Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors Study Section – CNBT
The Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors (CNBT) Study Section reviews applications to investigate immune function and inflammatory factors in the context of disorders of the central nervous system. Most applications target CNS tumors, demyelinating disorders, inflammatory neuropathies or CNS infection. Applications reviewed by CNBT propose levels of investigation combining cellular-molecular in vitro studies with animal models, and ranging from mechanistic to biomarker and imaging studies in human patients.
The List of Reviewers lists all present, whether standing members or temporary, to provide the full scope of expertise present on that date. Lists are posted 30 days before the meeting and are tentative, pending any last minute changes.
Review Dates
Topics
- CNS autoimmune demyelination diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and myasthenia gravis;
- Primary brain tumors including glioma, glioblastoma, medulloblastomas
- CNS infectious diseases including viral infections, bacterial infections, or parasite infections.
- Neuroinflammation in brain degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
- Neuroimmune processes: cellular and humoral immune responses, immune cells, cytokines/chemokines, innate immunity, autoimmunity, and neuroimmune modulation.
- Pathophysiology: Demyelination/remyelination, neuroinflammation, axonal damage and repair, microglia and astrocyte activation, macrophages, tumorigenesis, tumor migration, invasion, angiogenesis, tumor microenvironment
- Genetic and gender susceptibility in neuroimmune diseases
- The role and physiopathology of blood brain barrier and brain vasculature in neuroinflammation, trafficking of immune cells, viral gene therapy, cell transplantation, and vascular damage and permeability.
- Identification of potential therapeutic targets for the above relevant diseases, including immunotherapy, gene therapy, and small molecules
Shared Interests and Overlaps
There are shared interests with Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune, and Immune-mediated Diseases (HAI). Applications primarily focused on the biology of the innate and adaptive immune systems in CNS are reviewed in HAI vs. the focus on role of the innate and adaptive immune systems in the pathogenesis the CNS autoimmune demyelination diseases CNBT.
Applications focusing on the basic science and mechanistic studies involving immunological processes in neural diseases may also be assigned to Cellular Molecular Biology of Glia (CMBG). These include demyelinating diseases, inflammatory neuropathies, neurodegenerative disorders, nervous system tumors. Studies on the role of glia and blood-brain barrier in the mechanisms underlying these diseases can also be reviewed by CMBG. In comparison, applications focusing on the pathogenesis, progression, and treatment of CNS autoimmune demyelinating diseases and primary brain tumors are assigned to CNBT.
Applications focusing on the pathogenesis, mechanisms, structural and functional alteration, as well as the treatment of different CNS degenerative diseases are assigned to Chronic Dysfunction and Integrative Neurodegeneration (CDIN). Applications focusing on the neuroimmunology and neuroinflammation in these CNS degenerative diseases can be reviewed by CNBT. with regard to neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., AD) – focus on the diseases CDIN vs. focus on neuroimmune cells and pathways CNBT.
There are shared interests with Cellular Immunotherapy of Cancer (CIC) in the areas of neural and brain tumors. Applications studying the immunopathology and immunotherapy of central nervous system tumors (glioma, medulloblastoma, etc.) may be reviewed in either CNBT or CIC (if focus is on cellular therapies). Applications focused on immunological aspects of neural tissues and diseases unrelated to tumors may be reviewed in CNBT.
There are shared interests with Translational Immuno-oncology (TIO) study section. Applications that focus on the immunopathology and immunotherapy of central nervous system tumors (glioma, medulloblastoma, etc.) may be reviewed in either CNBT or TIO (if focus is on non-cellular therapeutics). Applications that focus on the immunological aspects of neural tissues and diseases unrelated to tumors may be reviewed in CNBT.
There are shared interests with Therapeutic Immune Regulation (TIR) in the area of brain tumor therapy. Applications that focus on the immunopathology and immunotherapy of central nervous system tumors (glioma, medulloblastoma, etc.) may be reviewed in either CNBT or TIR (if focus is on therapeutic immune regulation and resistance). Applications that focus on the immunological aspects of neural tissues and diseases unrelated to tumors should be reviewed in CNBT.
There are shared interests with Molecular and Cellular Biology of Virus Infection (MCV) and Viral Pathogenesis and Immunity (VPI). Applications addressing fundamental aspects of non-HIV and non-bacteriophage viral genetics, infection and replication may be assigned to MCV or VPI. CNS infectious diseases from viral infections may be assigned to CNBT.
There are shared interests with Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics B (MCTB) in treatment of glioblastomas, medulloblastomas, neuroblastomas and gliomas. Applications that focus on mechanism(s) of action of anti-neoplastic agents in brain tumors may be reviewed in MCTB. Applications that focus on the central nervous system consequences due to brain tumors may be reviewed in CNBT.
There are shared interests with Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics C (MCTC) in treatment of glioblastomas, medulloblastomas, neuroblastomas and gliomas. Applications that focus on mechanisms of action of anti-neoplastic agents in brain tumors as well as early preclinical investigations of efficacy and toxicity may be reviewed in MCTC. Applications that focus on the central nervous system consequences due to brain tumors may be reviewed in CNBT.
There are shared interests with the Bacterial Virulence (BV) and Bacterial-Host Interactions (BHI) study sections. Applications focused on molecular mechanistic models of bacterial infection or pathogenesis and immunity emphasizing the bacterial perspective may be reviewed in BV or BHI. CNS infectious diseases due to bacterial infection and bacterial-host immune or inflammatory interactions relevant to CNS diseases or disorders may be assigned to CNBT.
