Skeletal Biology Development and Disease Study Section – SBDD

Topics

• Structural and organizational aspects of bone and cartilage including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, physiology and biomineralization with respect to osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondrocytes, connective tissue cells and other cells in the marrow environment in both normal and pathological conditions.
• Basic and clinical studies of calciotropic hormones and paracrine factors involved in bone and cartilage biology in humans and animal models, metabolic bone diseases [e.g., osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget’s disease of bone, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) induced metabolic bone diseases (CKD-MBD)], and diseases of mineral ion homeostasis associated with abnormalities of parathyroid hormone, Vitamin D, calcitonin and other hormonal and paracrine factors.
• Immunological aspects of bone diseases.
• In vitro and animal models of molecular pathogenesis and biology of osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, assessing functional effects of primary tumors and metastasis to bone.
• Regulation of biomineralization of the extracellular matrix of skeletal and connective tissues; structure and organization of matrix components; cell matrix interaction and signaling in normal and pathological conditions.
• Tooth development.
• Mechanisms of craniofacial and skeletal patterning, lip and palate development, including gene discovery, gene expression and genetic linkage studies in humans and animal models; cellular proliferation, lineage commitment and differentiation; chondrodysplasias, osteodysplasias and cellular aspects of aging of the skeleton using in vitro and in vivo models.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests with Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration [SBSR] in the investigation of bone and cartilage. Grant applications that address the biomechanical and structural changes related to degenerative bone and joint diseases may be assigned to SBSR. Applications that focus on the development and fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of bone and cartilage, may be assigned to SBDD.

There are shared interests with Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences [ODCS] in the investigation related to teeth and oral cavity. Grant applications that focus on periodontal bone remodeling, pathogenesis of oral and dental diseases, tooth mineralization, dentin and enamel biology may be assigned to ODCS. Applications that focus on craniofacial development and biomineralization including mechanisms and development of oral hard tissue (palate), mandibular and maxilla bone, and tooth development may be assigned to SBDD.

There are shared interests with Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering [MTE]in the investigation of calvarial and jaw bone. Grant applications on tissue engineering aspects of calvarial and jaw bone may be assigned to MTE. Applications on development of calvarial and jaw bone may be assigned to SBDD.

There are shared interests with Development-2 [DEV2]. Grant applications that focus on studying regulatory networks in patterning of craniofacial and skeletal tissues during development may be assigned to DEV2. Applications studying craniofacial and skeletal development and patterning may be assigned to SBDD.

There are shared interests with Pathophysiology of Obesity and Metabolic Disease [POMD] in the investigation of metabolic regulation of bones and joints. Grant applications that focus on insulin signaling pathways effects on bones may be assigned to POMD.  Applications that focus on effects of metabolic processes on bones and joints related diseases may be assigned to SBDD.

There are shared interests with Cell Signaling and Molecular Endocrinology [CSME] in the investigation of signaling pathways of peptide hormones and their receptors. Grant applications that focus on steroid hormone signaling regulation of muscle and bone cells may be assigned to CSME. Applications focused on paracrine factors involved in bone regulation may be assigned to SBDD.

There are shared interests with Nutrition and Metabolism in Health and Disease [NMHD] in the investigation of nutrients effects on bone diseases. Grant applications that focus on signaling pathways that modulate nutrients effects on bone physiology may be assigned to NMHD. Applications focused on effects of vitamins and nutrients on bones and joints related diseases may be reviewed by SBDD.

There are shared interests with Aging Systems and Geriatrics (ASG) in the investigation of osteoporosis. Grant applications focused on multicomponent, pleiotropic and mechanism-driven intervention studies addressing age-related changes are reviewed in ASG. Applications on basic and clinical studies of calciotropic hormones and paracrine factors in osteoporosis are reviewed in SBDD.

There are shared interests in skeletal conditions with Aging, Injury, Musculoskeletal, and Rheumatologic Disorders (AIMR). Applications that emphasize basic and translational aspects of normal and abnormal skeletal development and bone diseases and investigate the pathological and normal physiology of these conditions are reviewed in SBDD. Applications that emphasize the distribution and determinants of skeletal development and bone diseases in human subpopulations are reviewed in AIMR.