Project Summary / Abstract - Overall The central goal of the Cincinnati Rheumatic Disease Resource Center (CRDRC) is to promote studies that advance the understanding of pediatric rheumatic diseases and lead to new therapies for these diseases. The Cincinnati Rheumatic Disease Resource Center has two specific aims. Aim 1: Provide resources that will enhance the scope and breadth of the research community to advance the central focus of understanding inflammation and biological mechanisms contributing to the development of rheumatic disease in children and adults. Aim 2: Foster collaborations and interdisciplinary approaches to promote laboratory discoveries and generate translational research opportunities that lead to important patient-oriented outcomes. The Cincinnati Rheumatic Disease Resource Center includes an Administrative Core and four Resource Cores: · Pediatric Rheumatology Tissue Repository (PRTR) Leader, Grant Schulert, MD, PhD · Integrative Cell Phenotyping Core (ICPC). Leader, Sherry Thornton, PhD · Functional Genomics Core (FGC). Leader, Leah Kottyan, PhD · Bioinformatic and Modeling Core (BAM). Leader, Matthew Weirauch, PhD Collectively, these resources form a powerful infrastructure that fosters development of precision and predictive medical approaches based on genomics and disease mechanisms. The CRDRC will support disease-based research across the continuum of discovery, where laboratory findings generate translational studies that lead to clinical trials. In addition to advancing knowledge of pediatric rheumatic disease, the goals of the CRDRC include recruitment of established investigators to bring new expertise to the field, cultivation of collaborations within the local and national research community, and encouragement of young investigators committed to pursuing research careers focused on pediatric rheumatic disease. These goals of the CRDRC are particularly well supported by a Pilot Study Program that includes funding of work within the P30 cores and extends to institutional cores to broaden impact and support new areas of investigation. The CRDRC also will strengthen the research community through an enrichment program of local seminars, workshops, and symposia. A highly accomplished and collaborative community of researchers is already in place with expectations of major growth through new recruitment. An innovative Visiting Scholars program will aid in the dissemination of innovative approaches and the enrichment of faculty and trainees who are from groups historically underrepresented in medical research. Together, these attributes create fertile ground for accomplishing the goals of the CRDRC, and ultimately to accelerate research to benefit pediatric rheumatic disease patients in their care.