Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune, and Immune-mediated Diseases Study Section – HAI

Topics

• Immunological processes related to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, autoimmune arthritis, and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.
• Environmental and genetic factors involved in immune pathway triggers and autoimmunity.
• Maintenance and breakage of central tolerance, peripheral tolerance and immune homeostasis.
• Strategies for reestablishing a normal immune balance for treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

Applications that focus on inflammatory diseases, hypersensitivity, allergic diseases, and asthma that currently fit the HAI Study Section are being moved to the Hypersensitivity, Allergies and Mucosal Immunology (HAMI) recurring Special Emphasis Panel.

There are shared interests with Innate Immunity and Inflammation Study Section (III) in innate immune mechanisms and inflammation. Applications focusing on basic and/or effector functions of innate immune cells in in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation and innate immunity may be reviewed by III. Applications examining innate immune mechanisms involved in autoimmune disease development or progression may be reviewed by HAI.

There are shared interests with Transplantation, Tolerance and Tumor Immunology Study Section (TTT). Applications focusing on central and peripheral tolerance in tumor and transplant models may be reviewed by TTT. Applications examining mechanism leading to effector:regulatory immune cell imbalance, central and peripheral tolerance breakage and autoimmune disease may be reviewed by HAI.

There are shared interests with Cellular and Molecular Immunology A (CMIA)/Cellular and Molecular Immunology Study Section B (CMIB) in basic immune mechanisms. Applications examining the development, differentiation, activation, cellular, biochemical, structural and biophysical mechanisms of innate/adaptive immune cells and systems may be reviewed by CMIA/CMIB. Applications examining molecular and cellular mechanisms, such as transcriptional and translational control events that alter immune cell function leading to tolerance breakage and autoimmune disease onset or progression may be reviewed by HAI.

There are shared interests with Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin Study Section (ACTS) in inflammation of the joints, connective tissues and skin. Applications examining the biology of the joint, connective tissue and skin may be reviewed by ACTS. Applications examining the immunological aspects of rheumatic diseases may be reviewed by HAI.

There are shared interests in age-related changes in the adaptive and innate immune systems with Aging Systems and Geriatrics (ASG). Applications that emphasize the impact of aging on the mechanistic pathways affecting immune cells and their molecular function are reviewed in HAI. Applications that emphasize age-related changes in complex physiology that include an immune component are reviewed in ASG. 

There are shared interests in neuroimmunology and autoimmunity in the central (CNS), peripheral (PNS), and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) with Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors(CNBT). Applications that emphasize immune cell function in the disorder, in addition to those that focus on more basic investigation of immune cells as it relates to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders in the CNS, PNS, and ANS are reviewed in HAI. Applications that emphasize studies investigating the role of the innate and adaptive immune systems in immunological and autoimmunological responses involved in the injury and dyshomeostasis and pathogenesis in the CNS (e.g., autoimmune demyelination diseases), PNS, and ANS are reviewed in CNBT. 

There are shared interests in neuroimmunology with Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms and Sleep Study Section(NNRS) and Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia Study Section (CMBG). Applications focusing on the immunomodulatory mechanisms and immunopathology of inflammatory neural diseases such as multiple sclerosis may be reviewed by HAI. Applications examining neural tissue and processes associated with neural diseases are reviewed in NNRS or CMBG.

There are shared interests with Basic Mechanisms of Diabetes and Metabolism (BMDM) in the investigation of immune modulation of adipocytes, islet cell function and diabetes. Applications focused in understanding immune cell function and regulation related to type 1 diabetes onset may be reviewed in HAI, while those focused on immune cell modulation of pancreatic islet cell function, molecular alterations of islet cells contributing diabetes etiopathogenesis and pathobiology (e.g., type 1 diabetes) may be reviewed by BMDM.