PROJECT SUMMARY The Health Research (HR) Core of the Center for Clinical & Translational Research at the University of South Carolina (CLINTRUSC) serves as the hub for the Pilot and Developmental (P&D) Project Program. HR Core support of P&D projects is critical for 1) growth of CLINTRUSC’s clinical research workforce and 2) advancing clinical and translational (C&T) research that serves the needs of the communities in the Midlands of South Carolina (SC). In concert with the Studies Review & Support Unit (SRSU) of the Administrative Core (AC), the HR Core will oversee every aspect of the P&D program from solicitation of P&D project proposals to dissemination of study findings that result from P&D projects. The HR Core will be led by two senior investigators (Drs. Bonilha and Murphy) with strong records of attaining extramural funding in complementary research areas (clinical and pre-clinical, respectively). As Leaders of the HR Core, they will work together to bridge the translational gap between basic and clinical research. A Project Manager and a Compliance Manager, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the HR Core, complete the HR Core team. The overall goal is to establish a robust C&T science program with a focus on diseases that affect populations in the Midlands of SC. To achieve this goal, the HR proposes three specific aims: 1) encourage collaboration between investigators across different disciplines and at different career levels; 2) provide funds for P&D projects for CLINTRUSC investigators to generate preliminary data for extramural applications; 3) develop procedures for ongoing oversight of the P&D project program. The HR Core will work closely with the AC, the Professional Development (PD) Core, the Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core, and the Research Design, Compliance, and Data Management (RDCD) Core to ensure that CLINTRUSC investigators have the support and infrastructure needed to successfully complete their P&D projects. The AC is the management and governance entity of the CLINTRUSC overseeing all operations. The PD core provides an intensive mentoring program to ensure that P&D awardees receive support in mentoring and grant writing so that their P&D projects are transformed into successful extramural awards. The RDCD provides guidance in study design, statistics, and data management as well as compliance. The CEO will facilitate recruitment and retention, notably including special populations. Interactions between CLINTRUSC Cores will ensure that every P&D awardee receives all necessary support to ensure the success of their projects. The HR Core has established metrics to define success and evaluation of these metrics and the HR Core at large will be assessed annually by CLINTRUSC Directors, the Cores Review and Support Unit, and the External Advisory Committee. The goal of the HR Core is to permit the emergence of a cadre of strong, diverse, adequately mentored and comprehensively supported translationa...