CORE A - ADMINISTRATIVE, MENTORING AND EDUCATION CORE SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Cardiorenal and Metabolic Diseases Research Center (CMDRC) is comprised of multiple components, including a Pilot Projects Program (PPP), a Mentoring and Education Program, administrative units, and two Research Resources Cores. Core A provides administrative support and coordinates all Center activities and interfaces with the NIGMS, UMMC administration, Grants and Contracts offices, departments represented in the CMDRC, and investigators and trainees of the Center. Specific functions of Core A are: 1) to provide leadership for enhancing infrastructure, mentoring programs, and core facilities that foster research excellence and lead to development of an internationally recognized CMDRC; 2) to amplify the overall impact of established CMDRC Mentoring and Education Programs that facilitate research progress and career development of junior/early career investigators into independent, funded researchers and effective collaborators on multidisciplinary research teams; 3) to provide high level administrative support for the PPP and its investigators, with emphasis on recruiting and mentoring underrepresented minority investigators; 4) to provide high-level administrative support for core directors, fiscal oversight of all cores and pilot grants, and central services for purchasing; 5) to provide formative and summative evaluation strategies for progress and effectiveness of all CMDRC programs and Cores; 6) To further develop and implement mechanisms for effective communication and collaboration among CMDRC investigators, Core leaders and staff, Internal Steering Committee (ISC), External Advisory Board (EAB), other centers within UMMC, other IDeA-funded centers, and external partners; 7) to collaborate with UMMC administration, department chairs, and other IDeA funded programs, including the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research (MCCTR), in a Faculty Recruitment Program designed to recruit new faculty members with research expertise related to cardiorenal and metabolic diseases; 8) to facilitate stronger pipeline programs for recruiting, training, and mentoring a diverse group of postdoctoral fellows and student trainees so that they become the next generation of cardiorenal and metabolic disease researchers; 9) to organize scientific meetings and seminars for the CMDRC, meetings of the EAB and ISC, and an annual retreat/symposium; 10) to further develop and maintain the CMDRC website, provide assistance to investigators with their computer systems, insure that all data/documents are securely stored, and install new software and computer equipment for CMDRC investigators; 11) to ensure that all CMDRC programs, initiatives, policies and reporting mechanisms are optimally implemented and administered within federal granting agency policies and deadlines. During Phases 1 and 2, Core A successfully led the CMDRC in developing infrastructure, core facilities, a...