Project Summary: The administrative core will oversee the coordination of the "Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer" (CDTSPC). It will provide essential resources to administer the organizational structure and ensure the success of CDTSPC at North Dakota State University (NDSU). The Center will continue to develop research programs led by Junior Investigators, promote biomedical translational research, enhance the research infrastructure at NDSU, and provide enhanced mentoring to increase the number of NIH-funded research grants. The goals of this Center are to develop self-sustaining research programs by Junior Investigators, increase the number of NIH-funded researchers, and expand the University's research capability on a disease-specific program, particularly in pancreatic cancer. These goals will be accomplished through the following Specific Aims. Aim 1: Continue to provide efficient leadership and administrative structure for the successful operations of CDTSPC. The Administrative Core will ensure that the Junior Investigators are supported by all Core Facilities and equipment needed to ensure rapid research progress. The Center will conduct formative and summative assessments of all projects, Core Facilities, and the career development-mentoring plan. In addition, the Administrative Core will be responsible for budget management, External Advisory Committee (EAC) meetings, symposia, and yearly reports to NIGMS. Aim 2: Implement an enhanced, result-oriented, multi-tier mentoring strategy to accelerate the career development of the Junior Investigators. The Administrative Core will implement an enhanced mentoring model that identifies two external and one internal mentor and one peer advisor (mentoring team) for each Junior Investigator. The mentoring team will address future research directions, organization and presentation of manuscripts, strategies for writing competitive proposals, and proposal review before submission. Furthermore, Junior Investigators will engage with CDTSPC's Translational Science Liaison and receive mentoring on the translational aspects of their projects. Aim 3: Enhance biomedical research infrastructure at NDSU. The Administrative Core will competitively recruit a replacement once a Junior Investigator graduates as an independent investigator through a campus-wide proposal solicitation, external peer review, recommendation of the EAC, followed by NIH approval. Aim 4: Accomplish the self-sustaining status of CDTSPC. All investigators will compete for extramural research grants from federal and non-federal resources in the competitive field of cancer biology. In addition, the Administrative core will ensure timely completion of the CDTSPC milestones.