# Core A: Administrative Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 2020 · $683,393

## Abstract

Cardiovascular disease, stroke and cognitive impairment / dementia are leading causes of death and disability,
and they arise from several common antecedents. The Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health
(VCCBH) COBRE at the University of Vermont (UVM) will address these diseases by supporting diverse
scientists from multiple disciplines who will work together to understand the pathobiology and molecular
epidemiology of these diseases. The Administrative Core (Core A), led by COBRE PIs Drs. Mary Cushman
and Mark Nelson, will be the heart of the VCCBH. It will provide administrative infrastructure and resources
that will produce the next generation of science leaders at UVM. Four junior faculty Project Directors (PDs) are
central to our effort. Core A will be accountable for key functions necessary for PD success, for Cores, for
engaging prospective PDs to replace the first cohort, and ultimately, for the future sustainability of the VCCBH.
Core A will foster innovation by creating a culture of openness, diversity, and collaboration. The Core will
administer an Interdisciplinary Strategic Mentoring Initiative to guide PDs to independent status (Aim 1).
Multidisciplinary mentoring teams will include two Senior Mentors, a Peer Mentor at the “first independent step”
career stage, and an experienced External Mentor. The Peer Mentor will benefit from this early opportunity to
provide faculty mentoring. The Core will develop and employ a comprehensive Faculty Development Program
(FDP) and Core facilities focused on PDs (Aim 2). The FDP will be highlighted by an institutionally supported
Pilot Grant Award program that will provide 4 grants of $200,000 each to pairs of junior faculty with different
research backgrounds. The capstone of the FDP will be an annual 2-day research symposium that will
highlight PD research and development of new projects. The Core will supervise development of new Cores in
“Study Design and Molecular Epidemiology” and “Customized Physiology and Imaging.” The Core will manage
the VCCBH budget, and assist and educate the PDs in budget management (Aim 3). Core A will coordinate
Internal and External Advisory Boards, develop outcome metrics, and provide semi-annual reports on these to
PDs, mentor teams, and Advisory Boards (Aim 4). Finally, the Core will provide communication across the
University and beyond on the Center's scientific expertise, Core resources and databases, and resources
generated by the VCCBH (data, specimens, study protocols, new techniques, and research results) (Aim 5). A
Communications Committee will include professionals from the Office of Communications of the Larner
College of Medicine and the UVM Foundation in order to promote philanthropy. By completing the Specific
Aims we will: (1) propel 4 early-career scientists to independence; (2) cultivate a pipeline of early career
scientists to fill PD positions as original PDs achieve funding; (3) recruit 5 new junior faculty to UVM to enter
our pipel...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9854159
- **Project number:** 1P20GM135007-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY CUSHMAN
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $683,393
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-06 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9854159

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9854159, Core A: Administrative Core (1P20GM135007-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9854159. Licensed CC0.

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