The Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences (MOSS) IRG will consider research applications that address structural systems that are prerequisite for physical form, mechanical function, movement, and integrity of the body. These structural systems and their components are the basis for the organization of the study sections of this IRG and are described according to the following topical areas: skeleton, spine, bone, connective tissue, extracellular matrix, and their related diseases/disorders; dental/oral and craniofacial and their related diseases/disorders; skeletal muscle, limb, and their related diseases/disorders; joints and their related diseases/disorders, including rheumatic diseases; skin and its related diseases/disorders. Autoimmune diseases are specifically included. For these topical areas, the studies considered range from molecular genetics and stem cell research to animal models and clinical trials. For each major topical area, the research applications may include studies of: basic biology, including growth, development, maturation, and aging; biomaterials for prostheses/orthotics and implants; pathogenesis and therapeutics; physical rehabilitation; exercise; mechanobiology/biomechanics; injury and repair, including adaptation, plasticity, degeneration, and regeneration; diagnostic markers and biomarkers; cell and gene-based therapies; and clinical outcomes and trials.

Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS)
Skeletal Biology and Diseases 1 (SBD1)
Skeletal Biology and Diseases 2 (SBD2)
Skeletal Muscle, Exercise and Rehabilitation (SMER)
Arthritis, Connective Tissue, and Skin (ACTS)

Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS)

The Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS) study section reviews applications involving basic, applied and clinical aspects of the development, biology, pathology and repair of oral, dental and craniofacial tissues.

• Biochemistry, molecular and cell biology of oral and craniofacial structures: tissue organization and structure, including cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions, and mechanisms of mineralization, in dentin, cementum, enamel and craniofacial and alveolar bone; associated diseases and disorders of these structures; salivary gland and oral mucosa; TMJ-associated structures, including ligaments and muscles, and their associated diseases and disorders.

• Development and patterning of craniofacial, oral and dental structures, including: genetics and gene discovery; normal development and patterning of pharyngeal and musculoskeletal structures of the head and face; patterning of the dentition; formation of periodontal tissues and attachment complex; and developmental anomalies of these craniofacial, oral and dental structures.

• Function and physiology of salivary gland and the oral mucosal environment: salivary secretions and crevicular fluids; salivary proteins, saliva chemistry and diagnostics; salivary gland pathology, including Sjogren's syndrome; and radiation- and systemic disease-induced xerostomia.

• Oral microbial pathogenesis: etiologic agents of caries, periodontal diseases and oral candadiasis; other oral soft and hard tissue infections; viral infections of oral tissues; biofilms of oral tissues; and systemic consequences of oral microbial infections.

• Biomimetics and bioengineering of dental and craniofacial tissues: biomimetic approaches for repair and replacement of dental and craniofacial tissues and associated structures, including the TMJ, salivary gland and masticatory musculature; dental restorative materials; biomechanics at micro- and macro levels; bioengineering, including cell- and gene-based therapy, drug delivery, reconstruction and repair of the oral tissues, craniofacial skeleton, and TMJ; reconstruction and regeneration of the salivary gland; salivary gland as a vehicle for oral and systemic gene therapy; biosensors; and structural and diagnostic imaging.

• ACTS and SMER study sections: (a) If the primary focus of an application is on TMJ and associated local musculature, rather than on systemic disease, assignment should be to ODCS; (b) If the focus is on salivary gland, rather than on other systems, assignment should be assigned to ODCS.

• SBD1 and 2: Applications studying bone biology and biomineralization in craniofacial mineralized tissues, including craniofacial, intramembranous and alveolar bone, as well as cementum, dentin, enamel should be assigned to ODCS.

• IRG 11 (Infectious Diseases and Microbiology): Applications studying oral microbes need to be evaluated in the context of the special characteristics of the target tissues in the oral cavity. Therefore, such applications should be assigned to ODCS.
• IRG 12 (AIDS and Related Research): Studies of oral manifestations of HIV and AIDS should be assigned to IRG 12.
• IRG 13 (Oncological Sciences): Applications focused on head and neck cancer should be assigned to IRG 13.

Skeletal Biology and Diseases 1 (SBD1)

The Skeletal Biology and Diseases 1 (SBD1) study section reviews grant applications that deal with the basic and translational aspects of the cells and matrix and their organization in skeletal tissues, including bone, cartilage, and other connective tissues, with a focus on cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, development, biomineralization, aging, heritable and metabolic bone diseases, pathogenesis, and hormonal and paracrine functions.

• Molecular and cellular biological and biochemical aspects of osteoblasts, chondrocytes, connective tissue cells, osteoclasts and other cells in the marrow environment in both normal and pathological conditions; studies of calcitropic hormones and paracrine factors involved in the biology of these cells; physical and mechanical influences on cellular behavior; role of bone in mineral ion homeostasis.

• Mechanisms of skeletal patterning; biology of mesenchymal progenitor cells and their differentiation; regulation of osteoclast lineage; cellular proliferation, lineage commitment, differentiation, apoptosis and their abnormalities; cellular aspects of aging of the skeleton.

• Structural and organizational aspects of bone and cartilage: cortical vs. trabecular bone; interactions between musculoskeletal elements; remodeling of the skeleton.

• Extracellular matrix: biomineralization of the extracellular matrix of skeletal and connective tissues and its regulation; structure and organization of matrix components; cell matrix interaction and signaling.

• Genetic linkage studies, gene discovery, gene expression in animal models and humans; models for gene therapy.

• Studies of molecular pathogenesis and biology, in vitro studies and animal models of primary tumors and metastasis to bone.

• Diseases of the skeleton and mineral metabolism in humans and animal models: epidemiology, biomarkers, natural history, imaging and therapeutics as they apply to clinical and basic studies of osteoporosis, osteomalacia and other metabolic bone diseases; osteogenesis imperfecta; Pagets disease of bone; chondrodystrophies, osteodystrophies; diseases of mineral ion homeostasis associated with abnormalities of parathyroid hormone, Vitamin D, calcitonin and other hormonal and paracrine factors.

• Changes in matrix occur in arthridites, skin, and skeletal muscle disease. Applications that focus on abnormalities of matrix limited to bone and cartilage and associated tendon and ligament structures should be assigned to SBD1.

• SBD2: The study of skeletal cell biology is shared with SBD2; the focus of SBD2, however, is primarily injury and repair.

• ODCS: Studies of bone and cartilage biology in craniofacial structures should be assigned to ODCS.

• IRG 4 (Fundamental Genetics and Population Biology): Studies of the genetic analyses of skeletal diseases should be assigned to SBD1.

• IRG 5 (Biology of Development and Aging): Studies of early developmental biology should be assigned to IRG 5. When the focus is on lineages committed to formation of skeletal elements, assignment should be to SBD1. When the assessment of osteoporosis is a secondary aspect of a multi-system study of the aging process, assignment would be appropriate to IRG 5; when osteoporosis is the primary study focus, the assignment should be to SBD1.

• IRG 7 (Health of the Population): Studies of the epidemiology of osteoporosis and other bone diseases should be assigned to the appropriate Epidemiology Study Section.

• IRG 16 (Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Reproductive Sciences): Studies of the hormones that regulate mineral metabolism, homeostasis, and related diseases in the bone should be assigned to SBD1.

• IRG 13 (Oncological Sciences): Studies of bone tumors should be assigned to IRG 13. When the focus is on the particular characteristics of bone cell tumors and the crucial interactions between the bone/marrow microenvironment and metastatic cells assignment should be to SBD1.

Skeletal Biology and Diseases 2 (SBD2)

The Skeletal Biology and Diseases 2 (SBD2) study section reviews applications involving both basic and applied aspects of the musculoskeletal system, with a focus on bone, cartilage, ligament and tendon, at the tissue and organ level; their interaction in joints and the spine; their development; their response to normal loading, injury, aging, and disease and disorders; as well as their regeneration and repair, all using cell, tissue, and animal models and human subjects.

• Molecular and cell biology of bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament injury and repair.

• Gene expression, gene regulation, and gene therapy in the processes of injury and repair of musculoskeletal tissues.

• Mechanobiology and biomedical mechanics at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ level.

• Understanding of the nature of injuries, disorders, and diseases involving the musculoskeletal system of developmental, neoplastic (primary to musculoskeletal tissues or metastatic to bone), infectious, degenerative, traumatic, and age-related etiologies. This includes sports-related and repetitive motion disorders and the wear, injury-induced, and degenerative changes manifest in articular and meniscal cartilage.

• Characterization of the intrinsic capacity of musculoskeletal tissues and joints to repair and regenerate, as well as the development and application of strategies to enhance repair, including the use of biomolecular (e.g., cytokines, growth, and differentiation factors), biomaterials, mechanical and cellular approaches (tissue engineering), limb lengthening techniques, and targeted physical rehabilitation programs.

• Joint mechanics (including forces and kinematics); joint replacement (including design, materials, fixation, wear, and other modes of failure); gait and motion analysis; physical rehabilitation of the joint.

• ACTS: Changes in articular cartilage (cells, matrix, and architecture) occur in the inflammatory arthridites (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) as well as osteoarthritis. The ACTS Study Section should review studies of arthritis focusing on systemic inflammatory processes. Studies of cartilage degeneration and associated changes in bone and joints following joint injury and instability or developmental disorders (e.g., DDH), as well as the study of articular cartilage in normal growth and development should be assigned to SBD2. Studies of injuries and their treatment for conditions, such as osteochrondritis dissecans and osteoarticular fractures, should be assigned to SBD2.

• SMER: SBD2 best reviews physical rehabilitation programs that relate directly to the success of treatment strategies associated with injuries or post-operative conditions of isolated musculoskeletal conditions. Studies dealing with more systemic or multisystems disorders and/or degenerative states should be considered for review by SMER.

• SBD1: Given the close link between bone research, basic and applied, there will be shared interests regarding applications that take a broad approach to musculoskeletal tissues. Studies more appropriate for SBD2 will have greater emphasis on the repair of bone, connective tissue, tendons/ligaments, and subsequent function of these tissues.

• IRG 13 (Oncological Sciences): Studies of musculoskeletal oncology should be assigned to SBD2 when tumors primary to musculoskeletal tissues or metastatic to bone affect function of the musculoskeletal system or help elucidate the nature of growth, development, aging, or disease of skeletal tissues. The Oncological Sciences IRG best reviews other aspects of musculoskeletal oncology.

• IRG 21 (Surgery, Applied Imaging, and Applied Bioengineering) and the Fundamental Bioengineering and Technology Development (IRG 6): Studies of the load-bearing requirements of implants intended to replace or reinforce portions of the skeletal system, and studies examining tissue engineering, biomaterials, and implant mechanics specific to the musculoskeletal system should be assigned to SBD2. Studies designed to address more general principles of biomaterial design and development and non-musculoskeletal aspects of tissue engineering and biomechanics should be considered under the auspices of the Fundamental Bioengineering and Technology Development (IRG 6) and the Surgery, Applied Imaging, and Applied Bioengineering (IRG 21) IRGs.

• IRG 9 (Behavioral and Biobehavioral Processes) and IRG 23 (Integrative, Functional, and Cognitive Neuroscience): Nerve injury and repair related to targeted musculoskeletal conditions constitute shared interests with the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neurosciences, and Behavioral and Biobehavioral Processes IRGs, but may be included in SBD2.

Skeletal Muscle, Exercise, and Rehabilitation (SMER)

The Skeletal Muscle, Exercise, and Rehabilitation (SMER) study section will consider molecular, cellular, and integrative studies of normal and altered skeletal muscle function and processes that range from molecular genetics, to structure-function relationships, to integrative and functional studies on human mobility and exercise, physical rehabilitation, and health. Integrative projects include studies using multidisciplinary methods and models and studies that include combined skeletal muscle and other body systems at various levels of organization. Therapeutic and preventive interventions as they relate to skeletal muscle function are included. In addition, as they relate to skeletal muscle and limb function, specific studies of the biochemistry and molecular biology of skeletal muscle, the physiology and adaptation of skeletal muscle and injuries, and diseases of muscle will be included for review in this study section. The goal is to provide a comprehensive review of skeletal muscle biology and muscle diseases, plasticity in adult skeletal muscle and aging, repair and regeneration, and the development and function of the musculoskeletal system (muscle and bone) as a functional unit.

• Studies of skeletal muscle proteins:
  • Biochemical and molecular biological research on skeletal muscle- specific proteins, receptors, signaling pathways, ion channels and protein turnover; molecular characterization of skeletal muscle proteins, including but not limited to, actin, myosin, dystrophins and sarcoglycans and titin; and their supramolecular structures;
  • Characterization of skeletal muscle nuclear and sarcolemmal receptors and anchor proteins, particularly neuromuscular junction and dystrophin complexes and the membrane cytoskeleton;
  • Excitability, EC coupling, and ion channels in skeletal muscle (disease examples include but are not limited to myotonia, periodic paralysis, and malignant hyperthermia);

• Studies of skeletal muscle cells:
  
  • Research on excitability, excitation-contraction coupling and force generation in skeletal muscle fibers;
  • Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, including the basement membrane and satellite cells; supra-molecular assembly and degradation, and regulation thereof, including structure and function of SERCA (sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase) and mitochondria;
  • Signal transduction pathways in normal and altered states, particularly in calcium regulation, acetylcholine receptor structure/function and hormonal and other chemical receptors and growth factors for signaling and communications in muscle cells and tissues;
  • Physiological evaluation of skeletal muscle gene function; stem cell biology related to muscle, tendon and musculotendinous connections; normal and abnormal neural control of muscle fiber type and molecular phenotype.

• Studies of skeletal muscle as a tissue:
  
  • Adaptive responses of skeletal muscle to exercise, inactivity, hormones, cytokines, nutrition and their biological consequences: mechanisms of growth, injury, degeneration, regeneration and repair; molecular and cellular mechanisms of muscle degeneration and regeneration cascades;
  • Imaging of skeletal muscle properties, metabolism, and mechanical dynamics (e.g., PET, MRS, MRI, and ultrasound);
  • Regulation of skeletal muscle energy and substrate metabolism and control of individual processes and networks.

• Integrative functions:
  
  • Use of exercise and other physical rehabilitation modalities in treatment and prevention of aging and/or diseases related to skeletal muscle wasting and maintenance of functional capacity; role of exercise training in the enhancement of physical performance in athletes, increased health in the general population, and as a therapy;
  • Generation of force at the molecular and higher levels of organization, and transmission to tendon and bone, including studies of molecular generation of force and mechanical force in muscle fibers; muscle metabolism and metabolic interactions with other systems in so far as they influence skeletal muscle function and disease;
  • Genetic, molecular, and biochemical bases of skeletal muscle adaptation, particularly atrophy, exercise, and inactivity, including maturation and skeletal muscle function in aging;
  • Physiologic interactions between skeletal muscle and other systems and disease when skeletal muscle function is the primary focus (studies of skeletal muscle cell and organ properties that influence the output of the nervous system are included);
  • Skeletal muscle biology of sarcopenia in studies of aging and disability (studies of the mechanisms of exercise in relation to aging and disability as adaptive biology of skeletal muscle belong in SMER);
  • Effects of exercise on broader age- or disability-related outcomes as they relate to skeletal muscle function and physical performance;
  • Motor control in integrated limb function including studies in normal, disabled, and elderly individuals; biomechanics related to skeletal muscle activation and control; studies of gait and movement involving kinematics of movement and neural control of movement or function and of limb prostheses and orthotics;
  • Analysis of joint mechanics; robotic and prosthetic interventions to restore limb function (e.g., physical rehabilitation and orthotics); quantitative models of limb function that are biologically based or serve primarily to restore integrated limb function; imaging studies related to skeletal muscle (such as metabolic imaging) that relate to skeletal muscle function and integrated limb function; investigations of physical rehabilitation and therapy in musculoskeletal system as translational research.

• Skeletal muscle disease:
  • Genetic diseases of skeletal muscle structure and function, and development of genetic models that relate to skeletal muscle; mapping, cloning, and mutation/SNP analysis of normal and altered genes in skeletal muscle function;
  • Molecular pathophysiology of skeletal muscle disorders and pharmacological interventions and pre-clinical approaches to skeletal muscle diseases with an emphasis on the muscular dystrophies, skeletal muscle atrophy and inflammatory myopathies;
  • Cell and gene therapy for skeletal muscle disease;
  • Inflammatory processes of skeletal muscle, as a primary disease process or as secondary manifestation; mechanisms involved in alterations of skeletal muscle function and capacity due to systemic diseases or to their treatments, such as Type II diabetes and congestive heart failure in so far as they relate to muscle and integrated aspects of muscle function.

• ACTS: Systemic diseases and treatments that influence skeletal muscle function secondarily are not appropriate for review by SMER but may be relevant to other study sections in this IRG;

• ACTS and ODCS: Rheumatic disease processes and its pathogenesis may be relevant to ACTS, including studies of polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Similarly, the complex interactions of TMJ disease may be reviewed in the ODCS study section.

• ACTS: Studies in inflammatory myopathies (e.g., polymyositis, dermatomyositis) represent shared interest of SMER and ACTS. Proposals could be reviewed in either study section. Those focused more on systemic disease and autoimmune aspects may be appropriate for ACTS. Those focused more on skeletal muscle involvement of inflammatory muscle disease may be more appropriate for SMER.

• IRG 1 (Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics) and IRG 3 (Molecular Approaches to Cell Function and Gene Interactions): Studies designed to address general principles of protein or membrane structure, or cell function, and that use skeletal muscle elements primarily as a convenient source of material, should be considered under other IRGs.

• IRG 4 (Fundamental Genetics and Population Biology): Studies of quantitative genetics, genetic epidemiology and genetic analysis of complex traits, and genetically engineered animals, with an emphasis on systems physiology rather than integrated limb function, should be assigned to IRG 4.

• IRG 6 (Fundamental Bioengineering and Technology Development): Studies of the use of skeletal muscle as a platform for gene delivery for non-muscle diseases, such as for vaccine development, should be assigned to IRG 6. Application of gene delivery technologies when it is specific for skeletal muscle and skeletal muscle diseases may be appropriate for SMER. However, development of novel technologies should assigned to IRG 6.

• IRG 5 (Biology of Development and Aging): Studies on skeletal muscle-specific mechanisms affecting muscle function, growth, or atrophy may be reviewed by SMER. Muscle biology of sarcopenia in studies of aging and disability overlap with other IRGs and may be reviewed by SMER. Studies on skeletal muscle involving interactions with age-related changes in other physiological systems should be reviewed elsewhere when skeletal muscle function is not the primary focus. This includes both studies of effects of age-related skeletal muscle changes on other systems and effects of age-related changes in other systems on skeletal muscle. Studies on skeletal muscle that are testing hypotheses about mechanisms of aging that affect multiple systems or non-muscle tissues should be reviewed elsewhere (e.g., hypotheses on mechanisms of extension of lifespan by caloric restriction). Studies on age-related changes in skeletal muscle mass or properties that are part of studies of multiple age-related changes in physiology or body composition (e.g., fat, cardiovascular and bone) should be assigned to IRG 5. Studies examining early events in development, even if they are relevant to skeletal muscle, should be assigned to IRG 5. Other overlapping interests may include regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and skeletal muscle cell senescence.

• IRG 15 (Cardiovascular Sciences IRG): Studies of cardiomyopathy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy may be assigned to SMER.

• IRG 21 (Surgery, Applied Imaging, and Applied Bioengineering): Studies of bioengineering and imaging are appropriate for the MOSS IRG and SMER when they focus on skeletal muscle cell, tissue and organ function and on integrated skeletal muscle function in limb function and physical rehabilitation. Studies on technology development should be assigned to IRG 21.

• IRG 22 (Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neuroscience), IRG 23 (Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience), and IRG24 (Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience): In studies of motor control, if the primary focus is on neural structure and function, assignment should be to one of the neuroscience IRGs. When the primary focus is on the role of skeletal muscle force production, assignment should be to SMER.

Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin (ACTS)

The Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin Sciences (ACTS) study section reviews basic and clinical research applications dealing with the biology and diseases of joints, connective tissue, and skin.

Arthritis and Connective Tissue. This area includes inheritable, inflammatory and degenerative diseases of joints and connective tissues, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, osteoarthritis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, vasculitides, polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia, palindromic arthritis, Lyme arthritis, septic arthritis, juvenile arthritis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, crystal-induced diseases, and undifferentiated connective tissue diseases.

• Biology of the joint and connective tissue: structure and function of cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons, synovium, extracellular matrix, capsule, joint fluid, blood vessels, innervation, articular cartilage, muscle, skin, immune system and other organs affected by rheumatic diseases.

• Pathogenesis of arthritis and related rheumatic diseases including: genetic influences, environmental factors, infectious agents, drugs, and other etiologic factors; mechanisms involving inflammatory cells and mediators, immune cells and mediators, tissue injury and degradation, regulation of tissue regeneration and repair, angiogenesis, and other cells including chondrocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, stem cells and synovial cells. These disease-related mechanisms include not only the joints, but also all organs involved in systemic rheumatic diseases.

• Clinical research in arthritis and related rheumatic diseases: epidemiology and studies on natural history of disease; outcomes research, developmental therapeutics and interventions; genetic linkage studies; imaging, diagnostics, and biomarkers; psychological aspects, pain, disability, physical rehabilitation, fatigue, and functional measures of clinical outcomes.

• Skin and Cutaneous Biology. This area includes disorders of skin, such as inflammatory, neoplastic, and hyperproliferative disorders, as well as systemic diseases with significant cutaneous involvement.

• Biology and physiology of the epidermis: role of keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells in barrier function, pigmentation, immune regulation, dermal-epidermal adhesion, and related functions, and the regulation of their growth, adhesion and differentiation.

• Biology and physiology of the dermis: synthesis, assembly, and degradation of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue and the dermo-epidermal basement membrane zone, angiogenesis, innervation, and inflammation.

• Biology and physiology of skin appendages: production of hair and nails, as well as development of hair follicles, sebaceous and eccrine glands.

• Development and homeostasis of skin and its appendages: epidermal and connective tissue stem cells; remodeling and repair of skin with maturation, during wound healing and in response to external stimuli; oncogenesis of keratinocytes and melanocytes, including altered gene expression, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and immune processes that occur in the skin.

• Study of diseases of skin and its appendages, as well as systemic connective tissue diseases with skin involvement: study of the role of inflammation and the immune system in the disease process; perturbation in epidermal barrier function; diagnosis and therapy of skin diseases; development of novel treatment modalities, including gene therapy with skin as the effector organ.

• Genetic basis of the expression of the disease phenotype and susceptibility to skin and connective tissue disorders, and use of animal models, including transgenics.

• Studies of skin interactions with the environment: photoaging, UV carcinogenesis, and sensitivity reactions; role of skin in transepidermal delivery of drugs; role of skin as a barrier against infectious, mechanical, and other toxic insults.

• SBD1 and 2: Studies examining basic bone, cartilage and skin biology, as well as the structure of matrix molecules and their turnover may also be considered by SBD1 and 2. Studies on trauma or mechanical factors leading to osteoarthritis should be reviewed by SBD1 and studies on chondrocyte function, cytokines, biological aspects of osteoarthritis, and therapeutic trials using non-surgical approaches should reviewed by ACTS.

• These study sections also share interests in studies of development, remodeling, and aging related to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. This also applies to clinical trials and therapeutic studies that involve cartilage, skin, and bone pathophysiology.

• ACTS and SMER: Studies on the clinical and immunological aspects of inflammatory muscle diseases should go to ACTS whereas studies on muscle cell function should go to SMER.

• IRG 10 (Immunology): Studies examining aspects of disease processes, cutaneous and connective tissue diseases, including clinical research, studies on clinical materials from patients, and animal models of disease are preferably reviewed in ACTS. Studies designed to address only basic science of autoimmunity, inflammation should be considered under the auspices of the Immunology (IRG 10) IRG.

• IRG 11 (Infectious Diseases and Microbiology): Studies that focus on the pathogen rather than the target tissue should be assigned to IRG 11.

• IRG 13 (Oncological Sciences): Studies of the clinical management of melanoma should be assigned.

• IRG 21 (Surgery, Applied Imaging, and Applied Bioengineering): Studies of the development of artificial skin and cutaneous imaging could be assigned to IRG 21.