Administrative Core

ADMINISTRATION CORE Abstract The proposed Research Evaluating Vagal Excitation and Anatomical Linkages (REVEAL) center aims to conduct groundbreaking research on the effect of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) on four key systems: the autonomic nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the metabolic system. The ambitious scope of the research requires the participation of eight major academic and medical institutions with over 40 participating key personnel, over 140 patients, an External Advisory Board (which includes patient advocates), and an NIH Steering Committee and other NIH personnel. As such, a well-planned, well-organized, and well- staffed Administration Core is crucial to coordinate the many REVEAL stakeholders so that the center can achieve its goals and produce foundational data for new VNS research and new VNS-based therapies. The Administration Core for REVEAL will be led by two medical scientists from the University of Minnesota (UMN) who have complimentary scientific expertise and extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams: Dr. John Osborn (REVEAL Director), an expert in the autonomic nervous system and the director of the Minnesota Consortium for Autonomic Neuromodulation, and Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin (Reveal MPI), Head of the UMN Department of Surgery and a clinical researcher and surgeon with experience in clinical trial design of interventions on metabolomic endpoints. The main goals of the Administration Core are to facilitate interactions between the Cores and Ancillary Projects to maximize REVEAL’s productivity; coordinate all REVEAL meetings, including an Annual VESPA Meeting; ensure clear lines of communication between Project/Core PIs, the NIH, and external groups; and manage the REVEAL budget and finances.