Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters Study Section – CNNT
The Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters (CNNT) Study Section reviews applications which use experimental in vitro, small animal and subhuman primate models to understand the mechanisms of epilepsy, spinal cord injury and neurodegeneration including peripheral neuropathies, Parkinson’s disease (PD), dystonia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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
- Development of an understanding of basic mechanisms/pathologies of epilepsy, epileptogenesis, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease neurodegeneration and diabetic neuropathy using rodent and non-human primate models.
- Evaluation of the alteration synaptic functions, plasticity and adult neurogenesis in the above-mentioned disease models using anatomical, electrophysiological and optogenetic technologies.
- Computer modeling methodologies to evaluate synaptic connectivity changes relating to epilepsy, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease.
- Translational pharmacologic approaches to epilepsy, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease.
- The effects of long-term drug administration on CNS activity and structure (e.g., L-DOPA)
- Changes in signal transduction pathways that accompany long term changes of excitatory and inhibitory cellular and network activity in spinal cord injury, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease
- Epigenetic processes dictating changes in neurogenesis and changes in connectivity following excitation inhibition imbalances.
- Applications leading to the understanding of molecular changes in AMPA, GABA, NMDA and GLUR receptors in injury and alterations of excitation and inhibition.
- The development of stem cell lines and viral vectors for gene therapy approaches.
- Small animal imaging techniques MRI, DTI, MRS to follow connectivity and tracking stem cell transplants.
Shared Interests and Overlaps
There are shared interests in seizures/epilepsy with Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disorders (BIND), and Developmental Brain Disorders (DBD). Applications that emphasize animal and cellular experimental mechanistic studies are reviewed in CNNT. Applications that emphasize adolescent/adult human studies are reviewed in BIND. Applications that emphasize developmental aspects - neonate/pediatric are reviewed in DBD.
While basic mechanisms of cortical and cerebellar micro-circuitry involved in voluntary and involuntary movements are typically be reviewed by Sensori-motor Neuroscience Study Section [SMN] , those involving spinal cord injury may be reviewed by CNNT.
Applications addressing spinal cord pathology, regeneration, repair and rehabilitation, may be reviewed by Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters (CNNT) when focused on pathological processes, or MFSR when focused on rehabilitative approaches.
While basic mechanisms for disorders of motor control involving the basal ganglia (e.g., dystonia) may be reviewed in SMN, applications focused on circuit-level mechanisms involved in Parkinson’s disease particularly when the emphasis is on pathophysiological mechanisms may be reviewed by CNNT.
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural induction in normal development (Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section [NCF]) vs. involvement of spinal cord injury and epilepsy (CNNT).
Whole animal studies to examine mechanisms and involvement of specific molecules and pathways in PD, HD, and ALS (Chronic Dysfunction and Integrative Neurodegeneration [CDIN]), in vitro and in vivo studies from animal models (e.g., electrophysiological studies) for these diseases (CNNT).
There are shared interests in computer modeling with Neuro Informatics, Computational and Data Analysis (NICD). Applications that emphasize applying newly developed computer modeling techniques to evaluate synaptic connectivity changes related to epilepsy, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease as well as adapting established models for their use in disorders are reviewed in CNNT. Applications that emphasize developing new computer modeling techniques are reviewed in NICD.
CNNT and Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, and Regeneration (NDPR) have shared interests in neuroplasticity and regeneration. Applications focusing predominantly on basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptogenesis, plasticity and regeneration may be reviewed in NDPR.
