PROJECT SUMMARY The Administrative Core (AC) of our Biomarker Characterization Center (BCC) will facilitate and optimize the integration of biomarker discovery and initial validation studies by the Biomarker Discovery Lab (BDL) and the development and validation studies to create clinical-grade, CLIA compliant biomarker assays by the Biomarker Reference Lab (BRL). The Administrative Core will be managed by the Center Administrator and run by the PIs of the BDL and BRL. It will support and enhance cross BCC and cross EDRN communication, data dissemination and data review and analysis, which will promote the BCC’s core mission to discovery and validate clinical grade biomarker assays for GI cancer risk prediction and early detection The Administrative Core will provide administrative support for collaborations and communications between the EDRN BCCs, Clinical Validation Centers (CVCs), Data Management Center (DMCC); collaborating industrial partners (e.g. Cernostics, Qiagen, etc.) and academic partners, and collaborating NCI programs (e.g. CISNET, NIST, etc.). Through the functions of the Administrative Core, the BCC with other EDRN BCCs, CVC, and DMCC, industrial partners, and academic partners will collaborate not only on the BCC’s studies but also on resulting derivative studies and other EDRN BCC and CVC projects that arise from the BCC’s highly innovative, productive and significant program of biomarker discovery and validation for GI cancer risk prediction and early detection and the programs of other BCCs. The Administrative Core has the following aims: Aim 1: To provide the organizational structure for supporting the key objectives of the BCC, which are the BDL’s and BRL’s scientific and educational missions and the successful collaboration among the BDL and BRL PI and scientists, EDRN partners, academic partners and industrial partners. Aim 2: To provide efficiency in management of large-scale collaborative research efforts involving multiple institutions and multiple PDs/PIs, including local and national meetings management. Aim 3: To coordinate with EDRN DMCC for protocol development, biospecimen sharing, biospecimen blinding, data analysis, data sharing, data deposition, populating Biomarker Data Commons, and any other relevant functions deemed necessary for BCC operations as well as for the larger Network.