Core A: Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY The Administrative (Admin) Core will provide research and logistical oversight and facilitate communication among the Projects and Cores of the Prospective Genetic Risk Evaluation and Assessment (PROGRESS) in Autism Center. The Admin Core’s goal is to foster a PROGRESS Center environment that allows for the complementary and synergistic execution of the proposed multidisciplinary research that will identify and partner with a cohort of families whose children are at identified genetic risk (IGR) for autism (Project 1), understand the impact of this genetic information on parents and families (Project 2), and examine neurobehavioral trajectories of PROGRESS Cohort children across development (Project 3). In addition to supporting these three Projects, the Admin Core will support the other Core Components: the Assessment Core, the Statistical and Computational Analysis (SCA) Core, and the Dissemination and Outreach (D&O) Core. The Admin Core will have three main functions. The first function is scientific leadership and integration, providing programmatic governance to maximize synergy, efficiency and impact of our research. The Admin Core leadership is composed of the Executive Committee (Center Director and Co-Director, Director of Operations, Director of Finance, and a Program Coordinator) and a Steering Committee (all Project and Core Leads and Co-Leads). Admin Core function includes programmatic coordination of the Center Research Projects and Cores, strategic planning of short- and long-term goals, and ethical considerations of the implications of our genomic research. Secondly, the Admin Core will provide management to deliver centralized administrative, fiscal, organizational, and communications coordination of the PROGRESS Center. The Projects and Cores span Columbia University, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Weill Cornell Medical Center, thus requiring central governance and organization that will be provided by inter-institutional coordination and communication by the Admin Core. Finally, the Admin Core will ensure added value and scientific rigor of the PROGRESS Center Research Projects and Cores through Center Evaluation. The Admin Core will interface with an External Advisory Committee (EAC) of experts in fields relevant to autism research. The Admin Core will respond to recommendations made by the EAC, as well as recommendations made by a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to address scientific and community concerns and increase the PROGRESS Center’s national and global influence on scientific and clinical practice. The Admin Core will therefore provide seamless integration of the various PROGRESS Center Components at multiple sites to produce high quality and meaningful data that will aid in early identification and management of identified genetic risk for developing autism.