Core A: Administrative Core

Since its inception in 1996, the Boston University (BU) Alzheimer Disease (AD) Research Center (ADRC) has had a singular mission to facilitate leading-edge research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD related dementias (ADRD). The function of the Administrative Core (AC) is to ensure that administrative processes are in place to support this mission. The Core manages and coordinates internal interactions between the ADRC director and core leaders, interactions between the BU ADRC and investigators at BU and elsewhere, BU administration, staff at NIA, and local and national community organizations. The AC integrates, coordinates, directs and plans all BU ADRC activities and ensures compliance with all human subjects, scientific integrity, and financial policy requirements of NIH. This includes providing an effective structure to support our scientific efforts focused on studying AD/ADRD disease heterogeneity, ensuring the availability of our diverse cohorts, and supporting and implementing the themes and goals of the National Alzheimer's Plan Project Act (NAPA). The progress of the ADRC as a whole and its individual core component will be monitored to ensure accountability to NAPA and NIA milestones and goals. The AC fosters innovative AD/ADRD research by providing visionary leadership and by facilitating cross-core interactions and coordinating the provision of resources to support qualified investigators at BU and other local, national, and international research programs. The AC facilitates partnerships with the local, regional, national and international AD/ADRD research community to support high-impact AD/ADRD research. The AC will ensure that all mandated data sets are submitted to NACC in an accurate and timely manner and that biological specimens are submitted to the NCRAD. The AC ensures that we support and inform the communities we serve regarding the benefits of the BU ADRC and AD/ADRD research and to solicit feedback and advice from them. The AC is under the leadership of BU ADRC Director Dr. Neil Kowall who reports directly to the Dean of BU School of Medicine. In his role as BU ADRC Director he is supported by an Executive Committee comprised of BU ADRC core leaders and other senior thought leaders at BU. Other administrative committees include an External Advisory Committee, Internal Advisory Committee, and Community Action Council. In collaboration with the BU ADRC Director, these committees are responsible for coordinating, planning, overseeing, and evaluating all BU ADRC activities and ensuring the optimal utilization of BU ADRC resources. The AC administers the developmental project program to support meritorious projects focused on basic or clinical AD/ADRD research. A Developmental Project Review Panel will be commissioned review, select, and monitor these projects. Ongoing, interactive communication and input will be solicited from multiple sources, including our institutional research community, external AD/ADRD experts, and NIA, to strengthen and improve our Center's performance