Administrative Core

Administrative Core Project Summary The primary goal of the Penn ADRC is to increase research and education on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its links to related disorders (ADRD) across the continuum of normal aging to dementia with the goal of identifying the causes of and cures for AD/ADRD. To achieve this goal, the Penn ADRC coordinates research programs,

stimulates new research, catalyzes academic research training, provides community education and outreach and fosters the development of novel techniques to individualize diagnosis and treatment for the benefit of all elderly persons and their families. It is the role of the Administrative Core to shepherd and facilitate the

activities of the ADRC Cores and to serve as a bridge between the ADRC and national and international efforts in pursuit of these goals. Administrative Core will be involved in a number of different activities that are designed to achieve these broad goals, including fiscal and administrative oversight over the ADRC (Aim 1). The leaders of the ADRC

and the ADRC Executive Committee, composed of core leaders and co-leaders, will set priorities and develop plans to achieve ADRC goals. The Administrative Core will choose members of an External Advisory Committee that will be charged with the role of evaluating the progress of the Center and providing

recommendations (Aim 2). A variety of forums and opportunities for exchange of ideas and dissemination of data will be supported by the Administrative Core through ADRC sponsored retreats and lecture series (Aim 3). These events will include participation of faculty and trainees, providing an opportunity, particularly for the

latter, to present data and receive feedback. Critical to the growth and breadth of AD/ADRC research, a unique Developmental Project program linked to topics at annual retreats will foster transdisciplinary work (Aim 4). The Administrative Core will champion participation of the Penn ADRC in numerous state, national, and

international efforts to improve care and treatment of ADRD, as well as provide infrastructure to support the sharing of data and biomaterials (Aim 5). Finally, the core will provide oversight on all NIA and local regulatory and reporting procedures and requirements (Aim 6). Critically, the Administrative Core serves to maintain the “centeredness” of the ADRC by coordinating efforts

across the individual cores, by promoting collaborations with other neurodegenerative centers at Penn and beyond, and by promoting activities consistent with our thematic focus around AD heterogeneity. By achieving the above aims, we expect to maintain our highly productive ADRC with the appropriate support to do novel

research, to contribute highly and deeply phenotyped individuals to larger data sharing efforts, to grow our diverse and multi-disciplinary faculty by training the next generation of investigators and clinicians, and to educate and empower our region and the nation so as to improve brain health and meet the goals of NAPA.