 Administrative
Core
Trans-Center Cores
| Administrative Core Key Personnel: Description: The Administrative Core is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE). It provides governance, financial oversight, and operational management functions to facilitate the execution of the strategic research plan, thereby enabling the WRCE to fulfill its mission to develop new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for Category A, B, and C infectious agents. Specific functions include: (1) the development of policies governing WRCE operations; (2) management of financial resources; (3) coordination of activities of standing advisory committees; (4) oversight of research projects and core facilities; (5) implementation of research programs for Major Research projects, Developmental Research projects, and Career Development projects, (6) facilitation of communication and information dissemination among scientists, institutional officials, and external groups; (7) coordination of research enrichment activities; (8) management of the annual strategic planning process; (9) maintenance of records and preparation of reports and annual continuation applications; and (10) development of the regional Emergency Response Plan. Six associate directors assigned specific portfolios of responsibilities assist the Director in his management of the Center through the Administrative Core: 1) Product Development, 2) Research Development, 3) Career Development, 4) Biosafety, 5) Emergency Preparedness, and 6) Administration. Management activities are carried out with the advice of a national External Advisory Board, a Regional Advisory Council, a Scientific Advisory Board, a Policy Advisory Board, individual research project and core leaders, and other key personnel of the WRCE, all in close collaboration with NIAID’s biodefense program administrators. Teleconferencing and videoconferencing is maximally utilized to facilitate communication between the University of Texas Medical Branch, the lead institution for the WRCE, and other institutions in the RCE Biodefense Network. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness: Scott Lillibridge, M.D. – University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H), Houston, Texas Co-Investigator: Dennis Perrotta, Ph.D., C.I.C. – UTHSC-H, Houston, TX Project Manager: J. Scott Harrison – UTHSC-H, Houston, TX Specific Aims: The Emergency Preparedness components of the RCE
primarily work with companion health departments, academic institutions,
and the clinical community with respect to training and emergency
coordination. As such, we have conducted training, awareness, and
assisted health departments with public health preparedness issues
throughout the region. Our purpose is to organize WRCE capabilities
for mobilization during a national emergency.
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