Administrative Core

Project Summary/Abstract (Administrative Core) The Administrative Core supports the overall mission of the Indiana Diabetes Research Center (IDRC) to promote cutting edge research in diabetes and related metabolic disorders, foster collaboration, and support training by leveraging resources and providing administrative oversight to ensure efficient operation of Research Cores that continually evolve, a P&F Program that successfully provides seed funding and mentorship opportunities, and a robust Enrichment Program, which hosts world-class Seminars, an Annual Diabetes Day Symposium, and other special events. This mission aligns closely with key goals articulated in the NIDDK Strategic Plan for Research and rests on four main pillars of activity: 1) to promote innovative research in diabetes and related metabolic disorders; 2) to encourage work that spans the translational continuum; 3) to promote effective stewardship of resources and research that emphasizes rigor and reproducibility; 4) to facilitate collaboration; and 5) to support training and workforce development. The Administrative Core includes the Director of the IDRC (Dr. C. Evans-Molina), the Associate Director (Dr. R. Considine), the Executive Administrative Assistant, the Program Manager, the Business Manager, the Fiscal Officer, and the Communications Specialist. The Administrative Core will be assisted by an Executive Committee and Internal and External Advisory Boards. The aims of the Administrative Core are to: (1) Create an environment that encourages innovation and aligns with key goals of the NIDDK Strategic Plan for Research through strategic evolution of the Research Base and the Research Cores. (2) Allocate resources to promote effective stewardship of federal, institutional, and philanthropic funds, while overseeing charge-back policies that ensure the financial health of each Research Core. (3) Minimize redundancy of Research Core services within the IDRC and member institutions and oversee the appropriate flow of reagents and samples between Research Cores. (4) Maximize collaborations within the IDRC and interactions between IDRC members and other research disciplines to promote research synergies. (5) Foster the careers of new and promising investigators in the field of diabetes and metabolic disorders through access to technical resources in the Research Cores, funding from the P&F Program, and targeted mentoring and training opportunities. (6) Create an atmosphere that facilitates the education and career development of faculty and learners at all levels by providing a robust Enrichment Program and other training activities. (7) Inform the Research Base and local community of IDRC activities through the maintenance of a dedicated website and through digital and social media.