ADMIN CORE

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT (Core A: ADMINISTRATIVE – ADM) The primary functions of the Administrative Core (Core A, ADM) are to provide strong, consistent scientific leadership and to enunciate and execute a clear vision for the scientific direction of the Rose F. Kennedy IDDRC at Einstein/Montefiore. This is achieved through active supervision and evaluation of the 4 scientific Cores that provide the fundamental infrastructure of the Center, and which are coupled to, and tightly integrated with, our Research Project focused on intellectual disability in KDM5C disease. ADM Core directors (Drs. Walkley and Molholm) work tirelessly to build an inclusive and vital community at Einstein/Montefiore focused on IDD research. They act to ensure prioritization of access by IDDRC investigators to these scientific Cores and consistently monitor Core utilization, quality control and cost effectiveness. They also ensure scientific Core optimization and modernization through regular monitoring as well as a rigorously pursued annual survey. The leadership promotes the activities and successes of the Center and its investigators through dissemination of IDDRC work via our website, internal and external publications including an annual newsletter and national media outlets, and through active participation in the National IDDRC Network. ADM personnel organize annually the Isabelle Rapin Conference on Communication Disorders and International Rare Disease Day, as well as specialized mini-workshops to promote investigator collaborations and community outreach. The ADM Core is also the major outreach arm that acts to connect basic science labs at Einstein with IDD-focused clinics, including those at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC) at Einstein. This is accomplished by various means, including our College-funded pilot grant program that draws new investigators into the field of IDD research and provides seed funds for innovative work related to IDD, as well as our innovative and highly successful program in precision medicine knows as Operation IDD Gene Team. These efforts are tightly coupled to our newly funded IDD T32 postdoctoral training grant which itself is integrated into ongoing efforts to foster IDD involvement and training of Einstein medical and graduate students. The RFK Directors work with their Executive Committee to lead the Center and rely on other standing committees (Internal and External Advisory Committees and Family Advisory Committee) for strategic planning and feedback. Representation of URMs in training, faculty recruitment and patient enrollment are strongly supported here in our Bronx-based IDDRC. Through committed leadership and vigorous advocacy on behalf of IDD research, the ADM Core aggressively promotes excellence in IDD-related basic, clinical and translational research at Einstein/Montefiore.