SUMMARY – Administrative Core A The overall goal of the Administrative Core is to create a vibrant, transparent, cohesive and diverse community of skin investigators at Mount Sinai and beyond that synergizes to decrease research costs, exploit technological advances, and elevate the level, speed, efficiency and innovation of research over what can be achieved by individual investigators on their own. The Core will coordinate the outreach activities of the SBDRC and its Resource Cores, ensuring that these benefit investigators broadly across the region. Its programs will bring new investigators into skin research, support transition to independence for senior trainees and junior faculty, and foster development of physician-scientists who can translate research findings to the clinic. We will revamp approaches to recruitment, mentoring and retention of women and minority trainees and faculty and enhance the pipeline of minority students entering skin research to ensure equal opportunities for individuals of all genders and ethnic backgrounds and promote a diverse, creative and holistic approach to research in skin biology and diseases. To achieve these objectives, we will establish an Executive Committee that will, together with the Director and Associate Directors of the Center, provide overall management and coordination of SBDRC activities, and ensure ethical and transparent administration and adherence to regulatory guidelines. To optimize and continuously innovate our programs and services, we will regularly survey the SBDRC community and establish Internal and External Advisory Committees to provide feedback on programs and services. We will communicate with our members and with the larger research and lay communities through a Website, social media, a monthly Bulletin and a semiannual Newsletter. We will hold an informal Faculty Forum, regular Work in Progress talks, and Resource Core Seminars to share ideas and data, and disseminate information about Core services and technical innovations. Research Seminars from internal and external speakers and an Annual Retreat will stimulate collaborations and keep the Community informed of the latest discoveries. To decrease the costs of high-end technologies, we will provide User Scholarships for projects of high scientific merit, and Pilot Grant funding for junior investigators and those newly entering the field. Mentoring Committees will be organized to help post-doctoral fellows and research-oriented dermatology residents transition to independence, and support success for junior faculty. To improve diversity of our Community, we will advertise trainee and faculty positions to a more diverse applicant pool and re-assess evaluation metrics. To enhance the pipeline of minority students entering skin research, we will establish the SBDRC Sinai Skin Scholars Program, which will provide local underserved high school students with teaching and hands on laboratory experience in skin biology and diseases ...