Administration Core (A)

Brown University, Providence RI

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) IMbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Collaboratory’s mission is to build the nation’s capacity to conduct embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) of interventions for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners (CPs). This mission is achieved by: 1. Funding and supporting ePCTs, 2. Training investigators, and 3. Developing and disseminating knowledge to advance the field. An initiative of this complexity and scope requires the integration of all its components to leverage its potential. Doing so requires an exceptional Administration Core. In only 4.25 years, much of which punctuated by the COVID pandemic, IMPACT achieved all the Aims set forth in its first funding cycle, and then some. The key to its success was its highly functional Administration Core. The Core ran 21 national grant competitions and shepherded 54 awardees through complicated regulatory and budgetary steps to allow them to conduct their research. It managed nearly 100 subcontracts, logistics for all meetings including annual in-person IMPACT meetings, national Scientific Conferences, and Training Workshops. The Core built IMPACT’s robust communications infrastructure, enabling the development and dissemination of close to 400 IMPACT-generated products, widespread broadcasting of IMPACTs activities, and establishment of a robust online Learning Library platform. The Core’s proficiency allowed IMPACT to launch novel programs to address unanticipated needs and manage 9 supplemental NIA COVID supplements grants. The factors contributing to the Core’s success will be carried forward into the renewal period. The majority of the Core’s talented personnel will remain, bringing their experience with them. The cohesive leadership of the Multiple Principal Investigators and Executive Directors at the main administrative sites, Brown and Hebrew Senior Life (HSL), will continue. The Core will leverage the many project management systems it set up specifically for IMPACT using Smartsheet software. Finally, relationships will continue with specialized service providers to manage large tasks (e.g., single Institutional Review Board). The Aims are: Aim 1. Administer and integrate all the components of the IMPACT infrastructure; Aim 2. Support the conduct of ePCTs by coordinating the solicitation, funding, regulatory compliance, and IMPACT resources for IMPACT’s project grant programs; Aim 3. Enhance investigator capacity by administering IMPACT’s training grants and activities; Aim 4. Develop and disseminate knowledge by coordinating the creation and dissemination of products generated by IMPACT investigators. IMPACT: IMPACT has strong leadership, ample funding, a rich community of investigators, and a wide range of impactful programs. An exceptional Administration Core is essential to bringing all these assets together. All the effort and resources invested into establishing and operationalizing IMPACT’s complex infrastructure in the initial funding period will be harnessed in the renewal period. In sum, the Administration Core is the heartbeat of the IMPACT Collaboratory and essential to its mission.