenesis and Cell Fate (NCF) in some aspects of visual system development. Applications focused on ganglion cell axons outside the retina (optic nerve, visual cortex) and synaptogenesis are reviewed in NDPR. Applications about ganglion cell development, ganglion cell neuroprotection, and cell death in retina are reviewed in BDE. Early cell fate applications may be reviewed in NCF.
