NIH-CSR <span id="Postingname3_PostingDisplayName">Clinical and Integrative Gastrointestinal Pathobiology [CIGP]</span> (DIGIRG)

[CIGP Roster]

The Clinical and Integrative Gastrointestinal Pathobiology [CIGP] Study Section will consider research applications concerned with basic and clinically oriented research related to GI motility, brain-gut interactions, the enteric nervous system, motor disorders, acid secretion and acid related disease, GI hormones, pancreatic function and dysfunction, digestive system nutrient absorption and disposition, digestive system malabsorption/malnutrition, nutritional support, integrative GI physiology, genetic determinants of digestive diseases, and digestive system patient-oriented research related to the GI system, pancreas and liver. Clinical research involving interventional and diagnostic endoscopy and surgery are also included here.

Specific areas covered by CIGP:

GI motility: Integrative gut motility, secretion and absorption at whole animal, organ, cellular and molecular genetic levels. Muscular and neural mechanisms of and control of contraction and relaxation of gastrointestinal sphincters and non-sphincteric smooth muscle including functions of receptors, ligands, ion channels, hormones, neurotransmitters, intracellular signal transduction pathways, reflex control of GI motility, genetic control mechanisms of GI motility.
Brain-gut interaction: This broad area includes extrinsic and intrinsic neural control of GI sensory/motor and secretory function, endocrine, circulation and gut immune systems, including intraluminal immunogens and microorganisms. The area also includes dynamics and reciprocal influence of brain-gut and gut-brain interaction including those of cerebrocortical, brainstem and brain sensory motor nuclei.
Enteric nervous system: Gastrointestinal sensory pathways and functions in health and disease. These include mechanisms, electrophysiology signal transduction of visceral nociceptors and nociceptive pathways originating in the viscera to the various levels of the CNS and to the cerebral cortex. It also includes studies of the mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity, allodynia, and chronic visceral pain.
Motor disorders: Pathophysiology of motor abnormalities in animal models or humans including the disorder that are congenital, developmental, or related to aging, inflammation, and use of a toxin. Physiology and pathophysiology of motor disorders of pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large bowel and the anorectum including swallowing disorders, gastroparesis, intestinal pseudoobstruction, paralytic ileus, constipation and fecal incontinence.
Acid secretion and acid related disease: Gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastrointestinal damage due to gastrointestinal secretions associated with reflux or misdirection of gastrointestinal secretions. Studies of supra-esophageal complications of GERD and of esophageal intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma (Barrett’s esophagus) are included. Functional consequences of Helicobacter pylori in the gastrointestinal system. Physiology, pathophysiology of treatment of peptic ulcer, gastritis and premalignant lesions of the gastric mucosa.
GI hormones: GI hormones, transmitters, and integrated function on target tissues. Brain-gut axis, endocrine cells of the GI tract, peptide transmitters and their actions.
Pancreatic function and dysfunction: Functional studies of the pancreas including neurohumoral regulation, pancreatic secretion, exocrine-endocrine relationships, and organ growth and development. Exocrine pancreatic diseases and dysfunction including both acute and chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Studies of gene and progenitor cell therapy for genetic and acquired pancreatic diseases and those dealing with pancreatic transplantation.
Digestive system nutrient absorption and disposition: Includes studies on the digestion, absorption, and gastrointestinal metabolism and disposition of nutrients when given at physiologic levels either as food or as supplements. Nutrients include macronutrients (fat, carbohydrate, protein) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), phytochemicals and non-digestible dietary components. The development of animal and artificial models for studying the absorption and digestion of unique dietary components (e.g. phytochemicals) are included.
Digestive system malabsorption/malnutrition: Human and animal studies on malabsorption of macronutrients (fat, protein, and carbohydrate) and micronutrients (vitamins, mineral, other food components) by the digestive system. The effects of primary or resultant malnutrition on GI organ function such as digestion and non-drug absorptive processes, liver function, pancreatic function, gallbladder function and gut immunity are included.
Nutritional support: The metabolic and nonmetabolic complications on the digestive system of enteral and parenteral nutrition delivery across the lifespan. Gut adaptation and outcome research are included. Novel nutritional ingredients and their effects on GI organ function are included.
Integrative GI physiology: Human and animal studies ranging from normal physiology to mechanisms and consequences of disease are appropriate for review. Investigation may include salivary, oropharyngeal, esophageal, gastric, intestinal physiology, pathobiology and pharmacology including the neural and mesenteric circulatory systems as they relate to the gastrointestinal tract. Studies of fluid and electrolyte transport, intraluminal digestion, diarrhea and constipation are included. Disease modifiers can include genetic predisposition, diet and environmental conditions.
Genetic determinants of digestive diseases: Germ line DNA sequence variants associated with increased risk of disorders of the digestive tract including syndromes, familial disorders, inherited metabolic disorders of the liver, gene-gene interactions, genetic risk assessment, gene-environment interactions including smoking, alcohol, diet, chronic inflammation and other environmental exposures. Gene knock-out and transgenic animals related to these diseases
Patient oriented research: Studies of risk factors, etiology, detection, screening, modifying factors and therapy of selected digestive system diseases and disorders including functional gastrointestinal, pancreas and liver disorders. Functional consequences of behavioral disorders including non-cardiac chest pain and irritable bowel syndrome are included. This includes pediatrics.
Surgery: Clinical, population or integrative, whole animal studies of the responses of the digestive system to trauma or surgery and digestive system ischemia/reperfusion injury.

CIGP has the following shared interests within the DIG IRG:

With Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action [XNDA]: The XNDA study section will deal with nutrients, phytochemicals and botanicals when presented at supra-physiologic and pharmacologic doses (used as drugs) and CIGP study section will deal with nutrients as presented in the diet or supplements at physiologic levels. XNDA will deal with toxicologic or pharmacologic effects and disposition of nutrients and CIGP will deal with physiologic effects of nutrients. There is a shared interest with XNDA in alcohol metabolism and toxicity. Applications that focus on these processes in the physiology and pathophysiology of pancreatic diseases could be assigned to CIGP. Studies focused on xenobiotics and nutrients should be referred to XNDA.
With Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology [GCMB]: In general, whereas studies involving an integrated approach should be addressed by CIGP, those concerning the use of molecular and cell biological techniques to address digestive functions, except the pancreas, should be assigned to GCMB. Signal transduction and cell-cell interactions as they relate to gastrointestinal physiology, neurotransmission, and motility are appropriate for assignment to the CIGP study section. Molecular and genetic studies in all GI neoplasias and dysplasias including Barrett’s esophagus, intestinal metaplasia and colonic pre-neoplasia should be considered by GCMB. Integrative and clinical studies of Barrett’s esophagus and pre-neoplastic conditions of the stomach and esophagus will be considered by CIGP. Studies of diagnosis, early detection, endoscopy, and prevention could be assigned to CIGP. In pancreatic studies, those that utilize molecular and cellular approaches to understand pancreatic physiology, as well as those focused on the basic processes of pancreatic physiology that are relevant to other digestive organs should be assigned to CIGP.
With Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology [GMPB]: H. pylori immunology, inflammation and host response, host-microbial interaction, and animal models examining immune response, would be appropriate for assignment to GMPB. H. pylori related to ulcer pathogenesis, gastric pathobiology, treatment, prevention, relapse will be dealt with CIGP. GMPB will deal with mouse genetics and animal models as they relate to immunology of inflammatory bowel disease. Human statistical approaches, human genetics, and studies of gene-environment or gene-therapy interactions are appropriate for assignment to CIGP. Studies on pancreatitis will be assigned to CIGP.
With Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology [HBPP]: Studies of the regulation of splanchnic blood flow related to portal hypertension and its consequences would be assigned to HBPP whereas studies of the circulatory system related to the remainder of the GI tract will be assigned to CIGP. There is also shared interest with CIGP with inherited metabolic disorders of the liver and patient oriented research. Studies that are focused on the pathogenesis of the inherited metabolic disorders of the liver and treatment of liver diseases could be assigned to HBPP. In general, patient oriented research on the liver would be assigned to CIGP.

CIGP has shared the following interests outside the DIG IRG:

With the Genes, Genomes & Genetics [GGG] IRG: In general, studies of genetics, genomics and related aspects of population dynamics would be assigned to CIGP when the gastrointestinal system is the primary focus of the research. Similarly, gene mapping, gene discovery, statistical analysis of simple and complex traits, and genetic epidemiology would be appropriate for the GGG IRG.
With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: Studies of early developmental biology may be assigned to the BDA IRG. When the focus is the development of motility in lineages already committed to formation of smooth muscle GI elements, assignment may be to CIGP. When GI motor disorders are a secondary aspect or a part of a multi-system study of the aging process, assignment could be appropriate for BDA IRG; when GI motor disorders are the primary study focus, whether they are the result of developmental abnormalities, congenital disorders or aging, the assignment could be to CIGP.
With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: Applications focused on gastrointestinal or pancreatic dysfunction and therapies may be assigned to CIGP. Applications focused on developing technologies to introduce genes and drugs in a general cellular context may be assigned to the BST IRG.
With the Health of the Population [HOP] IRG: Applications in which the primary outcomes are population studies related to demographics or epidemiology may generally be assigned to the HOP IRG. Applications on the diseases, disorders, or functional consequences of behaviors could be assigned to CIGP.
With the Oncological Sciences [ONC] IRG: Shared interests exist in the area of esophageal/intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma. In general, cell biological studies of GI cancers would be assigned to the ONC IRG. However, studies involving etiology, diagnosis and prevention of conditions directly resulting from acid-related injuries (Barrett esophagus) and H. pylori infection (intestinal metaplasia) should be assigned to CIGP.
With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition, and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG: (1) Assignment could be made to CIGP when the focus of the application is on the digestion, absorption and GI, liver or pancreas metabolism of nutrient and non-nutrient components of the diet or supplements when presented at physiologic levels. Molecular aspects of nutrient transport and excretion, and disposition of nutrients once absorbed and their subsequent metabolism by organs or tissues other than those of the digestive system, could be assigned to the EMNR IRG. Studies of nutritional support in digestive/gastrointestinal diseases and disorders would in general be assigned to CIGP. Studies of the treatment of metabolic or hormonal disorders and diseases other than those of the digestive system, including the use of nutritional support, would in general be referred to the EMNR IRG. Studies of placental nutrient transport and the consequences for fetal growth may be assigned to the EMNR IRG. Dietary and physiological influences on the handling of nutrients by the gastrointestinal tract may be assigned to CIGP. (2) When the primary focus is on hormones of the gastrointestinal tract and peptides and neurotransmitters of the brain-gut axis, applications should be assigned to CIGP. Applications that focus on GI hormones that interact with pituitary, placental, or pancreatic hormones at the endocrine gland level, or on gut-mediated effects on feeding, satiety, energy expenditure and islet hormone secretion could be assigned to the EMNR IRG.
With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRG: CIGP may be assigned applications on the disposition of nutrient and non-nutrient components of the diet or supplements when presented at physiologic levels and when the disposition is primarily hepatic or gastrointestinal. Applications on the pathogenesis of proteinuria and clinical studies of the metabolic and nutritional consequences of the nephrotic syndrome could be assigned to the RUS IRG.
With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: (1) Surgical interventions to treat digestive system dysfunctions may be assigned to the SBIB IRG. Patient oriented or whole animal research on the responses of the digestive system to trauma, surgery, or other physiologic stress may be assigned to CIGP. (2) Patient-oriented or whole animal studies of ischemia/reperfusion injury to the digestive system associated with surgery can be appropriately assigned either in the SBIB IRG or in CIGP, with CIGP focused more on functional consequences of surgical procedures. (3) There is potential shared interest with the SBIB IRG in regard to nutritional support. CIGP may be assigned applications that relate to nutritional support in digestive system disease and disorders, whereas the SBIB IRG could be assigned applications that relate to nutrition support in surgery, burn, sepsis and trauma.
With the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG: In general, the CIGP study section would be assigned applications that focus on the enteric nervous system control of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Similarly, applications focusing on mechanisms underlying general homeostasis and other integrative mechanisms and functions of the autonomic nervous systems would be assigned to the IFCN IRG.