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This list identifies NIH scientific review officers (SROs) and program officials who review or support research on the relationships between psychological variables (e.g., stress, anger and other emotions) and health outcomes and the biological mechanisms (e.g., immune, endocrine and neural processes) that mediate these relationships [e.g., research in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), neuroimmunomodulation (NIM)]. The organizational names and email addresses are Hot Links.
Scientific Review Officers
Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Emotion, Stress, and Health Study Section (MESH)
Maribeth Champoux, Ph.D.
(301) 594-3163
champoum@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: Bi-directional relationships of affect and stress with neurobiological, neuroendocrine and immune substrates (e.g., HPA axis, neurotransmitter systems) in both animals and humans; effects of these processes on psychological function and adaptation. Biological (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, neuroendocrine, immune, central nervous system) responses to acute or chronic psychological stress and their moderation by individual, situational, or environmental factors (e.g., ethnicity, gender, personality, controllability, predictability) or physiological factors (e.g., physiological manipulations, genetic factors); effects of these processes on psychological function and adaptation. Biological (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, neuroendocrine, immune, central nervous system) responses to acute or chronic psychological stress and their moderation by individual, situational, or environmental factors (e.g., ethnicity, gender, personality, controllability, predictability) or physiological factors (e.g., physiological manipulations, genetic factors).
Biological Rhythms and Sleep (BRS)
Michael Selmanoff, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1119
mselmanoff@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: The BRS Study Section reviews applications investigating biological rhythms, sleep, and certain homeostatic processes. BRS primarily considers research with non-human animals, but relevant work with humans is also included. Areas of interest include biological rhythms, including their temporal cycles such as ultradian, circadian, infradian and circannual rhythms, behavioral states such as wakefulness, sleep, hibernation and variations in arousal level, and regulatory mechanisms underlying homeostasis, including thermoregulation and other functions of the autonomic nervous system. Levels of analysis include molecular genetic, cellular and circuit studies, and behavioral studies of the whole organism.
Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (NMB)
Edwin C. Clayton, Ph.D.
(301) 402-1304
claytone@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: The Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior Study Section (NMB), previously called the Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience 1 (IFCN 1) Study Section, was formed as a result of the integration of the ADAMHA and various NIH neuroscience study sections that occurred in 1998. NMB reviews grants related to the neural basis of behavior, such as motivation and emotion. The reviewed grants include studies related to: 1) positively motivated behavior; 2) stress, fear, anxiety, aggression; 3) feeding, drinking, sexual and other consummatory behavior; 4) neurobiological actions of psychoactive, psychotherapeutic, stimulant, anxiolytic and depressant agents. These agents include several drugs or groups of compounds that are substances of abuse such as the opioids, cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, steroids, PCP and cocaine.
Neural Degeneration and Glial Biology (NDGB)
Toby Behar, Ph.D.
(301) 435-4433
behart@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases; neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, apoptosis and necrosis; neuroimmune mechanisms involved in neuronal/glial injury and protection.
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology and Behavior (NNB)
Michael Selmanoff, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1119
mselmanoff@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: The NNB Study Section reviews applications investigating the neurobiological basis of behavior across the life span, with a focus on the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems. NNB primarily considers research with non-human animals, but relevant work with humans is also included. Both normal and disordered processes are addressed. Major areas of interest include reproductive behaviors, including courtship, pair bonding, and parental behavior, ingestive behaviors, stress and anxiety, drugs of abuse, and interactions of the brain with the immune system. Studies typically use developmental, anatomical, physiological, pharmacological and behavioral approaches, but may also include molecular, cellular or genetic approaches.
Psychosocial Risk and Disease Prevention (PRDP)
Martha Faraday, Ph.D.
(301) 435-3575
faradaym@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: The Psychosocial Risk and Disease Prevention (PRDP) study section is multidisciplinary and reviews applications that focus on the development and testing of behavioral and biobehavioral interventions to prevent or reduce risk factors for physical conditions, diseases, and disorders. Major topics include obesity, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders. Outcomes may be behavioral, social, psychological or physiological.
Social Psychology, Personality, and Interpersonal Processes (SPIP)
Michael Micklin, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1258
micklinm@csr.nih.gov
Areas Reviewed: The Social Psychology, Personality and Interpersonal Processes [SPIP] Study Section reviews applications for research on fundamental psychological and social conditions and processes, including personality, emotions, motivation, social identities, social roles, social cognition, attitudes and attitude change, individual differences, and small group dynamics and their relation to mental and physical health and substance use/abuse. Social, cultural, situational and experiential effects and interactions are included. Basic studies may include normative or risk processes relevant to health outcomes across the life course [from infancy to old age].
Program Officers
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Paige McDonald, Ph.D., M.P.H.
(301) 435-5037
mcdonalp@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Research on the mechanisms and interactions of psychosocial and behavioral factors, neural and endocrine function, and immune system processes as related to cancer control and health disparities. Dr. McDonald is Chief and Program Director of the Basic and Biobehavioral Research Branch.
Jeffrey D. White, M.D.
(301) 435-7980
jeffreyw@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: The NCI's Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM) develops grant initiatives that range over a variety of fields. One area of special interest for OCCAM is the impact of lifestyle modification [including diet, physical activity and mind-body interventions (e.g. support groups, imagery, relaxation)] on physiological parameters that correlate with survival or tumor response to conventional anticancer therapy in cancer patients. Dr. White is the Director of OCCAM and the Acting Director of its Research Development and Support Program.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Catherine M. Stoney, Ph.D.
(301) 402-1272
stoneyc@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) funds research evaluating mind-body practices such as guided imagery, meditation, yoga, and lifestyle behaviors such as tai chi exercise, that enhance physical and mental health and wellness, manage pain and other symptoms and disabilities, and prevent and ameliorate a range of diseases and conditions. NCCAM is interested in studies that elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking mind-body practices to health and illness at the behavioral, cellular, molecular, and genetic levels.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Peter G. Kaufmann, Ph.D.
(301) 435-2467
kaufmann@nih.gov
Research Supported: Psychosocial influences on endocrine, nervous, and immune systems related to inflammation and infection of the circulatory system or of the airways. More generally, all physiological and genetic mechanisms that mediate the effects of psychosocial factors (e.g., stress, depression, anxiety, social support, socioeconomic status) on the pathophysiology of cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases, their treatment, or prevention.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Andrew A. Monjan, Ph.D., M.P.H.
(301) 496-9350
am39m@nih.gov
Research Supported: Brain-endocrine-immune interactions in the older individual.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Lindsey Grandison, Ph.D.
(301) 443-0606
lgrandis@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Environmental factors (stress) and psychological variables (e.g. anxiety) that promote the initiation or relapse to excessive alcohol consumption. Also included are the interactions between the genetic determinants of stress reactivity, anxiety etc. with the environmental determinants of these for alcohol abuse. Use of psychological variability as a biomarker for susceptibility is a further relevant application.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
David R. Johnson, Ph.D.
(301) 591-0907
drjohnson@niaid.nih.gov
Research Supported: Basic research and mechanistic clinical studies of how neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones regulate immune responses.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Susan Serrate-Sztein, M.D.
(301) 594-5032
szteins@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Basic and clinical research on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of skin diseases and on the normal and dysregulated functioning of connective tissue and the immune system in rheumatic, genetic, and inherited diseases of connective tissue.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Lynne Haverkos, M.D., M.P.H.
(301) 435-6881
haverkol@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Biobehavioral and psychosocial aspects of pediatric risk behaviors; injury prevention; health promotion/disease prevention; adherence to therapeutic regimens; medical consent; pediatric pain, stress, and illness; eating disorders; sleep and sleep disorders; and infants born at risk. The psychosocial influences of religiosity/spirituality on health risk behavior and positive youth development are also of interest.
Lisa Freund, Ph.D.
(301) 402-5261
freundl@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Effects of neuroendocrine processes on brain development and behavior in pediatric populations; developmental and behavioral genetics; structural and functional neuroimaging; neurocognitive development; developmental psychobiology and comparative psychology.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Melissa W. Riddle, Ph.D.
(301) 451-3888
riddleme@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Basic and applied research to promote oral health, to prevent oral diseases and related disabilities, and to improve management of craniofacial conditions, disorders and injury. Broad areas of research of interest include: the development and maintenance of health behaviors, including oral health behaviors; the relationship between behavioral and social factors and inflammation, wound healing, immunity to infection, acute and chronic pain, and other health and oral health outcomes; the role of health communication in oral health, including communication between patients and oral health care professionals, communication between oral health and other health care professionals, oral health literacy (i.e., an individual’s ability to utilize oral health care), and diffusion and dissemination of health information; and successful psychosocial management of serious and/or chronic craniofacial illnesses (e.g., temporomandibular joint disorders, craniofacial anomalies and injuries, oral, head or neck cancers, oral complications of HIV infection, etc.).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Sanford A. Garfield, Ph.D.
(301) 594-8803
garfields@ep.niddk.nih.gov
Research Supported: The application of behavioral science principles to modifying individual health-impairing behaviors and lifestyles related to diabetes. These efforts include studies targeted at family support, communication, and problem solving.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
David Shurtleff, Ph.D.
(301) 443-1887
dshurtle@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Basic behavioral and cognitive effects of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Studies examining effects of drugs of abuse, withdrawal, and associated conditioned stimuli on HIV/AIDS disease progression and immune function are also supported.
Diane Lawrence, Ph.D.
(301) 594-3225
lawrencedi@nida.nih.gov
Research Supported: Neurobiology and pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system, including glial biology and neural-glial interactions, HIV penetration of the blood-brain barrier, and infectivity in the context of drugs of abuse or their withdrawal. Investigations of the interactions of HIV with immune and inflammatory factors and/or antiretroviral therapies in the brain are also supported, as well as novel animal models of lentivirus infection.
Woody Lin, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1318
ylin1@nida.nih.gov
Research Supported: Neuromodulation and neuroplasticity in the brain as a consequence of substance abuse (and withdrawal of abused substances), stress, and HIV/AIDS. Primary focus: 1) Interactions between classic neurotransmitters and neuroactive molecules such as neuropeptides, cytokines/chemokines and neurotrophic factors, between neurons and glial cells and between brain and peripheral functions; 2) Impact of the interactions on synaptic (encoding and chemical release), peripheral and behavioral outcome.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Laurie Tompkins, Ph.D.
(301) 594-0943
tompkinl@nigms.nih.gov
Research Supported: Neurogenetics and genetics of behavior using model systems to investigate genes associated with circadian rhythms, chemo- and mechano-sensation, sensory transduction, neurotransmitter systems, learning and memory, aggressive/defensive behavior, and reproductive behavior.
John Whitmarsh, Ph.D.
(301) 451-6446
whitmarj@nigms.nih.gov
Research Supported: Mathematical methods related to the solution of biological problems, such as modeling, simulation, heuristic methods and computer sciences. Development of statistical methods and software for data analysis and model development in a broad range of research areas, including research in psychoneuroimmunology, the human circadian system, individual differences in metabolism, and population kinetics.
Scott Somers, Ph.D.
(301) 594-3827
somerss@nigms.nih.gov
Research Supported: The biology of stress or other psychological variables, and the interactions between the immune/inflammatory systems, endocrine system, central and peripheral nervous system, and systemic physiological processes as related to the normal response to traumatic and/or burn injury, and surgical procedures, as well as complications like sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and hypermetabolism. Studies are encouraged from the immediate post-injury period through wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration, and restoration of normal functioning.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Nancy Desmond, Ph.D.
(301) 443-3107
ndesmond@nih.gov
Research Supported: Immune and autoimmune contributions to CNS function, neuropsychiatric diseases, mood and cognition. Peripheral-to-brain pathways mediating effects of immune activation on CNS function. Interactions of cytokines and chemokines with neurotransmitters, neurohormones, and neuropeptides. Long-term consequences of viral or bacterial exposure on brain signaling and development.
Kathy Kopnisky, Ph.D.
(301) 443-7726
kkopnisk@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Basic research on the relationships between HIV-disease progression and psychiatric state. Other non-HIV viral models are considered if they more effectively, yet germanely address, at a mechanistic level, how interactions among psychological state, the immune system, and the central and autonomic nervous systems coalesce to promote (or protect from) disease progression.
Peter Muehrer, Ph.D.
(301) 443-4708
pmuehrer@mail.nih.gov
Research Supported: Research on the relationships between mental disorders and physical health and disorder (when the mental disorders are dependent variables) as well as the mechanisms mediating those relationships. Especially encouraged are theory-driven pilot studies to develop treatment, preventive, and rehabilitative interventions aimed at reducing the adverse impact of these co-morbid mental and medical disorders.
David M. Stoff, Ph.D.
(301) 443-4625
dstoff@nih.gov
Research Supported: The Neuropsychiatry of HIV/AIDS program supports research on neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV infection to understand the CNS complications that are directly or indirectly linked to HIV. Illustrative program areas in the neuropsychiatric portfolio include: psychiatric aspects of HIV disease and their neurobiological bases; phenomenology, course, diagnosis and etiology of HIV-related neurocognitive impairments; neurobiological evaluations of HIV-associated cognitive/motor complex and other neuropsychiatric complications (e.g., neuroimaging, electrophysiologic methods, CSF analyses, neuroendocrine systems); psychobiologic phenomena during the course of HIV disease (bereavement, pain, adaptation, distress) and other behavioral complications in HIV disease (e.g., violence, suicidality); psychosocial interventions and pharmacological treatment in persons with HIV-associated neuropsychiatric compromise. The Neuropsychiatry of HIV/AIDS program supports research on neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV infection to understand the CNS complications that are directly or indirectly linked to HIV.
Farris Tuma, Sc.D.
(301) 443-3648
ftuma@nih.gov
Research Supported: Research on the biological and behavioral effects of traumatic stress (e.g., assault, rape, family violence, community violence, combat and war, mass violence, disasters, terrorism, refugee trauma) and risk for psychopathology; Research to develop, test, and validate markers for diagnosing or detecting risk/vulnerability, onset, progression, and/or severity of posttraumatic mental disorders; Research to develop and evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, acceptability, safety and initial efficacy of mechanistically informed pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies for posttraumatic mental disorders. Research on the biological and behavioral effects of traumatic stress (e.g., abuse, neglect, rape, sexual assault, family violence, community violence, combat and war, mass violence, disasters, terrorism, refugee trauma) and risk for psychopathology.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Emmeline Edwards, Ph.D.
(301) 496-9964
ee48r@nih.gov
Research Supported: (1) Neural mechanisms of complex behaviors, (2) Integrative approaches in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, neurobehavioral disorders and all aspects of central nervous system plasticity, (3) Neuroendocrinology research, (4) Pain research, (5) Neurotoxicology Research, (6) Clinical Neurophysiology.
Ursula Utz, Ph.D., M.B.A.
(301) 496-1431
utzu@ninds.nih.gov
Research Supported: Neuroimmunology, Autoimmunity, Neurovirology.
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
Deborah H. Olster, Ph.D.
(301) 402-1147
olsterd@od.nih.gov
The mission of the OBSSR includes the development of initiatives designed to stimulate research in the behavioral and social sciences arena and to integrate a bio-behavioral perspective across the research areas of the NIH. Although the OBSSR does not have grant-making authority, it organizes and funds (through transfers to the NIH Institutes) trans-NIH and trans-agency Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs), including several between 1999 and 2006 on mind-body interactions and health.
Assistance Provided: If none of the SROs or Program Officers appear to cover your specific area of interest, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) will help you identify the appropriate contact.
List originally compiled by Fred Altman, Ph.D. while at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Each person prepared his or her own entry.
Paige McDonald, Ph.D., M.P.H. has volunteered to maintain this list. Please contact her to update the list. |
