The Administrative Core, led by the Center Director, Dr. Amy S. Paller, and the Associate Center Director, Dr. Robert M. Lavker, will be responsible for coordinating all activities of the SBDRC. The Administrative Core will serve as a focal point for all University-wide cutaneous biology-related activities via an Enrichment Program that organizes seminars, workshops, lectures, and one-on-one interactions with distinguished visiting scientists. The Administrative Core will also maintain the SBDRC website and disseminate electronic communication, including through a twice yearly newsletter and use of social media. The Core will continue to encourage investigators to enter the skin biology field through the administration of a Pilot & Feasibility Program that funds four P&F grants per year. Through the management of the Minority and Sex Awareness Program, the Administrative Core hopes to: (i) promote a better understanding of the biology of all human skin; and (ii) attract and recruit under-represented minorities and women into cutaneous research. To this end, we have prioritized choosing at least one P&F grant that involves comparison between sexes or racial/ethnic groups or a problem that disproportionately affects one sex or a minority population. The Administrative Core will regularly review the other Research Cores (Skin Tissue Engineering and Morphology/STEM, Translational and Experimental Skin Testing and Immune Tracing/TEST IT, and Gene Editing, Transduction and Nanotechnology/GET iN) to assure quality, fiscal responsibility, and continued development of new services. The Core will also oversee all fiscal maintenance of Center resources, including service cost calculations and ensuring an overall balanced budget. The Administrative Core will accomplish all of these takes with guidance from: (i) the SBDRC Executive Committee; (ii) an Internal Advisory Board; and (iii) an External Advisory Board. Finally, the Core will continue to foster the training of young scientists in the field of skin biology and skin diseases through the continued mentorship of our junior members by the senior SBDRC bench research members and Board members.
