Programs National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

1 programs

1.1 extramural research

1.1.1 division of skin , rheumatic diseases
1.1.2 division of musculoskeletal diseases


1.2 intramural research

programs

niams supports multidisciplinary program of basic, translational , clinical investigations; epidemiologic research; research centers; , research training scientists internally , via grants universities , medical schools. supports dissemination of research results , information through niams information clearinghouse , through nih osteoporosis , related bone diseases national resource center.

more 80 percent of niams funds awarded via grants , contracts, including outside us. approximately 10 percent of niams’ funding supports research , training activities carried out niams scientists on campus in bethesda, maryland (including nih clinical center). principal investigators lead intramural research projects involve trainees ranging high school students postdoctoral , clinical fellows.

extramural research

most niams funding supports investigators involved in wide spectrum of basic, clinical, epidemiologic, training, , other programs in universities, medical schools, academic health centers, , small business concerns. niams extramural program s 3 divisions—the division of extramural research activities, division of skin , rheumatic diseases, , division of musculoskeletal diseases—are follows:

division of extramural research activities—manages niams grants, policies , procedures, including grant oversight , contract administration, scientific review , clinical research functions. serves primary liaison niams nih office of extramural research , other institutes share research interests. handles scientific integrity , ethical questions in research , manages niams council, congressionally mandated second tier of nih peer review system.

scientific review branch—conducts initial peer review of specific research applications. these include applications centers, program projects, multi-site clinical trials, scientific meetings , training , career development, applications responding initiatives published niams. external peer reviewers selected grant community conduct reviews.

grants management branch—works scientists , institutional research administrators issue, manage , close out awards. branch has legal responsibility fiscal management of institute’s extramural grants , contracts.

division of skin , rheumatic diseases

its mission promote , support basic, translational , clinical studies of skin in normal , disease states, leading pdctc rheumatic , related diseases. research managed under 2 main areas:

arthritis , rheumatic diseases—advance clinical biomedical , biopsychosocial pdctc research arthritis , rheumatic diseases. includes work advances understanding of natural history of these disorders, mechanisms of disease susceptibility , development. programs support research in rheumatoid arthritis; adjuvant , chemically induced inflammatory arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic scleroderma; spondyloarthropathies; dermatomyositis , myositis; vasculitis; fibromyalgia; juvenile arthritis , general autoimmunity; gout; lyme disease; , infection-related arthritis. research incorporates advances in genetics, genomics, proteomics, microbiomics , imaging related arthritis , rheumatic diseases.

skin biology , diseases—support broad portfolio of basic, translational, , clinical research in skin. these efforts include work on developmental , molecular biology, role of skin immune organ , genetics. areas of particular emphasis include: investigations of stem cells derived skin; studies related wound healing , fibrosis; heritable disorders of connective tissue (such marfan syndrome); studies related itch; metabolic studies such effects of hormones , role of enzymes in skin barrier formation; , immunologically-mediated cutaneous disorders, such atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis , vasculitis. research underway better understand keratinizing disorders such psoriasis , ichthyosis; disorders of pigmentation such vitiligo; , bullous diseases such pemphigus, pemphigoid, , epidermolysis bullosa. other studies encompass acne , physiologic activity of sebaceous glands, disorders of hair, such alopecia areata.

division of musculoskeletal diseases

this group supports pdctc research on diseases , injuries of musculoskeletal system , component tissues: skeleton, muscles , connective tissues such tendons , ligaments. key public health problems addressed research include osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, , muscular dystrophy. research conducted @ every level, fundamental biology clinical intervention. research managed under 3 main areas:

bone biology , diseases—supports research better understand genetic , cellular mechanisms involved in buildup , breakdown of bone. research areas include: regulation of bone remodeling; mechanisms of bone formation, bone resorption , mineralization; , effects of hormones, growth factors , cytokines on bone cells. programs emphasize application of fundamental knowledge of bone cell biology development of drug , gene therapies bone diseases, osteoporosis. program area supports several large epidemiologic cohorts characterization of natural history of osteoporosis , identification of genetic , environmental risk factors contribute bone disease.

muscle biology , diseases—support pdctc research projects in skeletal muscle biology , diseases. focus on fundamental biology of muscle development, physiology , muscle imaging. particular interests include basic biology of satellite , muscle stem cells, excitation-contraction coupling, muscle metabolism , adaptation of muscle exercise. programs address need translational research develop discoveries enhance treatment , improve management of muscle , musculoskeletal diseases , disorders. research targets muscular dystrophies, inflammatory myopathies, muscle ion channel diseases, , muscle disorders such disuse atrophy , age-related loss of muscle mass.

musculoskeletal biology , diseases—understanding fundamental biology of tissues constitute musculoskeletal system, , on applying knowledge related disorders. pdctc research includes study of acute , chronic injuries—including carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injury, , low pain—and osteoarthritis. programs support development of new technologies such imaging methods. therapeutic approaches of interest include drugs, nutrition, joint replacement (including biomaterials , implant science), bone , cartilage transplantation , gene therapy. tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, sports medicine , musculoskeletal fitness areas of special emphasis.

intramural research

intramural research program (irp) conducts relevant , provides training investigators interested in related research careers. scientists perform pdctc clinical studies on rheumatic, autoimmune, inflammatory, joint, skin , muscle diseases. program operates laboratory of regenerative medicine , laboratory of oral connective tissue biology. niams scientists explore genetic databases provide insights immune-system defects underlie rare inflammatory diseases such ankylosing spondylitis. example, intramural investigator’s discovery of immune system protein led identification of therapeutic targets multiple rheumatic conditions. led work facilitated 2 cooperative research , development agreements (cradas) between nih , industry , u.s. food , drug administration approval of oral rheumatoid arthritis medication represents new class of drugs.

office of scientific director—program planning, budget , policy formation , resource allocation. scientific director represents niams in nih-wide intramural policy , program discussions. scientific director serves principal advisor niams director concerning ongoing , projected intramural research programs.

office of clinical director—implements relevant clinical research programs. through specific programs in translational research, rheumatology fellowship training , health partnerships, office establishes cutting-edge therapeutic paradigms, education , in outreach.

autoimmunity branch—conducts basic , clinical pdctc research of autoimmune diseases. signal transduction pathways differentiate normal , pathological immune responses studied in mouse models , human tissue samples , researches targeted immune suppression therapies. tumor necrosis factor-family of cytokines , receptors current focus, molecular trafficking , signaling study of human diseases.

cartilage biology , orthopaedics branch—conducts basic , clinical pdctc research on orthopaedic surgery-relevant musculoskeletal diseases. current investigations focus on genetic, cellular, , molecular events involved in development of heterotopic ossification (ho). specific attention paid progenitor cells obtained human tissue samples , trophic , differentiation properties involved in tissue repair , regeneration.

clinical , investigative orthopaedics surgery unit—studies outcomes of many important orthopaedic conditions. studies using large clinical databases investigate rare femur fractures, uncommon hip infections, , novel fracture treatments. goal provide clinical insights conditions cannot examined in traditional clinical studies.

clinical trials , outcomes branch—studies health outcomes of patients rheumatic diseases , orthopaedic conditions. studies focus on development , testing of measures of health , disease, identification of predictors of , poor health outcomes, examination of treatment effectiveness, , investigations of socioeconomic , ethnic disparities in health outcomes.

community research , care branch—coordinates niams community health center, health information resource , medical center carries out research , provides health services arthritis, lupus, , other rheumatic disease patients. center located in silver spring, md.

laboratory of molecular immunogenetics (lmi)—studies genetic , molecular regulation of normal , abnormal immune cell processes. lmi includes molecular immunology section , genomics , immunity section study molecular underpinnings of inflammation regulation in both health , disease.

laboratory of muscle stem cells , gene regulation—investigates cellular , molecular mechanisms regulate differentiation , regeneration of skeletal muscle. ultimate goal of these studies provide practical conceptual pdctc framework.

laboratory of oral connective tissue biology—studies molecular biology of dental-oral-craniofacial development, focus on teeth, gums , jaws. aim of these studies understand cells , signals influencing tooth, bone, , periodontal ligament development.

laboratory of skin biology—studies regulation of epidermal differentiation, skin barrier formation, , inflammatory responses associated barrier dysfunction. major focus basic investigation of ectodermal appendage development , study of human ectodermal dysplasias.

laboratory of stem cell biology—studies cell fate , tissue development. examines various types of stem cells generate neurological disease models, discover , test drugs, , develop replacement therapies neurodegenerative diseases , disorders.

laboratory of structural biology research—studies structural basis of assembly , functioning of macromolecules , complexes (such viruses , cytoskeletal proteins), , mechanisms , proteins control assembly. these studies make extensive use of cryoelectron microscopy , three-dimensional image processing in studies of virus infection , replication; renewal of epidermis, maintenance of barrier function; prionogenesis (structural transitions of infectious proteins called prions); , intracellular protein quality control energy-dependent proteases.

molecular immunology , inflammation branch—conducts basic , clinical investigations of molecular mechanisms underlying immune , inflammatory responses in rheumatic , autoimmune diseases. major focus study of receptor-mediated signal transduction , how these processes link regulation of genes involved in inflammatory responses.

office of science , technology—provides research , support infrastructure support irp scientists. staff members advise scientific director, laboratory , branch chiefs , other key officials on collaborative , cooperative activities, training programs , proper use of laboratory animals. staff members negotiate , facilitate scientific collaborations involve trans-institute , trans-nih initiatives , agreements. office includes following:

flow cytometry section—provides state-of-the-art multiparameter analytic , sorting capabilities irp investigators.
laboratory animal care , use section—supports irp branches , laboratories study animals.
light imaging section—offers irp scientists access state-of-the-art light imaging equipment , expertise in light imaging techniques.
biodata mining , discovery section—assists computational , bioinformatics approaches niams intramural research.
translational immunology section—provides niams investigators services, consultative advice , in-depth instructions in immunologic methods interpret immunoassays.

pediatric translational research branch—conducts basic, translational, , clinical pdctc research in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. mechanisms specific mutations , genetic polymorphisms predispose inflammation , how contribute unique phenotypic manifestations of individual diseases.

protein expression laboratory—studies expression, purification , structural characterization of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , hiv-related proteins. laboratory scientists collaborate nih intramural researchers studying structure , function of hiv , hiv-related proteins. lab serves support , resource group expression , purification of these proteins.

systemic autoimmunity branch—studies fundamental mechanisms lead development , perpetuation of systemic autoimmune disorders, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus , rheumatoid arthritis , associated organ damage. identifying mechanisms of tissue damage, branch explores specific drugs can block identified pathways can mitigate complications.

rheumatology fellowship , training branch—provides clinical , research training of physicians wishing pursue careers in biomedical or translational research. fellowship program runs 2 years extensions available advanced research training. program accredited accreditation council graduate medical education (acgme) , graduates eligible sit certifying examination.

career development , outreach branch—advises scientific director, lab , branch chiefs , other irp officials on current , potential training programs; coordinates resources available niams fellows , sponsors; , works in partnership existing niams , nih components ensure niams continues attract highest caliber of trainees. in addition, leads career outreach activities, administers summer internship program , supports annual intramural retreat.