The Leadership and Administrative Core (LAC) of the Texas RCMAR will be responsible for the overall direction and operation of the Center. Dr. Kyriakos Markides (UTMB) and Dr. Fernando Riosmena (UTSA) are Core Leaders and the Texas RCMAR overall MPIs. Dr. Soham Al Snih (UTMB) will serve as Associate Leader. The LAC will coordinate the proposed activities of the Center and assure that other cores, components, and affiliated institutions interact optimally to assure accomplishment of the center's objectives: 1) To enhance the diversity of the aging research workforce by mentoring scientists from underrepresented populations to help them develop sustained careers in behavioral, social, economic, and medical research with a focus on minority populations, primarily Hispanics/Latinos in Texas, the Southwestern United States, and Mexico, as well as health disparities in general; and 2) To develop infrastructure to promote advances in these areas and to increase the number of investigators in the area of health and aging of minority populations and health disparities. An Executive Committee will meet regularly to promote and maintain communication among RCMAR components and participating institutions. Special focus will be on mentoring minority investigators, with a primary focus on the Hispanic population of Texas, the Southwestern United States, and Mexico. Specific aims of the LAC are to: Aim 1. Create the infrastructure to support rigorous research in behavioral and social research on aging and health disparities in older adults, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Aim 1.a. Coordinate RCMAR activities and maintain an information flow of activities and decisions. Aim 1.b. Create mechanisms and procedures to ensure that RCMAR cores interact to maximum benefit. Aim 1.c. Interact with other NIA Center programs. Aim 2. Support the Analysis Core (AnC) and REC in their mentoring, education, and research activities. Aim 2.a. Work closely with the Research Education Component (REC) to oversee the solicitation, review, and selection of pilot studies for funding. Aim 2.b. Ensure that RCMAR researchers and pilot investigators will interact with colleagues at the parent institution and affiliated institutions. Aim 3. Evaluate Center progress toward continuous improvement. Aim 3.a. Recruit an Advisory Board consisting of at least five members, including advocates and scientific experts in health disparities and minority aging research. Aim 3.b. Work with the RCMAR Coordinating Center to develop and maintain a Program Emphasis and Outcomes Report. Aim 3.c. Maintain a RCMAR database that will keep track of the RCMAR Scientists’ activities as well as the activities of the REC and AnC and the Texas RCMAR overall. With the many Centers housed at UTMB and UTSA, and our national and international network of collaborators — as well as our partners at UT Austin, specifically the Center on Aging and Population Sciences (CAPS) and the ...