Nervous System Development and Repair – NSDR

Topics

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis and gliogenesis in normal development, including transcriptional and translational regulation, signaling pathways, regionalization of the nervous system, and the response to extrinsic factors that influence neural development. Regulation of the cell cycle in neurons and glia; mechanisms of growth arrest and re-initiation of cell division and differentiation.
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms that control cell migration, cell polarity, motility, directional migration, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Mechanisms controlling neurite outgrowth, fasciculation, branching, axon guidance, including formation of topographic and laminar-specific projections.
• Selection of synaptic partners, formation and maturation of pre- and postsynaptic elements, synaptic plasticity and development of patterned neuronal activity.
• Regeneration of connections; factors that regulate axon or dendritic sprouting, axon or dendritic re-growth, re-formation of dendritic spines, and re-establishment of synaptic connections following injury, development of cellular and molecular tools and strategies to overcome inhibitory factors and to promote repair.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There is overlapping and shared interest with the following review panels:

There are shared scientific interests between NSDR and Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (BCBD) in applications addressing molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms involved in nervous system development. Applications focused on normal developmental processes are generally reviewed in NSDR. Applications primarily focused on mechanisms associated with psychiatric and mental health disorders are generally reviewed in BCBD.

There are shared interests with Biology and Development of the Eye (BDE) in visual system development and regeneration. Applications focused on mechanism of neurogenesis and tissue patterning and ganglion cell axons interactions outside the retina (optic nerve, visual cortex) and synaptogenesis are reviewed in NSDR. Applications about ganglion cell development, ganglion cell neuroprotection, and cell death in retina are reviewed in BDE.

There are shared interests with Cell Fate, Stem Cells and Regeneration (CFSR) in topics related to stem cell biology, specification and differentiation of cell types. Some topics related to the study of cell migration, organ assembly and regeneration overlap with NSDR. When the focus is on neuronal tissue formation and development requiring specific nervous system biology expertise, the application may be reviewed in NSDR, whereas applications examining fundamental development biology of early nervous system development may be reviewed by CFSR.

There are shared interests with Cell Structure and Function-1 (CSF-1) in biological processes controlling cell shape and motility including cell polarity, cell adhesion, and interaction with extracellular matrix. Applications proposing the study of these topics during the development of the nervous system are reviewed in NSDR. 

There are shared scientific interests between NSDR and Basic and Mechanistic Glial Studies (BMGS) in applications addressing cell fate specification, glial development, and glial function, particularly in the areas of gliogenesis and glia–neuron interactions. Applications focused on early neural specification, stem cell biology, or the influence of glia on neuronal development and function are generally reviewed in NSDR. Applications primarily focused on glial biology, mechanisms of glial function, or glia regulated processes are generally reviewed in BMGS.

There are shared interests with Cellular Mechanisms in Aging and Development (CMAD) in development and aging. Applications that focus on mechanisms and events within the nervous system are reviewed in NSDR. Applications that focus on broader mechanisms involving the whole organism or structures primarily outside the nervous system are reviewed in CMAD.

There are shared interests with CPN in stem cell biology, neurogenesis, plasticity, and regeneration of neuronal connectivity. Applications that are focus on predominantly on basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, plasticity, and regeneration of neuronal connectivity are reviewed in NSDR. Applications with a greater clinical and translational focus, epileptogenesis, and other circuit level disorder are reviewed in CPN. 

There are shared interests with Learning, Memory and Decision Neuroscience (LMDN) in synaptic plasticity and development. Applications involving cellular and molecular mechanisms are reviewed in NSDR. Applications with a focus on systems neuroscience and functional circuitry that emphasize organismal level of plasticity, learning, memory, and decision making are reviewed in LMDN. 

There are shared interests with Molecular Neurogenetics (MNG) in the mechanisms and function of molecular genetics, including cellular genomics, transcriptional and translational regulation, and epigenetics. Applications that focus on the impact of molecular genetic processes on neurogenesis, cell fate specification, wiring or regeneration of the nervous system are reviewed in NSDR. Applications that focus on fundamental molecular genetic processes and development of novel genetic tools in a neuroscience context are reviewed in MNG.

There are shared scientific interests between NSDR and Neuronal Stress, Death, and Survival (NSDS) in studies addressing mechanisms of cell death and the use of stem cell and/or animal models to study neurodegeneration or injury. Applications focused on lineage and fate specification, neurogenesis, differentiation, axogenesis, and related developmental or regenerative processes are generally reviewed in NSDR. Applications emphasizing neurodegenerative mechanisms, neuronal injury, or protective outcomes are generally reviewed in NSDS. Applications focused on the development or refinement of stem cell models for studies of neurodegeneration, or on identifying mitochondrial or oxidative mechanisms contributing to neurodegeneration or neuroprotection, may also be assigned to NSDS.

There are shared interests with Neuronal Communications (NC) in synapse formation and plasticity. Applications with an emphasis on neuronal development and regeneration of neuronal connectivity are reviewed in NSDR. Applications with an emphasis on adult synaptic function and underlying mechanisms such as vesicular trafficking, exocytosis or cytoskeletal dynamics are reviewed in NC.

There are shared interests with Pathophysiology of Eye Disease (PED1) and (PED2) in the biology of optic nerve and visual cortex. Applications that focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying axon outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and regeneration of neuronal connectivity are reviewed in NSDR. Applications that focus on studies of eye function and pathology, and translational and clinical-oriented studies are reviewed in PED1 or PED2.