PROJECT SUMMARY – VDDRC ADMINISTRATIVE CORE The overarching goal of the Administrative Core is to support the continuing development of the VDDRC Research Base and to ensure responsiveness of the Research Cores to the needs of VDDRC members and Pilot Project grant recipients. The administrative and scientific leadership of the VDDRC is provided by the Director, Richard Peek, and the Associate Directors, Naji Abumrad and Keith Wilson, and is augmented by the Scientific Advisory Board, composed of renowned internal and external investigators, and by the Executive Committee, which is comprised of the Director, Associate Directors, Core Directors, and Program Leaders. Two 0.5 FTE administrative assistants provide the necessary support for day-to-day financial management and operations of the VDDRC. The Administrative Core supports a Biostatistical Program directed by Dr. Tatsuki Koyama to assist pilot project applicants and recipients as well as VDDRC members in clinical and basic research study design, data analysis, and database management. An Enrichment Program co-directed by Dr. Abumrad, fosters new investigation in digestive diseases research by supporting prominent scientists to present research seminars at Vanderbilt, enhancing core utilization by addressing member research needs, and through an annual retreat. The seminar series and the retreat provide opportunities for collaboration through scientific and technical interactions between members and Core Directors. The Enrichment Program also supports acquisition of new skills through the Enrichment Training (mini-sabbatical) Program. To train the next generation of GI researchers, we created the VDDRC Academy of Investigators, a program in which junior investigators acquire important career development tools. This component is directed by Dr. Alyssa Hasty and co-directed by Dr. Lori Coburn, and will continue to receive $125,000 from Vanderbilt over the next 5 years. The Academy will now oversee a new VDDRC Diversity Initiative supported by both NIDDK and Vanderbilt with an overall goal of attracting, nurturing, and retaining underrepresented minority investigators in digestive diseases research. The Administrative Core oversees the Pilot and Feasibility Project Program, which has invested >$1.3M into investigator-initiated research in the current funding period and is directed by Dr. Wilson. This program is designed to attract new and seasoned investigators to pursue digestive diseases research and receives an additional $100,000 annually from Vanderbilt. New partnerships with Vanderbilt Centers have now been established to co-fund additional content appropriate Pilots. Finally, there is now a new institutional commitment of $125,000 to support an innovative Complementary Awards Program to provide funding to VDDRC members for non- VDDRC Core services.