Leadership and Administration Core

University Of Texas Med Br Galveston, Galveston TX

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT (LAC) Led by Melissa Morrow, PhD and James Goodwin, MD, the UTMB OAIC Leadership and Administrative Core (LAC) will continue to provide scientific leadership, administrative infrastructure, and financial and regulatory oversight in support of the activities and growth of our Center. The LAC employs an established shared leadership model that optimizes efficiency, productivity, team science, interdisciplinarity, and coherence to advance our theme: Enhance functional independence in older adults with chronic disabling conditions by reducing health disparities. The specific aims of the LAC are to: (1) Provide scientific leadership and direction toward the overall goals of the UTMB OAIC; (2) Manage the UTMB OAIC program in compliance with applicable policies; and (3) Increase the UTMB OAIC’s impact locally and nationally. To achieve Aim 1, the LAC will proactively stimulate research through local and national collaborations, incorporating input from the Internal Advisory Board (IAB), External Advisory Board (EAB), and REC Advisory Committee (RAC); seek out and attract new investigators with an emphasis on supporting new investigators and research populations; and coordinate the integration of OAIC Cores with other national resources, including the OAIC network, Resource Center Coordinating Network, and Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research Coordinating Center. To achieve Aim 2, the LAC will ensure Core utilization, productivity, quality, and efficiency through continuous improvement tracking and evaluation; optimize Center efforts by conducting essential research/administrative meetings (e.g., with the Scientific Advisory Panel, EAB, and RAC); ensure timely communication with the NIA and OAIC Coordinating Center; organize participation at the annual national OAIC Investigators meeting; promote UTMB OAIC opportunities that support community outreach; and assure compliance with all applicable research policies. To achieve Aim 3, the LAC will advance the OAIC theme by collaborating with other institutional programs; spearhead new collaborations with other OAICs on multisite studies in disabled and disadvantaged geriatric patients; strengthen partnerships with the UTMB Health System to translate research into clinical practice; emphasize continued collaborations with the Texas RCMAR and the OAIC Hispanic Aging Council; and increase relationships with regional institutions to support new research, build infrastructure to increase representation in clinical trials, and mentor early-career faculty. The active participation of LAC leaders and advisors in UTMB’s administrative processes has engendered a profound institutional transformation that has significantly improved the collaborative opportunities for aging research at UTMB. Throughout the next cycle, we will leverage OAIC funding, substantial institutional contributions, and external collaborations to amplify our program’s impact and innovation both locally and nationally.