PROJECT SUMMARY: ADMINISTRATIVE CORE The overarching goal of the Administrative Core is to ensure smooth functioning of the primary projects, pilot grants, research cores, and CNAP programs. We have recruited individuals with strong expertise in research project development, grant writing and grant management, research mentoring, and research administration to ensure that the overarching goals are met. The four aims of the Administrative Core are: (1) To promote R01- level award success for CNAP project and pilot grant leaders. The Administrative Core will implement the mentoring program to help achieve this aim. We have recruited two expert mentors for each of the three projects and will recruit one or more mentors for each pilot grant and future replacement projects with specific expertise in research areas relevant to each project. The mentors are nationally known researchers with considerable mentoring experience. The mentors bring their outstanding expertise to ensure that the projects develop high-impact research programs with potential for R01-level award success. The Administrative Core will also implement a new grant writing program to ensure that investigators submit high-quality grant proposals. (2) To continue to develop a critical mass of researchers in cognitive/neural plasticity through recruitment of new CNAP members. The Administrative Core will facilitate hiring of new faculty, recruit new pilot grants and replacement projects, and support of the expansion of the research cores. (3) To further improve research infrastructure through expanding three multi-user core laboratory facilities. The Behavioral Neuroscience Core, the Cognitive Neuroscience Core, and the Neuroinformatics Core will support the primary projects and pilot grants as well as supporting collaborative research through the Scientific Exchange Network (SEN). (4) To enhance the research capabilities of CNAP center members through strengthening the SEN. The SEN will stimulate the expansion of CNAP research programs into new areas through scientific skills training programs, use of other core facilities, and development of new research collaborations. The SEN will play an important role in supporting primary projects and pilot grants, and the further development of the research cores. The Administrative Core will ensure achievement of the overall CNAP aims, which will result in the further development of a strong COBRE center of research excellence that will significantly advance our understanding of cognitive and neural plasticity to promote healthy functioning.