# Core A: Administrative Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $431,581

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – ADMINISTRATIVE CORE (CORE A)
 The Administrative Core (Core A) is co-led by HN SPORE PIs Drs. Robert Ferris and Heath Skinner as well
as by Dr. Dan Zandberg, with support from the Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) fiscal and administrative staff
supported jointly by the HN SPORE and the HCC (see Letter of Institutional Commitment). The primary
function of Core A is to serve the administrative and oversight needs of each Project and Core, with the
specific responsibility of ensuring each aspect of the HN SPORE is progressing to its individual translational,
clinical or career enhancement goal. Due to the centrality of this Core and its associated administrative
function, the organ specific database (OSD) a large, longitudinal, prospectively collected, easily searchable,
clinical database is now housed in Core A. It is directly supported by the HN SPORE with over 12,000
individual patients and clinical records. The Core A directors will oversee data requests from the OSD as well
as the integration of additional ‘’-omics’ and imaging functionality that is ongoing and will be completed over the
course of the proposed HN SPORE period. The Core A directors will also oversee the work of the Core A
Clinical Research Coordinator who, along with institutional support, coordinates the clinical trials of the HN
SPORE. The Core A Co-Directors will also facilitate interactions between full projects, Developmental
Research Projects, Career Enhancement Program Awardees, and Cores, identifying new opportunities and
potential changes in direction of each study performed within the HN SPORE. Collectively, the Core A
leadership team monitor expenditures coordinate monthly HN SPORE meetings, invited speakers, at least bi-
annual Executive Committee meetings, Internal and External Advisory Board meetings and Inter-SPORE
meetings. Core A is also the primary point of contact for all NCI, inter-and extra-institutional communications
and coordinates multi-noninstitutional clinical trials. Additionally, Core A coordinates research and lay
publications, website development HNSCC advocacy activities, fund-raising and additional outreach efforts
(including our outreach program with Johns Hopkins, Howard University, Emory and Meharry College to
increase participation of under-represented minorities in the HN SPORE). Core A is critical to the coordination
of the HN SPORE, specifically working to ensure the successful completion of the HN SPORE aims as well as
more generally fostering a continued culture of highly impactful translational research at HCC, with a goal of
changing practice in the management of HNSCC.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10923898
- **Project number:** 5P50CA097190-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert L. Ferris
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $431,581
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-07-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10923898

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10923898, Core A: Administrative Core (5P50CA097190-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10923898. Licensed CC0.

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