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PEER REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEEUpdate on New CSR Realignments

Basic Oncology and Bioengineering

Don Schneider

National Institutes of HealthU.S. Department of Health and Human Services

February 1, 2010

Continuous evolution/alignment of study sections is necessary

• Science changes

• CSR is committed to assessment

• Study section size matters –

too small/too large

[Fewer than 50 applications

Is a problem]

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Three goals to consider

• Look at recent reorganizations

• Examine proposed guideline adjustments for Oncology 1 – Basic Translational (OBT) IRG

• Re-examine Microscopic Imaging study section

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Cell Biology merged study sections

2009/05 2010/05

Cell Structure Nuclear & Cytoplasmic

& Function 41 Struct, Functn, & Dynam

Nuclear Dynam 67

& Transport 45

Cellular Signaling Cellular Signaling

& Regulatory & Regulatory

Systems58 Systems 84

Subtotal144 151 applctns4

Digestv, Kidney, & Urologcl Sys merged study sections

2009/05 2010/05

Gastrointestinal

Cell & Molecular

Biology 41

Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal

Mucosal Mucosal

Pathobiology 53 Pathobiology 56

Hepatobiliary Hepatobiliary

Pathophysiology 64 Pathophysiology 78

Clinical & Clinical,

Integrative Integrative

Gastrointestinal & Molecular

Pathobiology 46 Gastroenterology 68

Subtotal 204 202 5

Bioengineering merged panels2009/05 2010/05

Biodata Management Biodata Management

& Analysis 40 & Analysis 88

SEP 28

Modeling & Analysis Modeling & Analysis

Of Biological Of Biological

Systems 39 Systems 72

Microscopic Microscopic

Imaging 20 Imaging 27

Subtotal 127 187

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Interim analysis of realignments is positive

• Workloads improve (except Micros Imaging)• Science and fairness of review are probably

better• CSR needs metric/tool to measure scientific

impact

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Translational and Clinical Sciences

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences

Surgical Sciences, Biomedical

Imaging and Bioengineering

Musculoskeletal, Oral & Skin Sciences

Oncology: Translational Clinical

Vascular and Hematology

Physiological and Pathological Sciences

Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition & Reproductive Sciences

Immunology

Infectious Diseases& Microbiology

Digestive, Kidney &Urological Systems

Neuroscience, Development and Aging

Brain Disorders &Clinical Neuroscience

Molecular, Cellular &Developmental Neuroscience

Integrative, Functional & Cognitive Neuroscience

Emerging Technologies &Training in Neuroscience

Biology of Development & Aging

Biobehavioral & Behavioral Processes

Risk, Prevention& Health Behavior

Population Sciences & Epidemiology

Healthcare Delivery & Methodologies

AIDS & AIDSRelated Research

AIDS, Behavioral and Population Sciences

Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences

Biological Chemistry & Macromolecular

Biophysics

Bioengineering Sciences& Technologies

Genes, Genomes & Genetics

Oncology: Basic Translational

Cell Biology

Interdisciplinary Molecular Sciences

& Training

CSR formed five review divisions, January 2009

Oncology 1 – Basic & Translational IRG was established and reviewed

• Split ONC to form OBT & OTC January 2009

• Collected feedback from reviewers two cycles  (October and February meetings)

• Discussed feedback with Chairs (Chief and DD)

• Reviewed by CSR Director et al September 23, 2009

[Chief – Cathleen Cooper]9

Realignments are proposed for OBT study sections

For emerging trends, clarity of scientific scope, and workload balance, guideline adjustments are proposed:

• Cancer Molecular Pathology study section (CAMP) –about 110 applications a cycle; focuses on oncogenes and tumor suppressors; move telomeres and epigenomics

• Cancer Genetics study section (CG) – about 75 applications a cycle; focuses on chromosomal integrity and stability; add telomeres and epigenomics (would fit well)

• Cancer Etiology study section (CE) – about 90 applications a cycle; focuses on DNA repair and environmental carcinogenesis; move epigenomics unless focus is environmental

• Estimated result: about 95, 90, and 90 applications10

Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies IRG was formed in 2004

Regular Study Sections• Biodata Management and Analysis (BDMA)• Biomaterials and Biointerfaces (BMBI)• Gene and Drug Delivery Systems (GDD)• Instrumentation Systems and Development (ISD)• Modeling and Analysis of Biological Systems

(MABS)• Microscopic Imaging (MI)• Nanotechnology (NANO)

[Chief – George Chacko]

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Steps to realign were taken a year ago

• Original study sections were hybrids in that R01s and R43s were reviewed together – no longer possible

• BDMA & MI were small, about 50 applications each• Via Working Group and PRAC, BDMA was

combined with a software SEP and scope of MI was expanded

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2009 Realignment worked for BDMA, not for MI

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Microscopic Imaging and Spectroscopy

The study section focuses on review of applications on techniques and instrumentation for microscopic visualization of molecules, organelles, and model systems

• Development and improvement of microscopic imaging and spectroscopy

• Development of imaging tools/software• Image acquisition and analysis, including single

particle

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Instrumentation Systems and Development shares interests with Microscopic Imaging

• Optical and spectroscopic instrumentation• Microfabrication• Automation and integration• Sensing of single cells

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MIS, ISD, & EBT share interests

• Microscopic Imaging and Spectroscopy, in BST, focus is to develop techniques to visualize molecules, organelles, and cells

• Instrumentation and Systems Development, in BST, focus is to develop instrumentation for biological research

• Enabling Bioanalytical and Biophysical Technologies, in BCMB, focus is development of bioanalytical tools to probe molecules

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Options presented to Working Group

[Working within the Bioengineering IRG]

• Terminate MIS

• Merge MIS with ISD

• Expand the scope of MIS

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Bioengineering Working Group #2 met January 2010

ROSTER

• Wah Chiu, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine)

• Robert M Dickson, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology)

• Michael Gilson, MD, PhD (University of Maryland)

• Enrico Gratton, PhD (University of California Irvine)

• Jerome Mertz, PhD (Boston University)

• Stephen C Miller, PhD (University of Massachusetts Worcester)

• Amy Palmer, PhD (University of Colorado Boulder)

• Peter Sorger, PhD (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

• Shankar Subramaniam, PhD (University of California San Diego)

• Stephen Wong, PhD (Cornell University Weill)

• Xiaowei Zhuang, PhD (Harvard University)

• NIH: James Deatherage, PhD (NIGMS); Catherine Lewis, PhD (NIGMS); George Chacko, PhD (CSR); Don Schneider, PhD (CSR)

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Working Group Expressed Preferences

• Terminate Microscopic Imaging - WG least enthusiasm, integrated basic imaging panel has value, will grow

• Merge MIS, principally with Instrumentation and Systems Development - WG medium enthusiasm

• Expand scope and continue Microscopic Imaging - WG considerable enthusiasm

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Should MI be continued?

• Element of “Been there, done that”• Related issues

- EBT study section

- IMST IRG

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CSR created Interdisciplinary Molecular Sciences & Training IRG January 2009

• IMST uses SEPs to review all fellowship and small business applications for Basic & Integrative Biological Sciences (basic oncology, bio-chemistry/biophysics, bioengineering, cell biology, and genetics)

• IMST uses SEPs to review interdisciplinary special applications, e.g., some P01s, P41s, and S10s

• IMST was recently chartered, with understanding that it would form a regular, chartered study section

[Chief – Ross Shonat] 21

Taking a bolder, broader view

• EBT averages about 60 applications a round• MI averages about 25 applications a round• EBT and MI have complementary interests• IMST IRG needs a chartered study section• 25 + 60 = 85, close to ideal• Create EBIT, Enabling Bioanalytical and

Imaging Technologies

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PRAC input sought

Oncology 1 – Basic Translational IRG (OBT)• Move telomeres and epigenomics from Cancer

Molecular Pathology to Cancer Genetics• Move some epigenomics from Cancer Etiology to

Cancer Genetics

Microscopic Imaging and Spectroscopy• Allow more time for growth, OR• Merge with Enabling Bioanalytical and Biophysical

Technologies and move to Interdisciplinary Molecular Sciences and Training IRG

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Discussion