Core A: Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY Administrative Core Unhealthy choices to smoke, consume alcohol in excess, overeat, and lead sedentary lifestyles underlie a preponderance of chronic disease in the U.S. Greater understanding of the mechanisms underpinning vulnerability to such unhealthy behavior and developing more effective behavior-change interventions is vitally

important to improving U.S. public health. The overarching goal of the Administrative Core of the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (VCBH) is to coalesce existing strengths and seed new research directions at the University of Vermont (UVM) while continuing to engage in local, national, and international collaborations.

During Phases 1 and 2, this core has established the administrative and intellectual infrastructure necessary to (a) strengthen and grow collaboration among a critical mass of talented investigators who share scientific expertise in this area, (b) effectively mentor early-career faculty in conducting thematically related research and

(c) coalesce the productive collaborations necessary to compete effectively in obtaining external grant support at levels that can sustain the VCBH beyond COBRE support. We propose that Stephen T. Higgins, PhD, continue as Director of this core with Philip A. Ades, MD, as Associate Director. Accomplished UVM independent

investigators will continue directing cores on behavioral economics and intervention sciences (Stacey C. Sigmon, PhD), and collaboration, dissemination, and education (Diann E. Gaalema, PhD, & Richard A. Rawson, PhD). A Pilot Project Program led by Dr. Higgins and Elias M. Klemperer, PhD, will be leveraged to support and mentor

early-career faculty and generate preliminary data for collaborative NIH center grants and program projects as well as more focused applications in the R series. We will continue collaborating with community healthcare leaders and investigators from other IDeA States and beyond in pursuing the VCBH mission to grow collaborative

research and impact state and federal public health policy. Program oversight will be guided by an External Advisory Committee of distinguished scientific leaders in behavior and health. An Internal Advisory Committee composed of accomplished multidisciplinary senior UVM investigators will provide guidance on scientific and

organizational matters. A Community Advisory Committee of Vermont experts in healthcare delivery and policy will assure that VCBH remains apprised of local healthcare challenges. This multidisciplinary team will work closely together to firmly establish VCBH as a sustainable center of research excellence with local, national, and

international reach.