Restructuring of Study Sections: ComputationalStructural Biology Signaling BiologyBiochemistry Don S

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Restructuring of Study SectionsComputatio
nal/Structural BiologySignaling
Biology/Biochemistry Don Schneider, PhDAugust
2006National Institutes of
HealthDepartment of Health and Human Services
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Principles

• Be guided by Core Values of NIH peer review
  (fair, expert, and timely peer review free from
  influence/conflict)
• Monitor study sections continuously (rosters,
  meetings, and summary statements)
• Change study sections as the science changes
  (involve all stakeholders)

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Background

• Review Panels Biochemistry, Physical
  Biochemistry, and Physiological Chemistry closed
  fall 2004
• Growing numbers of computational and structural
  biology applications
• Concerns expressed by members of professional
  societies about perceptions that degree of
  clustering is low

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Current Review Statusof computational and
enzymatic applications in biochemistry/biophysics
cluster

• Special emphasis panel (ZRG1 BCMB-Q) reviews
  about 45 applications a cycle in which
  computational technologies are applied to
  biochemical/biophysical questions
• Chartered Macromolecular Structure and Function
  study sections (-A, -B, and -C) handle about 300
  applications a cycle with clustering of metals
  and mechanistic enzymology in MSFA

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Computational/Structural BiologyWorking Group
Roster

• David Baker, U Washington
• Helen Berman, Rutgers U
• William DeGrado, U Penn
• David Eisenberg, UCLA
• Barry Honig, Columbia U
• Judith Klinman, UC Berkeley
• Greg Petsko, Brandeis U
• Douglas Rees, Caltech
• JoAnne Stubbe, MIT
• NIH staff Don Schneider (CSR), John Bowers
  (CSR), and Janna Wehrle (NIGMS)

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NIH Information Shared with Working Group Members

• Links to CSR study section guidelines
• Recent numbers of applications and master lists
  for selected study sections
• - MSF-A, -B, -C
• - ZRG1 BCMB-Q
• Possible options and redacted comments by members
  on options

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Consensus of Telephone Conference Call (August 3,
2006)

• Integrate Q into MSF study sections
• Form two new study sections
• - A, -B, -C remain quite the same
• - D cluster computational applications, more
  emphasis on experimental validation
• - E cluster mechanistic enzymology applications

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Possible Guidelines Macromolecular Structure and
Function D (MSFD)

• Computational analysis of questions in
  macromolecular biophysics
• Sequence-structure-function relationships
• Molecular modeling including interactions at
  different resolutions
• Biophysical theories, simulations, and
  complementary experiments

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Possible Guidelines Macromolecular Structure and
Function E (MSFE)

• Mechanistic enzymology
• Enzyme inhibitors and drug chemistry
• Computational and mechanism-based studies of
  enzymes and inhibitors
• Macromolecular aspects of metabolic pathways

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Current Review Statusof Signaling Applications

• Cellular Signaling and Dynamics (CSD) handles
  about 80 applications a cycle
• Across CSR about 800 signaling applications a
  cycle, with modest clustering outside of CSD

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Signaling Biology/Biochemistry Working Group
Roster

• Richard Cerione, Cornell
• Joan Heller Brown, UCSD
• Jack Dixon, UCSD
• Henrik Dohlman, UNC
• Heidi Hamm, Vanderbilt, ASBMB President
• Brian Kobilka, Stanford
• Richard Neubig, U Michigan
• NIH Representatives Don Schneider (CSR), Noni
  Byrnes (CSR), and Richard Anderson (NIGMS)

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NIH Information Shared with Working Group Members

• Links to CSR study section guidelines
• Recent numbers of applications and master lists
  for selected study sections
• Cell Signaling and Dynamics
• Membrane Biology and Protein Processing
• Nuclear Dynamics and Transport
• About 100 signaling applications a cycle are in
  Cell Biology cluster (perhaps two study sections)
• Possible options and redacted comments by members
  on options

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Consensus of Telephone Conference Call (July 24,
2006)

• Create a new signaling study section focused on
  molecular and integrative aspects of signaling
• Restructure CSD to retain cell cycle, mitosis,
  etc, but add imaging of signaling complexes
• Seed rosters with members of the Working Group
• Launch study sections for Feb/Mar receipt (Oct
  2007 council)

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Possible Guidelines Cellular Signaling and
Regulatory Systems (CSRS)

• Integrative cell physiology
• Mitosis, meiosis, cell cycle
• Cell differentiation, transformation, growth, and
  death
• Associated proteolytic mechanisms
• Imaging of signaling complexes

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Possible GuidelinesMolecular and Integrative
Signal Transduction (MIST)

• Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction,
  including G-protein and 7TM receptors
• Protein kinases associated with signaling
• Protein phosphatases associated with signaling
• Second messenger mechanisms including lipid
  signaling molecules
• Simulations of signaling cascades/mechanisms

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Future Plans

• Seek approval
• Constitute rosters
• Launch study sections for winter receipt dates
  (October 2007 council)

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PRAC Discussants

• Leslie Leinwand
• Daria Mochly-Rosen
• Louise Ramm