Core A: Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY: ADMINISTRATIVE CORE (AC)
The Administrative Core (AC) oversees all functions of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Intellectual and
Developmental Disability Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC) to ensure an optimal environment for conducting
IDD research across the lifespan, tailored to a rural population, that will improve the diagnosis, prevention,
treatment and amelioration of IDDs. The AC is led by IDDRC co-directors Lane Strathearn and Ted Abel who
have the experience, commitment, and vision to lead a collaborative center that integrates basic and clinical
science. The AC will oversee the research project and cores, including 11 federally funded projects totaling
$6.1 million per year, promote collaboration within the Hawk-IDDRC and among other IDDRCs, and support
outreach and education missions. The AC will focus on four areas: (1) Administrative Oversight. To provide
the leadership and administrative oversight to manage a productive, cost-effective Center focused on IDD
research, the AC will: coordinate Center activities and advisory committees; manage the Hawk-IDDRC budget;
liaise with the NICHD Steering Committee including regular meetings and progress reports; ensure that
institutional resources are available for cores; work closely with the UI Center for Advancement to fundraise;
and conduct an annual center evaluation. (2) Research Support. To support an innovative Research Project
and state-of-the-art core research facilities that promote collaborative, multidisciplinary, and translational
research programs, the AC will: support new and existing research projects that are relevant to IDD, prioritizing
translational research projects, and multi-disciplinary teams; integrate the work of multiple cores with research
projects, using the Hawk-IDDRC Research Project as an exemplar; assess research core services by
reviewing user satisfaction surveys; oversee the recruitment of top IDD investigators; administer Hawk-IDDRC-
sponsored awards; and set up new research services at the request of users. (3) Research Dissemination
and Communication. To ensure effective communication to other scientists, educators, policy makers,
government entities, and the lay public, including diverse populations and those with IDD conditions and their
families, the AC will disseminate research information through: the University Center for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD); the Hawk-IDDRC website and social media platforms; a monthly INI
seminar series; Iowa’s Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) Centerlines quarterly newsletter;
biannual public workshops; and scientific and lay publications. (4) Education. To support the next generation
of IDD clinicians, physician-scientists, and researchers, the AC will: provide IDD-specific educational input for
LEND, T32, KL2 and K12 awardees; organize monthly IDDRC seminars and yearly retreats; support mentoring
programs; and sponsor an educational program directed toward the lay public and IDD community. Overall, the
Administrative Core will support 29 federally funded projects ($13.8 million per year).

Grant Number: 5P50HD103556-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: EDWIN TED ABEL