# Core A:  Administrative and Scientific Development Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 2021 · $844,956

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 The first goal for the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses during Phase I
was to bring together a group of promising young investigators whose research focuses on the complex
interactions among diverse microbial pathogens and their common human host and to provide these
investigators with the support structure required to establish productive, independent research careers. The
second goal was to build on the success of these investigators to expand the program to include additional
investigators whose work is consistent with this underlying theme, thereby achieving the critical mass required
to establish a self-sustaining Center of Biomedical Research Excellence. The overarching goal of the Center is
to promote the ability of these investigators to address problems in infectious disease in a therapeutically
relevant fashion by understanding both the microbial virulence factors that contribute to the disease process
and how these factors impact the host immunological and inflammatory responses, thereby providing the
critical foundation required to manipulate these factors in favor of the host. As described in the Overall
component of this Phase II renewal application, we have made tremendous progress toward these goals and
are now in strong position to transition from a developmental (Phase I) to a growth stage (Phase II). A key
component of this transition is our Administrative and Scientific Development Core (Core A). Specifically, Core
A will continue to provide administrative, fiscal, and scientific support for the Center (Aim 1), foster the scientific
growth of its investigators through mentoring and faculty development (Aim 2), and foster growth and
expansion of the Center through the recruitment of new investigators and facilitating collaborative and
synergistic interactions both within the Center and more broadly on the host campuses at large (Aim 3). To
these ends, Core A will rely on a seasoned administrative team, the advice of both Internal and External
Advisory Committees, and experienced mentors for each Center investigator. The Core's leadership team has
fostered the success of Phase I Project Leaders and developed a robust pipeline of new investigators, and
during Phase II steps will be taken to ensure the success of these new Project Leaders, promote the continued
success of Phase I Project Leaders who obtained R01 funding, maintain the pipeline of new Center
investigators, and promote development of collaborative and synergistic research relationships among Center
investigators themselves and other scientists on the host campuses (University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute) with common research interests. Success will
be judged by the ability to achieve the following milestones in Phase II: 1) obtain no fewer than five new R01-
level grants, 2) have at least two Phase I Project Leaders renew grants, 3) publish 25–50 manusc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10221695
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103625-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK S SMELTZER
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $844,956
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-08-15 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10221695

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10221695, Core A:  Administrative and Scientific Development Core (5P20GM103625-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10221695. Licensed CC0.

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