PROJECT SUMMARY- ADMINISTRATIVE CORE. The Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research (MCCTR) was established in 2016 as a collaborative venture among three institutional partners: Tougaloo College, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, The MCCTR has subsequently formed an integrated research resource network, creating the infrastructure to address the substantial health burden and health disparities that exist in Mississippi. The organizational structure and leadership have clear lines of authority and responsibility and ensure close monitoring of MCCTR progress and milestones. The leadership of the MCCTR, Joey Granger, PhD, who serves as PI and Director, and Michael Hall, MD, MS, who serves as Director of Clinical and Population Research, have worked closely with its Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) and External Advisory Committee (EAC) to leverage existing research support and authority, optimize communication, and build on existing strengths. The constant interchange of ideas and suggestions between the MCCTR leadership, EAC and IAC and the Tracking and Evaluation Core during Years 1-4 of has led to significant improvements in MCCTR operations. Moving forward, the MCCTR will increase focus on implementation science and clinical and behavioral interventions to address the disparities associated with obesity- and cardiometabolic-related disorders in Mississippi, where these health indicators are among the worst in the nation. Specifically, MCCTR will focus on these Mississippi populations: African Americans, people living in rural areas, and those who are economically disadvantaged. To achieve this goal, MCCTR will also greatly expand its reach in the next funding cycle by adding strengths, diversity and resources for clinical and translational (C/T) research by establishing new partnerships with the University of Mississippi-Oxford campus and Mississippi State University—the two largest universities in the state. MCCTR's impact on C/T research will also be greatly enhanced by inclusion of four CTSA/CTR Consortium partners: the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LACaTS), the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS), and our new partners: the University of Alabama-Birmingham Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UAB-CCTS) and Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS). MCCTR's in-state institutional partners and its consortium partners will be fully integrated into the MCCTR through participation in its cores and working groups, through funding provided to Mississippi- based investigators by its Pilot Projects Program and Professional Development Core, support from its Community Engagement and Outreach Core, Research Services Core, and Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Core, and by representation on the MCCTR Steering Committee and Advisory Committees.