SUMMARY The overall outcome of South Carolina Translational Research Improving Musculoskeletal Health (SC-TRIMH) is to improve patient care. The mission of the ADMIN core of SC-TRIMH is to continue to provide sound organizational structure and a coordinated administrative framework to ensure optimum management, utilization, integration, evaluation, and oversight of this Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in its Phase II. The ADMIN Core executive committee consists of the SC-TRIMH PI/PD, Hai Yao, PhD, Martine LaBerge, PhD, Associate Director, Windsor Sherrill, PhD and Michael Kern, PhD. An Advisory Committee of three eminent scientists in the field of musculoskeletal research and two senior institutional leaders with substantial experience in program building outcomes, and NIH COBRE leadership, will provide objective oversight, evaluation, and strategic interactions to optimize the Center's impact. The ADMIN Core supports the overall theme of SC-TRIMH focused on Virtual Human Trials (VHT), bridging the gap between benchtop and clinics through computer simulation, advanced fabrication technology and development, combined with in vivo assessment in animal or human cadavers. The specific aims of the ADMIN Core are: 1) to provide effective leadership and management to the SC-TRIMH, 2) to enhance mentoring and faculty development by refining a rigorous program that uses a formative 360° style evaluation process to benefit both mentor and mentee, 3) to continue a very successful Pilot Project Program to attract new and/or established investigators to enable them to generate preliminary data via access to scientific cores, to mentoring and to all SC-TRIMH resources with a goal of obtaining extramural research grants, and 4) to optimize and implement an integrated, long-term evaluation plan, with summative and formative aspects, to assess and improve the performance of the overall Center and its component parts. The ADMIN Core combines comprehensive multidisciplinary mentoring and faculty development strategies, with a Pilot Project Program and multifaceted evaluation to establish a sustainable infrastructure for a nationally recognized center whose members are competitive for research awards, and develop new approaches, devices, or technologies for improving musculoskeletal health. The ADMIN Core coordinates all communication, oversight, and integration of all COBRE components (RPLs, mentors, scientific cores, and advisory committee). Research Project Leaders (RPLs) are mentored using a team approach including a COBRE mentor, a research facilitator, and a clinical facilitator who participate in the SC-TRIMH mentoring program aimed at educating and developing both mentors and mentees using formative assessment with Six Sigma and 360° evaluation approaches for iterative improvement. The ADMIN core operates on five core values aligned with our objective to build an independent intellectual capacity through enrichment, enhancement, and develop...