Houston Nutrition Obesity Research Center Admin-Core

SUMMARY – ADMINISTRATIVE CORE The overarching goal of the Administrative Core of the Houston—Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (H- NORC) is to support the continuing development of H-NORC investigators and ensure the Biomedical Research Cores are responsive to their needs. Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center, adjacent to each other within the Texas Medical Center, provide exceptional organizational support and infrastructure to promote the growth of our Center. The Executive Committee will provide the administrative and scientific leadership of H-NORC, and the Internal and External Advisory Committees, composed of renowned internal and external investigators, will augment it. The Executive Committee will meet monthly and as needed for oversight of all aspects of the NORC including Research Cores and Enrichment and Pilot and Feasibility Programs. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Director, Associate Director, and Core Directors. A senior administrator will provide support for day-to-day management of H-NORC operations and finances. Baylor College of Medicine and the Department of Medicine have committed a total of $700,000 to supplement the Pilot and Feasibility Program over the course of this award. This program is designed to attract early career and established investigators to pursue nutrition and obesity research within the themes of H-NORC. The Administrative Core will coordinate a dynamic Enrichment Program that supports nutrition and obesity research and educational programs and fosters new research by supporting presentations by prominent scientists at regular research seminars and at the annual Houston Nutrition and Obesity Symposium. The Administrative Core will implement web-based software (iLabs Solutions) to track service use, billing, and charge backs for all H-NORC Biomedical Cores, making it easier for H-NORC investigators, Cores, and administrators to request and obtain valuable Core services. The Executive Committee will work together with Core faculty and staff, actively seeking feedback from H-NORC members, to ensure resources are efficiently allocated to meet both the center's short- and long-term strategic goals. These objectives may be adjusted during each annual strategic planning session to address changing needs.