Referral & Review

The Nutritional and Metabolic Sciences [NMS] IRG reviews basic and clinical applications on: the metabolic and nutritional processes across the lifespan in normal and disease states at the organism, tissue, or cellular level; requirements of living organisms for nutrients, vitamins and trace elements; and nutritional practices in all clinical sciences.

The following study sections are included within the NMS IRG:

Metabolism Study Section [MET]
Nutrition Study Section [NTN]
NMS Small Business Activities [SBIR/STTR]

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Metabolism Study Section [MET]

[MET Roster]

The Metabolism [MET] Study Section embraces physicochemical processes of anabolism and catabolism that occur within living organisms. Metabolic processes in normal and disease states, in experimental animals or human subjects, as well as in whole organs [isolated or in situ] or tissues including cell culture are pertinent.

Specific areas covered by MET:

·         Carbohydrate metabolism: Glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and glycogenolysis, and the control of these processes by hormones in normal and disease states such as diabetes and obesity; metabolic and molecular control of pancreatic beta cell functions, glucagon and other peptide hormones; and clinical and therapeutic studies of glucose homeostasis in diabetes

·         Mechanisms of insulin action, resistance, downstream insulin receptor, and IGF-1 signalling

·         Amino acid and protein metabolism, protein turnover, hormonal and metabolic control

·         Regulation of energy expenditure, pathogenesis of obesity and study of underlying mechanisms using cellular, molecular and genetic tools

·         Adipogenesis, adipocyte defferentiation, and the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism

·         Lipid and cholesterol metabolism, lipoprotein metabolism in normal and disease states, lipogenesis, and lipid profiles in obesity; molecular mechanisms of atherogenesis through study of scavengers, reverse cholesterol transport of lipoproteins, and the fate of lipoproteins in blood vessel walls and role of nuclear factors

MET has the following shared interests within the NMS IRG:

·         Lipoprotein and lipid metabolism in normal and disease states

·         Protein and amino acid metabolism

·         Oxidative stress related to lipoprotein metabolism

·         Energy expenditure and lipid profile in obesity

·         Atherogenesis

MET has the following shared interests outside the NMS IRG:

·         With the BCS IRG with respect to gene therapy of Type 1 diabetes, carbohydrate metabolism, genetic approaches, ligand signaling, and various diseases including diabetes, and ion channel functions

·         With the CDF IRG in the areas of lipid trafficking

·         With the ENR IRG in the areas of insulin receptor signaling, neuroendocrine aspects of energy balance, insulin-like growth factors, diabetes and pancreatic beta cell functions, and diabetes and pregnancy

·         With the PPS IRG with respect to bile acid metabolism and intestinal lipid metabolism

·         With the CVS IRG in the areas of pathological effects of oxidized lipoproteins on cells of the vasculature

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Nutrition Study Section [NTN]

[NTN Roster]

The Nutrition [NTN] Study Section reviews applications on the basic, experimental, and clinical nutrition of humans and animals in vivo and in vitro. Of special interest are research projects that are designed to assess the consequences of food and/or nutrient intake and utilization in the intact organism, including humans, as well as the metabolic and behavioral mechanisms. These studies encompass investigations of nutrient variables at the cellular or subcellular level.

Specific areas covered by NTN:

·         Requirements of normal living organisms for macro-nutrients, vitamins, and trace minerals. Use of molecular gene expression parameters to determine nutrient requirements in both animal models and humans

·         Nutritional practices during physiological stress: obesity, malnutrition, diseases at all ages, environmental stress, and the effect of nutritional variables on intermediary metabolism and energy expenditure in these states

·         Molecular and neuroendocrine regulation of energy expenditure, satiety, and pathogenesis of obesity

·         Alteration of biochemical and physiologic states by dietary practice, as in cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, etc.

·         Assessment of metabolic and cellular responses to nutritional intervention, clinical applications, and/or dietary intake methodology

·         Studies concerned with genetic-nutrient-environmental interactions where a nutrient is a variable

NTN has the following shared interests within the NMS IRG:

·         Lipoprotein, protein, and amino acid metabolism

·         Glucose/insulin metabolism by use of stable isotopes in obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and oxidative stress related to nutrients

·         Dietary macronutrient contents and hormone action

·         Energy metabolism and obesity

·         Basic and clinical studies on the role of nutrients in gene expression

·         Biochemical nutrient metabolism and aging

NTN has the following shared interests outside the NMS IRG:

·         With the ENR IRG in the areas of perinatal growth and nutrients, as well as hormone therapy in conjunction with nutrients in women

·         With the ONC IRG regarding the role of nutritional excesses and deficiencies in cancer prevention and therapy. Applications involving the effects of dietary and nutrient manipulations in cancer prevention in which the emphasis is on nutritional clinical intervention should be reviewed by NTN.

·         With the PPS IRG in the areas of nutrient digestion, absorption, and transportation in the GI tract. Applications involving nutritional variables should be assigned to NTN.

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Small Business Activities [SBIR/STTR]

SBIR/STTR Scientific Review Administrators

SBIR/STTR applications reviewed by the NMS IRG cover a broad spectrum of research related to all aspects of metabolic and nutritional processes in normal and disease states.

Specific areas covered by the NMS IRG's Small Business Activities:

·         Evaluation of nutritional status and dietary intervention in health and disease of humans

·         Dietary studies expected to produce significant changes in health status, including the maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of diseases in humans, such as, diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, etc.

·         Applications of techniques for measuring body composition and energy regulation

·         Educational methods and program strategies that promote adequate food and nutrient consumption by all ages

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