SUMMARY (Core A) Given the complexity of our multi-site Program Project, an outstanding administrative structure is critical. The overarching goal of Administrative Core (Core A) is to promote intellectual, financial and logistical synergy across all projects, cores and subcontractors. In addition to facilitating investigator interactions, Core A will provide programmatic direction, evaluate scientific progress, and provide administrative and budgetary support to the entire Program. It will also provide individual Project and Core Leaders with appropriate advisory input and fiscal oversight. The core will be led by W. Sean Davidson, the Principal Investigator of this Program Project Grant, working with the Program Coordinator. The resource will meet its goals by pursuing the following objectives: 1) Provide administrative and fiscal assistance to all Projects and Cores, 2) facilitate program-wide communication using the latest in multi-investigator conferencing technology, 3) provide budgetary oversight of the Program and ensure compliance with federal regulations, 4) manage subcontracts to provide scientific and biostatistical support for human studies and for a collaborating investigator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 5) organize meetings of the internal and external advisory committees, and 6) provide a communication interface with the NHLBI. The Program’s remarkable success in the previous cycle illustrates the effectiveness of Core A’s design and our approach to integrating the Projects. Benefitting from this experience, Core A is uniquely qualified to manage the Program in a second cycle.