CORE--PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

项目开发核心支持对新的和创新的项目理念进行小规模的探索性研究。这些探索性工作使研究人员能够在新主题上测试大型项目的可行性，并获得开展大型项目所需的初步结果。许多独立的研究资助都是从最初通过项目开发核心进行的探索性工作演变而来的。项目发展核心在吸引优秀的资深研究者参与老龄研究项目，以及协助优秀的新研究者开展老龄研究议程方面也发挥了重要作用。项目开发核心通过向选定的研究人员提供小型“项目开发奖”来开展创新课题的研究。

The Program Development Core supports small-scale exploratory research on new and innovative project ideas. These exploratory efforts enable researchers to test the feasibility of larger projects on new topics, and to obtain the preliminary results necessary to mount larger projects. Many independent research grants have evolved from the exploratory work conducted initially through the program development core. The program development core has also served an important role in attracting outstanding senior investigators to become involved in research projects in aging, and in assisting outstanding new investigators in embarking on a research agenda in aging. The program development core operates by providing small "program development awards" to selected investigators to initiate research on innovative topics.