Admin Core

The Vanderbilt-coordinated human Virome Characterization Center (V2C2) is a trans-institutional initiative formed to enhance the development and use of genomics-based tools to define the composition and complexity of the human virome and its longitudinal dynamics across life. Given the scope of V2C2, we establish a well- organized, efficient Administrative Core (AC) to coordinate three layers central to the Human Virome Program (HVP): (1) center synergy activities, (2) trans-HVP site activities, (3) NIH collaborative agreement duties. The Program Director (PD) is Dr. Suman Das, who has a strong track record in human virology and leadership in large human consortia (multiple CDC and NIH awards in this space, several in collaboration with other PI/PDs). Dr. Das is joined by two co-PDs, Dr. Susan Fisher-Hoch and Dr. Ravi Shah. Dr. Fisher-Hoch is a world-renowned virologist with seminal therapeutic fieldwork in Lassa and Ebola and leads the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC), the primary site for the prospective sample collection in the V2C2. Dr. Shah is a leader in human molecular epidemiology with experience in sequencing, human proteomics, and large cohort/NIH collaborative efforts (ECHO MPI U24-OD035523; MPI of Vanderbilt NHLBI TOPMed 2.0 Core). The PDs currently work together closely as part of major NIH consortia (Drs. Fisher-Hoch/Shah in Multi-omics for Health and Disease Study Sites; Dr. Shah/Das in TOPMed/ECHO), with frequent meetings to ensure synergy. These PDs are supported by multiple co-investigators with extensive experience in consortium-based coordination, including informatics approaches in data visualization, metadata harmonization, and other key elements. In Aim 1, the AC will coordinate leadership, management, coordination, and supervision of V2C2 center synergy, via twice monthly in-person "all hands" meetings and AC only weekly meetings aimed at compliance and fiscal monitoring, resolution of obstacles, oversight over the Collaborative Pilot Program, implementation of the Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives [PEDP], project staffing, data management. In Aim 2, AC provides a platform for V2C2 to engage the HVP Consortium in trans-HVP site activities, including an annual "V2C2 Symposium" (to promote early stage investigator research across V2C2, the pilot program, and other collaborating U54 HVP sites), administratively leading groups establishing standard procedures for biosamples/metadata harmonization and technology development in collaboration with the relevant V2C2 cores. In Aim 3, AC provides a direct line to NIH for consortium-wide activities, prioritizing scientific data sharing to accelerate discovery. The AC has a firm commitment to abiding by all decisions made in the HVP. The AC will provide outreach activities, including communication with pertinent patient and scientific communities (e.g., microbiology and infectious diseases). Given our consortium expertise (including Common Fund efforts) and a track record of scientific contribution and productivity in human virology, we are confident this AC will ensure a long-term V2C2 goal in the U54: redefining the role of the accessible human virome across life and its relation to underlying mechanisms of disease.