Center for 3D Imaging in Cancer Cell Biology

Administration and Coordination Core - Project Summary: The Johns Hopkins Center for 3D Multiscale Cancer Imaging will facilitate innovation in advanced imaging technologies that could be applied to fundamental basic and pre-clinical research problems in cancer biology. The mission of our Administrative and Coordination (A&C) Core is to ensure that the individual Research Units

combine with synergy beyond the individual parts, to contribute to the CCBIR Network with strength beyond the individual Center, to integrate with the NCI and the cancer research community, and to be a partner with patient advocates to connect basic research with improved patient outcomes. The Center brings together preeminent

faculty from eight departments housed in two schools (Medicine and Engineering), three JHU Centers and Institutes, and a spatial omic expert at Yale. This multidisciplinary perspective enables us to bring the latest experimental and computational methods to bear on the most clinically relevant aspects of cancer. Center

leadership are tremendously excited about the impact of the proposed Center and this is evident in substantial technical, administrative, and financial support provided to our team through scientific cores, administrative support from the Provost's office and Dean's office, and over $1M in matching funds. The leadership of the

Center is strongly committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders in cancer research including those traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research. Our JH Center includes two early-stage investigators (ESI) as critical co-Leads of the first Technology Development Unit (Dr. Ho and Dr. Wu). Our Administrative Core

will ensure the successful execution of our ambitious mission directed by two aims. Aim 1: Scientific and Financial Management of the Center. Drs. Wirtz and Wood will have overall responsibility for the scientific and administrative leadership of the Center, with support from an experienced Project Manager. A Steering

Committee including the Multiple PIs, the Unit Leads and co-Leads, and the Project Manager will meet monthly to discuss scientific progress, challenges, and budgetary issues. The A&C Core will refine and monitor budgets, allocating funds to each unit to achieve overall center goals. They will also take the lead on preparing timely

reports to the NIH, the Hopkins IRB, and other oversight regulatory bodies. Aim 2: Communication and Review: External Advisory Panel (EAP), Internal Advisory Committee (IAC), Patient Advocates, and NCI. The Core will develop and ensure timely communications and documentation within the Center and across all Centers within

the network. In addition, the Core will monitor timelines and milestones, and assign tasks to the unit leaders to assure that milestones are met. Oversight will be provided by an EAP and the NCI. The A&C will gather annual progress reports from the units, address any potential major changes in direction, and with patient advocates,

guide how our research relates to patient needs. The Center progress will be tracked using standard metrics in place for large projects at Hopkins, covering four domains (staffing, fiscal, productivity, and infrastructure).