Coordinating Center Administration Core

MODIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE CORE ABSTRACT Well-designed research is urgently needed to examine the impact of environmental exposures on health outcomes in children. To address these knowledge gaps, the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program promises to leverage extant and new pediatric cohorts to test new hypotheses of how environmental exposures impact pediatric health. The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) propose to continue to serve as the ECHO Coordinating Center (ECHO CC) to provide the organizational framework for the management, direction, and overall coordination of the ECHO Program. DCRI is uniquely poised to lead this ambitious initiative. As the world’s largest academic research organization, DCRI manages >30 active network and administrative coordinating center grants and has emerged as a leader in pediatric clinical research. In order to provide internal administrative structure for the ECHO CC and ensure appropriate communication and financial management of the ECHO CC, the DCRI will establish the ECHO Coordinating Center Administrative Core. The specific aims of the Administrative Core, led by Drs. Brian Smith and Linda Adair, are 1) provide internal administrative structure for the ECHO CC; 2) manage the ECHO CC award and contracts; and 3) enhance the range of research, workforce, and perspectives within the ECHO Program by actively gathering feedback and ensuring that all interested parties can contribute meaningfully. The proposed Administrative Core framework will include three teams: Coordinating Center Management, Financial Management, and Contractor Management. The Coordinating Center Management team will support the overall leadership and administrative functions of the consortium; oversee overall program management; ensure effective operations and communications among both internal ECHO CC staff and external program stakeholders and partners; and quality assurance and control. The Financial Management team will be responsible for financial reporting and budgeting. Finally, the Contractor Management Team will support all required contractual requirements for the ECHO CC including those contracts associated with the Opportunities and Innovation Fund and development and management of proposed capitation payments.