ADMINISTRATIVE CORE ABSTRACT The overarching goals of the Administrative Core are to coordinate and integrate all activities of the Center, including core reporting, P/F administration and enrichment activities. Towards these goals the WU-RDRRC proposes the following: 1) Promote awareness of the resources within the Center to foment interest in rheumatic diseases research through collaborative, trans-disciplinary activities across the WU community, organize and align Core laboratories and services to provide state-of-the-art technologies and specialized resources in line with members’ needs. 2) Enhance synergies between RDRRC and other WU funded Centers conducting rheumatic disease- related research as well as extramural institutions in the Midwest. 3) Identify and nurture the careers of junior faculty interested in rheumatic diseases research. 4) Establish a Multidisciplinary Research Expert Panel to provide guidance for new and junior faculty in the planning and execution of research projects. 5) Support educational seminar series that bring together scientists within and outside WU campus to communicate their newest ideas or research in rheumatic diseases. The leadership of the WU-RDRRC will provide consistent and strategic oversight guided by an Internal Executive Committee (IEC) and a Center Advisory Committee (CAC) comprised of internal and external board members. We will use formal metrics to measure Core performance and WU-RDRRC impact through the evaluation of scientific network activities, outputs and implementation. For this competitive renewal, the WU-RDRRC core leadership has been adjusted to 1) replace outgoing or retired/retiring members, and 2) as a deliberate effort to promote the advancement of junior faculty. In addition to promoting the advancement of junior faculty the WU-RDRRC will collaborate with the Physician Scientist Training Pathway in the launching of a post-baccalaureate program aimed at preparing underrepresented candidates for a career as physician-scientists.