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To stimulate increased research interest in the role of mitochondria in the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) invite qualified investigators to submit grant applications for focused studies of mitochondria-mediated effects on the function of living neurons that may be important in the development of disease.

The purpose of this RFA is to solicit research on the etiology and treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other motor neuron diseases. Considerable progress has been made in recent years toward understanding the biological bases of these diseases. In particular, important steps have been taken in identifying the genetic defects underlying certain motor neuron diseases, and in the development of animal models for these diseases. However, much remains to be learned about the mechanisms through which genetic mutations and other biological insults lead to pathology, and how these mechanisms may be manipulated therapeutically. This RFA will solicit novel approaches to understanding and treating motor neuron diseases, with emphasis on cellular, molecular, and high throughput approaches.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) invite investigator- initiated research grant proposals to study potential common immunological and inflammatory mechanisms involved in the etiology of HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD) and neurodegenerative and/or autoimmune diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer"s, Parkinson"s disease and multiple sclerosis. One intent of this PA is to encourage basic and clinical scientists who have been working in the previously disparate areas of infectious, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease to develop multidisciplinary collaborations to search for common factors in the causation of these and other related diseases.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to encourage research designed to exploit the power of mutagenesis screening in zebrafish in order to detect and characterize genes, pathways, and phenotypes of interest in development, behavior, organ formation, disease processes. Applications that propose to advance the technologies associated with such phenotyping also are welcome.

HIV-1 infection of central nervous system (CNS) tissues results in neurological and neuropsychiatric abnormalities in a significant number of patients. HIV-1 localization in CNS parenchyma and CSF has been well documented. Advances in highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) have resulted in significant reductions in viral load in peripheral as well as CNS tissues in many patients. However, the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) precludes efficient drug penetration into the CNS compartment and thus current therapies may not eradicate latent viral reservoirs in the brain. Therefore, the CNS may serve as an important viral reservoir for re-infection of peripheral tissues subsequent to viral clearing in response to effective treatment. The BBB serves as a critical gatekeeper for regulating HIV-1 transit into and out of the CNS. It is therefore imperative to understand the mechanisms of viral passage through the blood-brain barrier in order to develop strategies for blocking early infection of this compartment as well as subsequent reinfection of peripheral tissues.

The NIH Office of Research on Women"s Health (ORWH) invites applications for the Transitional Career Development Award in Women"s Health Research. This award is designed to support career development experiences leading to independence for clinical investigators interested in patient-oriented or population-based research related to women"s health. The career development program will provide an opportunity for investigators to develop solid clinical research skills during two years of study and research within the environment of the NIH Intramural Research Programs (IRP). The award will also include a follow-on two-year period of salary and research support at an academic institution of the candidate"s choice. This period of extramural support will facilitate the transition to independence as a clinical researcher specializing in research issues related to women"s health.

The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (JDF) invite investigator-initiated research grant applications to study the neurobiology of diabetic complications. Research should be aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which diabetes results in painful, disabling peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, impaired counterregulation and hypoglycemia unawareness, and other neurological complications. The intent of this RFA is to attract basic neuroscientists to the study of diabetic neuropathy and neurobiology relevant to diabetes, and enhance interdisciplinary approaches to research in this area.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) are continuing joint sponsorship of a predoctoral research training program in the neurosciences. The aim of the program is to encourage and support broad, early-stage training in the neurosciences by offering institutions a single comprehensive training grant. It is expected that the new training programs will enhance basic and disease-related neuroscience research that is relevant to the participating NIH Institutes.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke invite research grant applications to study the ontogeny of drug metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and receptors, and the corresponding ion channels and related proteins. A major objective of this initiative is the characterization of the mechanisms involved in gene regulation and expression of these proteins during development, both prenatal and postnatal.

This RFA solicits applications to study the effects of HAART on HIV/CNS disease with respect to the clinical, neurological, neuropsychological, virological, immunological, and neuropathological response to the drugs. This solicitation also includes studies to develop drug formulations with improved ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, studies to develop improved methods of delivering drugs to the CNS, and the interaction of anti-retrovirals with psychotropic drugs.