South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Center Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Administrative Core The South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Center (STAC) Administrative Core (AC), part of the collaborative effort of University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSA) and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), will provide the overarching leadership and

governance for the STAC along with directing new initiatives aimed at training and supporting innovative research approaches with the goal of reducing health disparities in Alzheimer´s disease and related disorders (ADRD). The AC will serve as an integral administrative hub for each Core by acting as the central resource for financial review, human resources

management, contract management, grants management, and data/biospecimen /resources sharing. The Specific Aims of the AC are: 1) Lead the overall direction of the STAC by holding continuous strategic planning sessions with national and international experts in AD research; 2) Review, fund and oversee novel AD developmental projects from across South Texas with input

from the STAC advisory committees and NIA with the goal to provide seed funding to new investigators that will advance the field and ultimately result in greater funding through other NIH opportunities, foundations, or philanthropy; 3)Identify and support mentees involved in transformative AD research, community engagement, and education with the focus of

advancing careers centered around the ADRD research and education; 4) Engage in routine financial review and analysis of all STAC functions to ensure maximal ROI of existing Cores and projects as well as to support new initiatives. 5) Serve as the integral administrative hub for each Core and collaborative site by acting as the central repository for resources such as

contract management, finance, HR, and grants management. Ensure compliance with human subjects, scientific integrity, data sharing, and fiscal policy requirements of the NIH. 6) Promote integration of all STAC Cores by holding regular meetings between all Core leaders and scientific advisory members to discuss strategy and progress of each Core. 7) Recruit and

retain faculty and staff who are underrepresented in neuroscience by fostering an inclusive environment with the aid; 8) Encourage national, state, and local collaboration through interaction with other ADC’s, NIH, the data coordinating center, and engage AD clinicians and scientists at UTHSA/UTRGV and externally; 9) Bolster STAC funding and resources through

actively engaging in philanthropic initiatives and seeking public private partnerships; 10) Ensure the STAC is promoted as the premier AD resource in South Texas by routinely publicizing research, community engagement and educational initiatives to the state and local community with guidance from NIA. The AC will provide an effective and efficient administrative

infrastructure for the STAC to establish, maintain, and grow a robust, interdisciplinary, cross- institution education and research enterprise that will advance the goal of reducing the burden of ADRD in our nation, and particularly addressing health disparities for Hispanics with ADRD in Texas.