Biological homeostasis is a state of steady internal, physical, and chemical conditions maintained by a living organism observed at the cellular level.  Biological homeostasis can vary in order to alter the cellular physical and chemical conditions.

Researchers at NIH/NICHD have identified approximately 200 proteins as candidate molecules (leads) that “fine tune” T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seeks partners to collaborate on in vitro studies to validate these potential immunomodulators and to conduct in vivo studies in a murine cancer model to determine the effects of ligands (e.g. antibodies) to the proteins to determine their effect on the immune response to cancer cells.

A child's growth is dependent on the proper functioning of the growth plate, a specialized cartilage structure located at the ends of long bones and within the vertebrae. The primary function of the growth plate is to generate new cartilage, which is then converted into bone tissue and results in the lengthening of bones. Failure of the growth plate to function properly can result in short stature or sometimes a skeletal dysplasia, such as achondroplasia, in which the bones are not just short but also malformed.

The pattern or latency connectome was hypothesized to change in physiological development and disease.  For example, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), large diameter axons are damaged selectively – while in autism, small-diameter axons may be over-expressed. These anatomical changes are expected to alter the latency connectome or pattern of delays of information transmission between different gray matter areas involved in salient brain networks. 

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major medical, social and economic concern worldwide due to significant mortality – especially among younger populations – and long-term disabilities. Various pathological brain lesions (e.g., intracerebral bleedings, necrotic-ischemic lesions, tissue avulsion) are produced by impacting mechanical forces. Among these, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most significant brain lesions typically associated with trauma. However, DAI is not necessarily linked with TBI exposure. Therefore, the term “traumatic axonal injury (TAI)” is commonly used.

Researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) developed an MRI-method that is based on the acquisition of multiple pulsed field gradient (m-PFG) rather than single-pulsed field gradient (s-PFG) MRI sequences. In particular, double PFG (dPFG) MRI sequences offer higher sensitivity and greater robustness, as they are more sensitive to the effects of “restriction;” i.e., to water trapped within the axon’s intracellular space, and thus to the diameter of the axons.

GISTs are one of the most common sarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract with an estimated 5,000-10,000 new cases in the U.S. reported each year. GISTs affect mainly pediatric and young adult patients, and respond poorly to current therapies. Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms that develop primarily in the abdomen.