Project Summary Abstract: Administrative Core The Administrative Core is the hub that will enable the MSCP SPORE to fulfill its mission and vision to address key problems and barriers in current therapies for melanoma and other skin cancers, to improve patient outcomes. The Administrative Core will provide scientific and fiscal oversight and enhance communication on multiple levels to ensure the success of the MSCP SPORE. The Core will oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate periodic administrative and scientific reviews, and work closely with the NCI Program Office. Core personnel will coordinate MSCP SPORE activities with those of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center (HCC), the Departments and Schools whose faculty participate in MSCP SPORE projects, with outside collaborating institutions, and with advocacy groups. The Core will foster interactions among SPORE projects and with related research outside the MSCP SPORE regionally, nationally, and internationally. The Core will oversee the Developmental Research Program (DRP) and the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) and issue requests for new pilot project applications for these on a semi- annual basis, arranging for their review, prioritization, and funding of successful DRP and CEP applications. The Administrative Core will provide the administrative framework through which the SPORE Executive Committee, Internal Advisory Board (IAB), and External Advisory Board (EAB) as well as our patient advocates can evaluate program activities and redirect resources as needed to maximize translational progress toward the goals of the MSCP SPORE. The Core will work to raise melanoma cancer awareness and to increase philanthropic support of melanoma and skin cancer research, to enhance the depth and increase the breadth of impact of the MSCP SPORE research effort. Centralization of these efforts in the Core maximizes efficiency and ensures that SPORE guidelines are followed uniformly throughout the program. The Administrative Core will monitor budgets of the SPORE Research Projects and Cores to ensure that no duplication of effort occurs between the MSCP SPORE and the shared facilities at HCC, other funded SPOREs at HCC, or the national cooperative groups. The Core will be used equally by the three research projects, the other two Cores, the DRP, and the CEP.