P50-Admin Core-Harris/Garb

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Over 70 million individuals worldwide suffer from vitiligo, a psychologically devastating autoimmune disease of the skin that causes disfiguring white spots and disproportionately affects those with darker skin. This, com- bined with a lack of FDA-approved treatments for vitiligo, creates a concerning health disparity for some of the most vulnerable of our population. Because of the accessibility of the skin, vitiligo provides a unique oppor- tunity for detailed, innovative translational research studies that provide insight into its pathogenesis and lead to improved treatment strategies. Further, vitiligo shares genetic risk alleles and other mechanisms with auto- immune diseases that are more complex and/or difficult to study using translational tools and thus provides an unparalleled model through which to understand mechanisms of human autoimmunity. We have generated preliminary data using a translational multi-omics approach that reveal thousands of new data points marking hundreds of new signaling pathways that coordinate autoimmunity in the skin during viti- ligo. What remains lacking, however, is an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to assemble this new data into a comprehensive understanding of disease pathogenesis within vitiligo skin lesions. Thus, there is a critical need to establish a coordinated, collaborative effort to reveal new, high-resolution insight into the pathogenesis of vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases that could support innovative, advanced treatment strategies. We will leverage our existing data, leading multidisciplinary investigative team, and cutting-edge research tools to accomplish this task within the Vitiligo Center of Research Translation (VCORT). Strong communication, coordination, fiscal management, education, and dissemination of information will be critical to the success of this multidisciplinary effort. The overall objective of the Administrative Core is to serve as an interface among VCORT participants to promote the generation and dissemination of knowledge among the collaborative inves- tigators, the broader scientific community, and the public. We will do this through the following specific aims: 1) Manage internal and external communication; 2) Advance scientific endeavors and ensure achieve- ment of specific milestones; 3) Effectively manage financial resources and ensure compliance. Thus, the Core will remove administrative and financial duties from the workload of VCORT scientists, allowing them to focus on research. The expected outcome is to have established and maintained a VCORT through which exceptional transla- tional science is conducted in a diverse, informed, and highly collaborative environment. This will have an im- portant positive impact on patients, caregivers, and the research community through progress toward under- standing and treating vitiligo, as well as establishing strong collaborations to expand the field of translational research in vitiligo and human autoimmunity.