Administrative/Program Enrichment Core

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT ADMINISTRATIVE/PROGRAM ENRICHMENT CORE All activities of The Jackson Laboratory Nathan Shock Center (JAX NSC), including resource optimization, quality control, fiscal management, outreach and compliance with institutional, NIH, and NIH policies require effective management and oversight. The overall goal of the JAX NSC Administrative/Program Enrichment Core is to provide effective Center administration and enhance the utility of JAX NSC resources across the aging community. In the current funding period, the Administrative/Program Enrichment Core worked closely with its External Advisory Board (EAB) to address challenges faced by the JAX NSC, including improving dissemination of data resources, recruiting dedicated and accomplished faculty, and enhancing and optimizing phenotyping protocols in our comprehensive cross-sectional and longitudinal mouse studies. In the coming renewal period, we will build on our current success by providing the research community with even greater access to data, material resources, and collaborative opportunities by expanding our Pilot Award Program. To achieve these goals, the Administrative/Programs Enrichment Core will carry out the following specific aims: Aim 1: Support JAX NSC management and resource coordination through an effective and experienced administrative structure, weekly staff meetings, bimonthly Aging Interest Group meetings, more efficient tracking and management systems for mouse resources, and resourceful leveraging of JAX institutional support; Aim 2: Support JAX NSC External Advisory Board by incorporating improvements recommended by an EAB consisting of leaders in the aging field; and Aim 3: Enhance NSC visibility nationally by maintaining and strengthening integration with other NSCs and the NSC Coordinating Center via outreach efforts that include organizing courses and symposia and establishing a strong web presence. Through the Administrative/Program Enrichment Core, the JAX NSC will continue to support a robust, effective scientific and administrative structure that complements that of the larger JAX institutional structure and, importantly, the overall goals of the NSC program. The two principal investigators who constitute the central administrative structure have worked closely for many years to successfully manage the JAX NSC and will continue to do so. The Administrative/Program Enrichment Core will coordinate the activities of all other cores, streamline resource development and dissemination, centralize and grow the forward-thinking aging program at JAX, offer courses and symposia highlighting aging research, and support advanced genetic research in aging using novel mouse models. These activities are critical to the Center's success and effectiveness in meeting its goals and the goals of the national Nathan Shock Program.