PROJECT SUMMARY The overall goal of the Administrative Core of the Digestive Health Center (DHC) is to develop and implement an administrative structure that integrates key functions of the Center. The Core Aims are 1) to implement an administrative structure that integrates key functions of the Center, 2) to develop a succession plan that ensures the pursuit of excellence and long-term viability of the DHC, 3) to foster Center membership by innovative investigators committed to studies of digestive diseases, and 4) to increase visibility and expand digestive disease research. The Center management, day-to-day operation, and general oversight will be the responsibility of the Leadership Committee, which consists of the Center Director, three Associate Directors, and a Center Manager. The leaders have independent research programs and bring complementary skills to the Committee. Each Associate Director is responsible for either the Enrichment Series, Clinical Component, or Pilot and Feasibility Program. They meet weekly to review the operation of the Center. Six to 8 times a year, members of the Leadership Committee meet as an Executive Committee, which also includes the Directors of the Biomedical Cores and two DHC investigators representing the membership at large. The function of the Executive Committee is to assist the leadership in reviewing Core utilization, provide support with scientific and overall directions of the DHC, and help with conflicts arising from membership applications. Once a year, or more often, the Executive Committee meets with the Internal Advisory Board to review strategic needs of the Center and maintain institutional support to foster digestive disease research. This operational structure has promoted collaborations among our Research Base of 68 investigators, who have published 630 articles in the past 4 years and attracted ~$36.5 million in direct funds for digestive disease research. The Enrichment Program fosters additional scientific development and a successful Pilot and Feasibility (P/F) Program supports the career development of junior investigators. Overseeing the strategic operation of the DHC is an External Advisory Board (EAB) comprised of four extramural scientific leaders. The EAB evaluates ongoing research and programmatic directions of the Center, reviews, identifies, and recommends support for the most meritorious P/F applications, and assesses the effectiveness of the Administrative and Biomedical Cores. The EAB prepares and submits an annual report to the Chair of Pediatrics and Director Research of the Research Foundation, who holds the primary reporting authority and oversight of the Center. The Administrative Core structure and operation have been very effective over the past 14 years of the DHC existence, have maintained the DHC as a real catalyst of scientific discoveries, have ensured the delivery of state-of-the-art services that meet the needs of Center investigators, have implemented succes...