Administrative Core

The BREATHE (Bridging Research, Lung Health, and the Environment) Children's Center will translate findings, based on our own work and work from other centers, regarding environmental exposures that impact children's respiratory health and interventions to reduce risk. The major responsibility of the Administrative Core is to ensure that the combined research translation and investigator development activities contained in this application achieve impact that is accelerated and amplified beyond that of each of the individual components. This responsibility requires a strong commitment to the “center concept.” As a result, the most important function of the Administrative Core is to facilitate interaction between the Translation and Development Cores, support activities, continue to foster engagement of all BREATHE Center members, and coordinate with key partners that are integral to the Children's Center mission. The Center Director, Dr. Meredith McCormack, is a physician scientist and a longstanding member of the CCAUE who has led community-engaged research to characterize health effects of air pollution. She will work with Dr. Thomas Burke, Deputy Director, who brings experience applying data and evidence to inform environmental health policy implementation at the national level. They are well-qualified to lead the integration of the Center and bring together a team with complementary experience to achieve impact on children's environmental respiratory health from the local to national level. The BREATHE Children's Center Translation Core will develop and implement novel communication tools, including the Kids BREATHE Lung Health Dashboard, expansion of the Lung Health Ambassador curriculum, and development of the volunteer Lung Health Corps. The Development Core will support and mentor early career investigators from diverse backgrounds to conduct children's environmental lung health research. A key aspect of the BREATHE Children's Center is the pilot program which is part of both the Translation and Development Cores and will be integrated and overseen by the Administrative Core. The Administrative Core will also coordinate the meetings, including weekly meetings, monthly forums and the BREATHE Center Summit. These events are critical to the planned translation and mentoring activities. The overall goals of the Administrative Core are to ensure completion of the proposed activities and facilitate interaction and information exchange within and outside the Center, including with the NIH. In addition, the Administrative Core will be responsible for promoting and tracking the impact of the Center on in achieving short and long term goals.