Project Summary/Abstract – Administrative Core During COBRE phases 1 and 2, Boise State University established a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Matrix Biology. The thematic focus of matrix biology has allowed researchers to address some of the most challenging health concerns facing our nation. To date, this centralized mechanism has supported twenty-one investigators, eleven as Research Project Leaders and ten at the Pilot Project Leader level. Formation of the center has allowed us to capitalize on the broad, diverse research base that exists at Boise State University and recruit new investigators from other universities. In phase 3, we propose to solidify the COBRE program by sustaining the programmatic infrastructure that was established through the Administrative Core. The goals of the Administrative Core in phase 3 are to 1) support the administrative, fiscal, and scientific aspects of the COBRE program, and 2) promote early stage and established investigator career development through a Pilot Projects Program and other career development programming, Major programmatic emphases are to support the COBRE core facilities including the Biomolecular Research Vivarium for the care and housing of research animals and to provide access to research instrumentation and technical support in the Biomolecular Research Core. Through the Administrative Core, we will sponsor career development of early stage and established investigators, facilitate the establishment of new collaborations between investigators, and host activities that will promote the exchange of information, and ideas between members of the biomedical research community. We will continue to grow the center by pursuing future center funding, growing the user base of the cores, and recruiting investigators who are doing meritorious research within the thematic focus of the COBRE in Matrix Biology.