SUMMARY The objective of the Center for Lung Biology and Disease (CLBD) at Louisiana State University (LSU) is to advance the study of life-threatening respiratory diseases, including bacterial and viral lung infections, asthma, and acute lung injury. Its thematic focus encompasses mechanistic studies of respiratory diseases induced by both infectious (bacterial, viral) and non-infectious (e.g., environmental, cigarette, e-cigarette aerosols) stimuli. The CLBD accomplishes this by fostering the development of Promising Junior Investigators (PJIs, i.e., Research Project Leads) conducting research in this field. The Administrative Core (Admin Core) will play a critical role in supporting the administration, coordination, and management of all CLBD functions, particularly those most critical to PJI development. The CLBD is administered primarily in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, in close collaboration with the Department of Pathobiological Sciences and the LSU College of Sciences. In a tremendously successful first phase of funding, the CLBD worked to provide newly renovated animal holding and research space, including ABSL2/3 space, a personalized mentoring program for PJIs, state-of-the-art instrumentation, a pilot projects program, and cutting-edge expertise in molecular and cell biology. These enhancements were accomplished through impactful research cores and a dynamic seminar program and yearly conference that promote research education and networking among PJIs and their trainees. Phase 1 resources established PJIs and Pilot Grant Investigators in productive and impactful research programs, evidenced by 13 NIH grant awards. Using vacant faculty positions in both the LSU Vet Med and the College of Sciences, we will expand on Phase I successes by further expanding our research expertise and infrastructure. Within this context, the Admin Core will 1) provide fiscal and administrative support for all projects and research cores and implement regular outcomes evaluation, 2) advance the scientific development of PJIs as independent investigators through a rigorous but individualized mentoring program, and 3) promote and facilitate research interactions between the lung COBRE and the wider scientific community. Moreover, the Admin Core will oversee additional improvements and investment, including a 3-fold expansion of our ABSL3 laboratory space ($4 million), which will include space for inhalation and infection co-exposures. With these enhancements and our growing depth of expertise in lung biology, we aim to raise the profile of our team and build toward a sustainable Center of Excellence.