Core P: Molecular and Cellular Immunology (MCI) Project Summary/Abstract The mission of our new Molecular and Cellular Immunology (MCI) Core is to support our Center’s research priorities - prevent new infections, optimize care, find a cure, and promote health equity for all - by facilitating highly technological research. The MCI Core is a laboratory-based service Core designed to support HIV research involving broad characterization of the cellular and molecular milleu at multiple levels. The MCI Core provides an easy and efficient path for SD CFAR investigators to incorporate flow cytometry, genomics, and single-cell -omics technologies into their research activities. The MCI Core provides data processing support to its users, and ensures data integrity and reproducibility. In addition to supporting the funded projects of established investigators, the MCI Core strives to provide the scientific environment and material resources to enable emerging investigators to apply different state-of-the-art technologies to their developmental projects and to encourage established investigators to initiate innovative pilot or collaborative studies. The specific aims of the MCI Core are: 1. Assays: To provide expertise and develop new applications in cell phenotyping, sorting, gene expression quantification and multi–omics single-cell profiling based on the research needs of SD CFAR investigators. 2. Computational biology: To process, collate, format and analyze flow cytometry, gene expression and multi- omics single-cell data, and develop new analytical pipelines as needed by the users, working closely with the BAM Core. 3. Training: To provide training in MCI Core technological methods, experimental design and data analysis for the advancement and intellectual growth of the next generation of HIV researchers. 4. Quality assurance: To monitor and ensure biosafety and the integrity and reproducibility of all generated data. The MCI Core is organized into three units, Flow Cytometry, Genomics and Single-Cell -Omics, each specializing in its corresponding methodological area. Each unit is led by accomplished experts with coordinated communications. To provide the most useful and up-to-date services, the MCI Core undergoes a rigorous strategic planning process through user feedback, surveys, evaluating guidance from the both the scientific and impacted local communities in meetings and presentations as well as incorporating recommendations from internal and external advisory committees and reviews. Immediate challenges that are addressed in this application include: 1) Expanding single-cell –omics services; 2) Facilitating access to flow cytometry and –omics applications under one roof to enable uninterrupted work flow; 3) Expanding data processing support; and 4) Improving web-based ordering and the utilization and tracking system.