# Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research – Administrative Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2021 · $871,592

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
 The Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research (DCMR) will support basic and preclinical research on
the central theme of musculoskeletal health and disorders, from the level of the entire body to the molecule, with
an emphasis on the mechanisms by which physical and biological cues influence tissue structure and normal
function, dysfunction, and potential therapeutic interventions. A strong Administrative Core will maximize the
impact of the DCMR by successfully leading the administrative and fiscal operation of the Center and by
supporting complex scientific operations that are interwoven within the Center and draw on resources available
through various centers across the University of Delaware and beyond (Aim 1). Excellence and career
development of the Project Leaders is critical to the success of the Center, as they conduct impactful
musculoskeletal research within the Center and as future independent investigators. Thus, the Administrative
Core will also implement a comprehensive mentoring and career development plan for Project Leaders that
complements formal departmental mentoring and will enable them to launch successful research programs and
attain independent investigator status (Aim 2). The Administrative Core will also work to expand the impact of
the DCMR through establishing a collaborative interdisciplinary community, supporting a Pilot grant program,
hiring new faculty, and retaining faculty (Aim 3). Finally, the Core will establish a rigorous evaluation program to
assess progress toward Center milestones, using best practices in program evaluation and led by an expert
internal evaluator (Aim 4). Added to the input of internal and external advisory committees, evaluation data will
be used to continuously improve the Center and ensure that it is achieving its overarching goal: to accelerate
fundamental and preclinical musculoskeletal research and contribute to a comprehensive basic-to-clinical
research pipeline that will substantially reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10091020
- **Project number:** 1P20GM139760-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** DAWN M ELLIOTT
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $871,592
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-02-15 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10091020

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10091020, Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research – Administrative Core (1P20GM139760-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10091020. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*