Dr. Miller, Dr. Eaton and the Administrative Assistant are responsible for the administrative aspects of the MT-COBRE, including scientific and administrative organization of the program.  This core coordinates all regularly scheduled meetings of the Executive and Internal Advisory Committees, as well as arranging the meetings of the External Advisory Committee and the annual research retreat.  All scientists at the UofL also are notified of the annual deadline and requirements for the Pilot Project Grant Program.  The Administrative Assistant is responsible for organizing the review and administration of this program.  She also is responsible for grant accounting for COBRE members and interacts regularly with Program Staff at NIH.

In addition to the administrative responsibilities of the Core A personnel, the COBRE also will be administered through a number of committees, which are outlined below.

COMMITTEES

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is comprised of the Program Directors, and the Principal Investigators and Primary Mentors of each project.  This committee meets monthly to evaluate progress and plan subsequent experimental direction, evaluate the performance of Core Facilities and determine ways to make them more effective.  The Executive Committee also develops a regular MT-COBRE seminar series and organizes the annual MT-COBRE research retreat.  After individual PIs become independently funded, they remain on the Executive Committee to assist in the continued development of the Program.

Internal Advisory Committee (IAC): The Internal Advisory Committee provides a perspective of the interactions of the MT-COBRE with the rest of the University of Louisville research community.  They also provide advice about how the Program can more effectively foster the growth of research at the institution.  The IAC meets monthly with the Principal Investigators of the MT-COBRE, who present progress reports on their funded research.  Relevant collaborators also are invited to these meetings to present data on collaborative projects.  In particular, investigators who are awarded Pilot Project Grants are asked to present at these meetings.

Dr. Eaton, co-Director of the MT-COBRE, chairs the IAC.  The committee members were chosen because of their expertise in the research areas of the MT-COBRE.   Members of the IAC provided considerable assistance and advice with the preparation of this grant.  One of the Internal Advisors is Director of the Central Nervous System Injury and Repair COBRE at the University of Louisville.

External Advisory Committee (EAC): Members of the EAC were chosen because they are recognized leaders in the field of focus of the MT-COBRE.  The EAC meets bi-annually, once electronically and once in Louisville.  The “on-site” EAC meeting often is held in conjunction with the MT-COBRE research retreat, so that the MT-COBRE PIs may present their data in person to the committee.  The EAC evaluates the progress of each project and provides direction to each PI.  In addition, they advise the Executive Committee on new directions and potential collaborative relationships, either with other members of the MT-COBRE, or with scientists at other institutions.  They provide a written report to Dr. Miller.  When MT-COBRE PIs obtain extramural funding, the EAC is consulted on the selection of new members and no position is offered without their approval.

GRADUATE STUDENT TRAINING

Training graduate students is an important aspect of development of the Principal Investigators’ independent research programs and we expect the MT-COBRE junior faculty to become not only independent investigators, but accomplished mentors as well.  In order to accomplish the goals of the COBRE program, it is necessary to continue to “grow” new scientists who can successfully transition to faculty positions.  The institution has committed one graduate student position to each of the COBRE PIs.  No COBRE funds are requested for this program.

VISITING PROFESSOR LECTURE SERIES

Core A also is responsible for the MT-COBRE Visiting Professor Series.  This program is jointly sponsored by the Molecular Targets Program of the Brown Cancer Center.   It is very important for the COBRE PIs to be exposed to leading scientists in their field.  Each year, the Executive Committee puts together a monthly series of speakers who are recognized leaders in this area.  Each COBRE PI is asked to host at least one speaker during the year.  This seminar program is funded through the Humana Medical Endowment.  No COBRE funds are requested.

MOLECULAR TARGETS WEEKLY MEETINGS

All members of the MT-COBRE are expected to participate in the weekly meetings of the Molecular Targets Seminar.  These meetings, which are very well attended, allow one investigator to present an update of their present research project.  All faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students present their data on a rotating basis.  The goal of these meetings is to provide a critical evaluation of ongoing research, identifying both strengths and weaknesses, solving technical problems and better defining future research directions.