PROJECT SUMMARY The University of Kentucky (UK) Center for Cancer and Metabolism (CCM) is a unique multidisciplinary Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) embedding a strategically developed, sustainable center infrastructure that cultivates cutting-edge research focused on the role of metabolic dysregulation in cancer development and progression. The Administrative Core provides critical scientific and administrative leadership to advance the goals of the CCM: to develop and sustain a thematically focused multidisciplinary center infrastructure dedicated to defining the role of altered metabolism in the development and treatment of cancer and to use this innovative center structure to develop promising early-stage investigators with enhanced cancer research skills. The goal of the Administrative Core is to increase the scientific productivity of the center’s faculty by delivering efficient administrative services across scientific projects and cores as well as pilot projects through an organizational / leadership framework that supports flexible team-based mentoring and provides for clear accountability. The Administrative Core is the central coordinating hub responsible for integrating highly complementary disciplinary strengths at UK in cancer, metabolism and informatics and leveraging sophisticated metabolomics tools and advanced cancer imaging capabilities in support of data-intensive research focused on cancer metabolism. The core has primary responsibility for facilitating the CCM’s scientific vision, operating on principles grounded in transformational leadership and shared administrative oversight. Administrative Core functions are operationalized through the following 3 specific aims: 1) to provide overall operational management of the center; 2) to facilitate research training, mentoring and career development activities to develop early- stage investigators in cancer and metabolism and expand research in this area through pilot projects; and 3) to conduct overall planning and evaluation of CCM activities and resources. The core implements all administrative activities of the CCM: oversees daily center activities; manages program communications, fiscal processes, meeting organization and advisory committee input; facilitates and expedites interactions among projects and cores; manages the pilot project program; and leads program and project evaluation efforts. The core oversees a total of 4 projects, 2 scientific cores, a biostatistics and bioinformatics support component that is integrated into each project and 4 pilot projects each year. In addition, the core ensures highly effective, well-planned team- based mentorship, including basic and clinical perspectives and external expertise, for early-stage investigators. The core supports CCM investigators through their career development milestones including tenure and promotion stages. In implementing these activities effectively, the Administrative...