OPERATIONS CORE

The Operations Core provides the critical infrastructure to develop, implement, and disseminate innovative interventions and services for middle-aged and older people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in the community. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life of these individuals.

The Operations Core has five general Units:

1. Administrative Unit
2. Clinical Trials Management Unit (CTMU)
3. Methodology, Biostatistics, and Data Management Unit (MBDMU)
4. Community Liaison Unit
5. Dissemination Unit

The Core also has three specialized Units:

1. Bioethics Unit
2. Latino Studies Unit
3. Training and Career Development Unit

The Operations Core synthesizes these Units into a cohesive, effective, working system. Ongoing engagement of community stakeholders is assured through the development of a Partners’ Council, comprised of equal numbers of investigators and community stakeholders, and a Consumer Advisory Board, members of both of which play major roles in shaping and monitoring the progress of the research portfolio.

A key role for the Administrative Unit is to ensure that key stakeholders and community partners are integrally involved in the decision-making process and monitoring of research progress. This will include selection of research projects for funding based on rigorous scientific criteria and the ability of the projects to address specifically determined unmet needs in the community.

The Clinical Trials Management Unit (CTMU) will provide consultation on all aspects of intervention research to investigators and community partners--from planning to implementation.

The Methodology, Biostatistics, and Data Management Unit (MBDMU) manages the data and statistical analysis functions of the Center, and helps with protocol design, implementation, data collection, archiving, and analysis.

The Community Liaison Unit assists in generating research questions and outcomes that are relevant to the community and guides researchers to develop consumer-centered interventions and services that can be broadly disseminated and sustained in the community.

The Dissemination Unit will distribute Center-related findings to the scientific and lay media using local theme-based conferences, lectures, discussions, print, websites, and video.

This Center was among the first ones to establish a formal Bioethics Unit, whose functions will include conducting empirical research relevant to community-based investigations, providing consultation during all phases of research, and training in general principles of bioethics.

The Latino Studies Unit assists in the development of culturally appropriate assessments, measures, and interventions.

The goal of the Training and Career Development Unit is to increase the pipeline of investigators who are capable and successful in conducting geriatric psychiatry research.

Other Cores:

• Principal Research Core

• Research Methods Core

• Community Network Core