Administrative Core

ABSTRACT The overall goal of the Center is to derive a biologically plausible model for human thalamus function by identifying and modeling functional organization principles of higher-order thalamic computations and interactions between thalamus and cortex. The goal of Core A is to provide administrative support to all center projects and cores and coordinate their activities under the leadership of Dr. Kastner. This includes plans to facilitate information transfer and data sharing among projects and cores, to disseminate knowledge gained by Center activities to the scientific community and public (including a comprehensive educational outreach program), and to provide training and professional development opportunities. The Center comprises five projects and two cores led by eight PIs/Co-Is from eight institutions, who represent a wide range of methods and expertise including multimodal neuroimaging in neurotypical and clinical human populations, and intracranial electrophysiology in non-human primates and tree shrews. The close collaborative links and synergy across the projects and cores that will be critical to the success of the proposed Center necessitate a high level of scientific and administrative oversight and coordination across the different Center components. Core A will have the following aims: 1. To provide oversight over all scientific activities of the Center components by facilitating communication through regular Center meetings of the Steering Committee (comprised of the Center Director and all PIs/Co-Is), the whole Center community, and the external consultants, and by establishing an External Advisory Board, in consultation with NIH; 2. To provide oversight over all administrative responsibilities such as the budget and resource allocation, annual reporting and maintaining a Center website; 3. To provide training opportunities, particularly considering underrepresented minorities, and to develop an educational outreach program.