PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Core B: Functional Phenotyping Core In the last 20 years, a number of pivotal new treatments have changed the world of cancer as a disease. Despite these advances, not a single treatment offers a guaranteed cure to everyone who is diagnosed with this disease. The overall goal of our leukemia-focused ARTNet Center is to understand, on a mechanistic level, how tumors evolve and adapt under therapeutic pressure leading to loss of tumor control and ultimately disease progression. Specifically, this application interrogates the temporal extrinsic and intrinsic factors that influence tumor evolution and its influence on tumor microenvironment in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In order to achieve this goal, we have assembled an exceptional team of leukemia researchers, clinicians and data scientists that have a long history of working together to bridge basic/mechanistic and translational research in order to tackle AML biology and how this biology changes upon drug treatments. The Functional Phenotyping core will support this ARTnet project in the standardization, optimization, and implementation of state-of-the art advanced molecular and functional assays. Additionally, the FP team will assume oversite, governance as well as integration and standardization of all data collected from each of these functional genomic assays used in this ARTNet Center. This is an important and essential part of a well-executed multiparametric and multidisciplinary project, which will allow for extraction of the most meaningful data that can be cross-compared and interpreted. The specific aims of the Functional Phenotyping core are to: 1) Optimize standard operating procedures and provide oversight for the processing, tracking, and dissemination of biospecimens from AML patients; 2) Work with all ARTNet leaders and researchers to develop and execute SOPs for functional genomic platforms to facilitate standardized data acquisition and analysis; 3) Serve as data stewards with regard to governance, security, storage, management, standards, integration, and dissemination to support intra- and inter-Center analyses and modeling. In order to achieve these aims, the Functional Phenotyping core will establish and implement SOP-driven work flows with well-defined milestones and quality check ins across all stages and assays implemented in this proposal. Further, the FP Core will focus on quality assurance for all assays and help with communication in the case that unforeseen troubleshooting is required. Overall, the FP core will serve as a resource for all researchers, making sure the goals of this application are achieved in successful and timely matter.