Core A: Administrative Core

CORE A ABSTRACT Core Lead: Ronald Hoffman, MD The Administrative Core provides the infrastructure for and coordinates all activities of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm-Research Consortium (MPN-RC). The goal of the Core is to actively and dynamically maintain a collaborative translational research network that supports and synergizes the laboratory and clinical studies led by MPN-RC investigators. Key functions include organizational management and communication, resource allocation and financial management (personnel, funds, equipment, and supplies), organization of all internal and external advisory boards and committees, scientific and clinical trials oversight to ensure regulatory compliance and procedural implementation, and external liaison to appropriate governmental agencies. The specific aims of the Administrative Core are: (1) Coordinate the activities of all MPN-RC Projects and Cores and monitor their progress and effective use of shared resource Cores; (2) Schedule and provide optimal staff support for all MPN-RC committees and boards; (3) Assure that research involving the use of human subjects and vertebrate animals is pursued in compliance with NIH regulations; (4) Establish all contracts with participating organizations and administer and oversee all budgets and the disperal of funds; (5) Liaison to the NCI and MPN patient advocacy groups for all matters pertaining to the MPN-RC; (6) Develop and negotiate budgets and contracts with pharmaceutical companies to gain access to drugs for clinical trials to be pursued by Project 4; (7) Develop criteria for institutional membership in the MPN-RC and assist in membership applications and site initiation visits. As well as, monitor performance of all members to assure that they are optimally functioning in a fashion that merits their continued participation; (8) Prepare annual progress reports to be submitted to the NCI. Orchestrate the resubmission of this competitive renewal application to the NCI; (9) Maintain and update the MPN-RC website; (10) Raise supplementary funds to assist in funding the MPN-RC activities; (11) Establish and maintain educational activities in MPN research and treatment, and maintain communications with the MPN patient community with the updates on the activities of the MPN-RC.