PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) is the principal U.S. public institution of higher education within the Pacific basin which offers doctorate degrees in the health professions and in the health-related sciences. UHM has a historical record and current commitment to educating underrepresented students. We propose to further enhance the RCMI Specialized Center, called Ola HAWAII, as the integrated “home” for research on the science of minority health and health disparities in Hawaii. By partnering with other federally funded research and education programs and by serving the needs of multi-ethnic and medically underserved communities in Hawaii, we will strengthen institutional capacity building for research on the biological, socioeconomic, and environmental determinants of health disparities. The objective of the Administrative Core (AC) is to enhance institutional capacity to facilitate basic biomedical, clinical and behavioral research. Specific Aim 1: Manage, coordinate and supervise Ola HAWAII activities and resource allocation. a. Enhance organizational and governance structure for effective operations. b. Oversee programmatic activities that enhance the career development of health disparities investigators, with an emphasis on research productivity. c. Promote research through intra- and inter-institutional partnerships. Specific Aim 2: Develop and institute a plan for the dissemination of research findings, including health policy development through UHealthy Hawaii. a. Foster opportunities and mechanisms for health disparities researchers to disseminate research findings. b. Institute a plan for the translation of research findings into health policy. Specific Aim 3: Implement a rigorous evaluation process for continuous improvement. a. Establish and use innovative measures to evaluate research progress and productivity. b. Collaborate with the RCMI CC to harmonize RCMI-wide common metrics. The AC will build on a model that comprises strong visionary leadership; an accomplished team of extramurally funded core directors and support facility leaders; experienced scientific advisors; and dedicated community partners. The AC will capitalize on the successes of the past and present, as well as introduce innovative approaches to develop early-stage health disparities researchers, particularly those of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) and Filipino descent, and foster new collaborations and partnerships for transdisciplinary team-science research. Expected key outcomes will include an expanded and diversified portfolio of projects and personnel addressing minority health and health disparities, greater efficiency and use of core facilities and services, and increased research productivity and grant success.