November, 1 2024

 

Noni Byrnes, PhD

Director, Center for Scientific Review

National Institutes of Health

Bethesda, MD

 

RE: Request for a new study section

 

Dear Dr. Byrnes:

 

Introduction. We, the petition signatories, are writing to propose the establishment of a new initial review group (“study section”) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Center for Scientific Review. We are scientists that study the neural control of vital functions, such as breathing, swallowing, and cardiovascular function. These automatic/autonomic behaviors are primarily controlled by the brainstem and autonomic nervous system, and homeostasis depends on the integrity of each system, working alone or cooperatively. Malfunction of these systems leads to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly during development, in normal aging, and in disease states. As such, necessary understanding of these essential systems will undoubtedly lead to critical diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including central and obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, multiple system atrophy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, orthostatic hypotension, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, baroreflex failure, dysphagia, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, Rett syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, breathing during anesthesia, opiate-induced suppression of breathing, and studies of the intersection of automatic/autonomic function and behavior.

 

The problem. The field of automatic and autonomic control of vital functions and behavior has experienced substantial growth and development in recent years, with emerging technologies and methodologies that do not align with existing study sections. For example, advances in optogenetics, chemogenetics, intersectional genetics, RNA sequencing, in vitro electrophysiology & biophysics, in vivo imaging of brainstem circuits, and multi-electrode array recordings have revolutionized our understanding of the neural control of breathing, swallowing, and cardiovascular function. Previously, grant applications in this field were reviewed primarily by Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research Study Section (RIBT), which ended in the June 2024 Council Round meetings. RIBT previously consisted of 4-6 experts in control of breathing, but the new Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Physiology Study Section only has 2 experts in control of breathing. No other standing study sections have membership panels with the unique expertise required in this broad field of study. but it lacks the specific technical expertise to fully appreciate and evaluate the innovative aspects and potential impact of our research.

 

Proposed Solution. We propose the creation of a new study section tentatively titled “Neural Control of Vital Functions” (NCVF). This study section would focus on the development and regulation of the autonomic nervous system, the muscles of breathing and swallowing, and sensory inputs that converge on these motor systems in health and disease.

 

Justification.  

 

1.     Growing body of researchers: There are now over 1,000 active researchers in the U.S. focusing on this area. And searching NIH-Reporter with the words “breathing control” shows reveals 7,323 active awards totaling just under 3 billion dollars.  

2.     Unique expertise required: The proposed study section would require reviewers with expertise in [please refer to the appendix below], which are not adequately represented in current study sections.

3.     Alignment with NIH priorities: Homeostasis cannot be achieved in the absence of proper neural control of vital functions. As such, the proposed NCVF study section dovetails particularly well with NIH's mission “to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.”

4.     Potential scientific impact: A dedicated study section would foster necessary evaluation of groundbreaking research into the development and maintenance of homeostasis, leading to informed funding decisions and accelerated progress in the diagnosis and treatment of the many conditions associated with homeostatic imbalance.

5.     The tenor of this proposal is supported by global scholars in this research area, who are also concerned about the impact of the NIH structure. They recognize the potential for loss of research in homeostatic control, which will impact these fields globally.

 

We would be happy to provide additional information or discuss this proposal further. Thank you very much for your consideration of this important matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Ralph F. Fregosi, PhD

Professor of Physiology, Neuroscience,

& Anesthesiology

Department of Physiology

The University of Arizona

College of Medicine

Tucson, AZ 85724

 

 

APPENDIX

 

Skills not covered by the majority of the RIBT membership panel

·       Genetic and molecular neural circuit mapping techniques including optogenetics, pharmacogenetics, and viral tracing.

·       Single and multi-unit recording for in-vivo, en-block, and slice electrophysiology.

·       Whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology

·       Variety of techniques for accurately measuring cardiorespiratory and metabolic outputs across different functional neural perturbations.

·       Variety of techniques in measuring speech and sound generation and output.

·       Methods for evaluating the coordination between breathing and swallowing

·       Variety of techniques in measuring cough and other airway defense behaviors.

·       Techniques for cardiorespiratory functional measurements across the lifespan

·       Techniques for cardiorespiratory functional measurements across a variety of chemosensory respiratory challenges.

·       Rigorous interrogation of cardiorespiratory waveforms and the application of machine learning/artificial intelligence for increased insight.

·       Opiate/drug overdose leading to respiratory failure and death

·       Breathing throughout neural development

·       Neurogenetics

·       Methods to measure breathing disorders during sleep in animal models and human subjects