Core A - Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY - ADMINISTRATIVE CORE (CORE A) The overarching goal of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) is to provide state-of-the- art infrastructure, expertise, and resources to conduct cutting-edge, multidisciplinary, equitable, and generalizable research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias, with a special focus on preclinical biomarkers of AD and their role in predicting transition from pre-symptomatic to symptomatic stages of the disease. The Administrative Core will set the overall research directions and priorities, oversee and coordinate core-related activities, ensure optimal utilization of ADRC resources, and serve as a resource to expand AD research locally, nationally, and beyond. Under the overall scientific and administrative leadership of Sanjay Asthana, MD, the Wisconsin ADRC Director, the Administrative Core will continue to exercise its leadership and accomplish its objectives through the activities of four major committees. The External Advisory Committee, comprised of distinguished leaders in AD research at institutions outside of Wisconsin and with expertise aligned with the scientific missions of the ADRC, provides advice concerning the overall direction and performance of the Center. The Executive Committee, comprised of the ADRC Director, Associate Director, Administrator, Core Leaders, Core Co-Leaders, and Data/informatics Leader, meets monthly to discuss the overall function and scientific opportunities for the ADRC, review each Core’s progress, and resolve problems within or between Cores. The Resource Distribution Committee, composed of the ADRC Director, Associate Director, Core Leaders, Administrator, and ad hoc reviewers, evaluates and approves requests for data, access to clinical core participants, biospecimens, and autopsy brain tissue, and advises the Center Director concerning resource utilization priorities. The Administrative Core places strong emphasis on wide utilization of the Wisconsin ADRC resources, but ensures distribution to support only high-quality research while avoiding competing uses for limited biospecimens. The Developmental Project (DP) Review Committee evaluates all the DP applications, prioritizing those from junior investigators with novel research projects and a strong likelihood of generating pilot data and attracting external funding. Overall, the Administrative Core will continue to exercise scientific leadership and ensure continued success and excellence of the Wisconsin ADRC in the renewed funding cycle.