CORE A: ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
Jean de Vellis and Michael Levine, Core Directors

A1: ADMINISTRATION
Jean de Vellis, Core Leader

Purpose and Objectives

 This Core provides overall management and organizational support to the Center, including grant submissions and management, financial and personnel management, recruiting, compliance, general laboratory technical services, planning and managing research retreats, symposia and seminars. It is used for the central administration of the MRRC. It also serves as the means of communication between the MRRC and UCLA administrative offices and between the MRRC and federal offices. The Administrative Core provides review of grant submissions, employee salaries, time keeping and other central functions.

The Administrative Core plans the MRRC Annual Research Retreat, Mini-Symposia and seminars, prepares and publishes the Center's annual report, handles recruiting of new personnel, prepares and manages budgets, and, in general, acts as a conduit for all services to MRRC members. The Core has on-line access to all current accounting data in the Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI) as well as campus-wide financial ledgers and contracts and grants information from the University Office of Extramural Financial Management. In addition, all ordering of supplies and equipment is done on-line using the University on-line purchasing/accounts payable (PAC) system.

A2: COMMUNICATIONS
Michael Levine, Core Leader

The Communications Core has two components. The first is the management of computer hardware and software support for MRRC investigators, including support for internet access and email for all investigators as well as website development for the MRRC website and additional help in developing web pages for individual investigators.

The second component is to provide professional services in the use of computer graphics and digital photography and digital video for illustrations for publications, presentations, posters, and slides.

The functions of the Computer Core are to support the computing needs of the MRRC faculty, staff, and students within the broader framework of information technology (IT) support by the University, the School of Medicine and the NPI. The support provided includes hardware and software support for desktop and laptop computers, support for specialized computer controlled research equipment such as laser confocal microscopes, the laser capture microscope system, digital still and video cameras, and electrophysiological data acquisition devices. Assistance is provided in the design and development of research databases and web sites. Network servers are maintained for data storage, shared printer control, web site hosting and file transfer between MRRC faculty and colleagues at other institutions.

The objectives of the Media/Graphics portion of the Communications Core are to provide members of the MRRC with assistance in preparation of their scientific data for presentation. This service includes conversion of raw data into graphic representations as well as production of illustrations, photographs, slides, posters, and digital presentations and prints.

CORE B: NEUROSCIENCE AND IMAGING CORE
Jean de Vellis, Core Director

The Neuroscience and Imaging Core provides expertise, services and equipment to support cellular and molecular neuroscience research:

CORE C: ANIMAL MODELS
Michael Levine, Core Director

The Animal Models Core will provide services in three general areas.

• The first is animal breeding and genotyping which includes rodent breeding paradigms, genotyping, tail DNA extraction, genotype identification protocols, and use of “speed” congenics.
• The second area is BAC Transgenics, which is a new technology for making mouse models and consists of generation and development of new animal models of disease using BAC transgenic technology.
• The third area is animal maintenance and behavioral assessment which includes colony and health maintenance, various forms of behavioral assessment consisting of simple neurological exams, sensory and motor assessment, and complex learning paradigms.

CORE D: NEUROGENOMICS AND BIO-INFORMATICS
Daniel Geschwind, Core Director

This Core focuses on the application of genome-level analyses in neuroscientific investigation, most based on microarray related technologies.

• bio-informatic follow up and statistical support
• Routine data analysis and experimental design.
• Sample preparation and array hybridization.
• Higher order data analysis.
• Bio-Informatics and genomic database tutorials.

CORE E: FIELDWORK TRAINING AND QUALITATIVE DATA
Thomas Weisner, Core Director

• development and provision of integrated training and data analysis for studies utilizing fieldwork, qualitative and textual data, and/or multiple outcome measures.
• integrated training and data analysis assistance
• training ethnographic field researchers working with adults and children with various cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems, along with their families and the professionals who work with these populations