Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY: Administrative Core The Administrative Core provides centralized executive and scientific leadership to facilitate the overarching goals of the Administrative Core of the Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease Center (DDC) to support the continuing development of the DDC Research Base and ensure responsiveness of the Research Cores to the needs of DDC members among the three participating institutions located in Houston’s TMC: Baylor College of Medicine [BCM], The University of Texas Health Science Center [UTHSC] and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center [MDACC]. The DDC is the only NIH funded DDRCC in the southcentral region of the U.S. The administrative and scientific leadership of the DDC is provided by the Executive Committee consisting of DDC Director, Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH [BCM], Co-Director, Jason Mills, MD, PhD [BCM], an Associate Director, James Versalovic, MD, PhD, and the two Assistant Directors representing UTHSC and MDACC: J. Marc Rhoads MD [UTHSC] and Dr. Robert Bresalier MD [MDACC]. Dr. Mills is an innovative addition to the leadership team, bringing over a decade’s experience of leadership for the Washington University DDRCC. The Executive Committee is augmented by the Internal Advisory Committee and External Advisory Committee, composed of renowned internal and external investigators, respectively. A clear succession plan is identified and approved by both committees. The Executive Committee meets quarterly and on an ad hoc basis as warranted. The Internal Advisory Committee meets monthly and comprises the Director, Co-Director, Associate Director, Assistant Directors, Core Directors, Clinical Liaisons, and Pilot Feasibility and Enrichment Program Leaders. One DDC senior administrator provides the necessary support for day-to-day financial management and operations of the DDC. BCM, UTH and MDACC provide exceptional institutional support and infrastructure to promote the continued growth of our center. The Administrative Core plans and implements a dynamic multimodal six-element DDC Enrichment Program that includes Research Seminars, and annual DDC Research Symposium. The Administrative Core oversees the Pilot and Feasibility Program. The Administrative Core oversees the DDC Research Core activity, services and chargebacks using an online platform iLab Solutions system across Cores Conduct, and conducts an annual online (via Survey Monkey) member survey to assess evolving member needs. The Core also oversees the DDC’s communications with internal and external stakeholders. Major operational accomplishments of the Administrative Core have been to implement a fully functional web-based pilot feasibility application and scoring system in addition to a virtual symposium platform which supports remote presentations, virtual breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and a simulated poster competition. These new systems have increased productivity and participation in DDC enrichment activities. Over 26 publications have cited the support of the DDC Administrative Core in the current funding cycle.