Superfund Research Program

Administrative Core

Project Leader: Robert H. Tukey
Co-Investigator: Michael Karin
Grant Number: P42ES010337
Funding Period: 2000-2023

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2016  2009  2004 

The Administrative Core oversees the organization of the UC San Diego SRP. It is administered on a day to day basis by Michelle Feiock, Program Manager, who works closely with Dr. Tukey to assure that the program maintains its focus during the year. Michelle has served as both the Grants Manager and the Administrator of the program for the past 10 years. The Administrative Core has met its aims through the following efforts:

1. With funds in part from the Department of Pharmacology, Autumn Bonner was hired to fill the role of SRP Project Assistant. Working closely with Michelle Feiock, the SRP Program Manager, Autumn helps run the daily operation of the SRP. Autumn has completed 20 UCSD training courses, making her better qualified to assist Michelle.
2. One of the central resources for program communication is the monthly Principle Investigator seminars. These seminars, broadly communicated on campus, highlight the current research that is being conducted by the research projects. Along with presentations by the PIs, this seminar forum provides the opportunity for students and fellows to present their work.
3. Dr. Tukey worked closely with Dr. Pezzoli (RT and Outreach Cores) to organize a UCSD TV documentary, titled "Los Laureles Canyon in Action", that highlights the challenges of the poor infrastructure on the Mexican side of the U.S-Mexico border in Tijuana, and the potential health risks and ecological damage on the U.S. side. The documentary can be seen on the internet at http://www.ucsd.tv/loslaureles/.
4. On May 8, with the support of Dr. Julian Schroeder, they hosted Dr. June Medford from Colorado State University to give a presentation entitled "Biosensors with computer designed input producing detectors for most small molecules using plants."
5. The core's most intensive efforts in the last funding period were the organization of ARRA applications from Drs. Karin, Pezzoli (two applications), Schroeder, and Tukey. A collaborative effort with Dr. Tukey at UC San Diego and Dr. Hammond at UC Davis was awarded, in addition to a grant awarded to Dr. Pezzoli to work closely with Dr. Marshall Cheung and Tribal scientists to help develop new bio assays to screen for toxicant exposure in Tribal nations.
6. Michelle Feiock and Autumn Bonner attended the NIH Regional Seminar for administrators in Las Vegas in June. They learned about changes in NIH policy and administration that will affect the SRP grant renewal application.
7. In September began the hosting weekly planning meetings for the Project leaders to facilitate collaboration in preparing to submit the grant renewal in 2010.
8. The AC organized travel for Graduate Students, Post-docs, and PIs to attend the Annual Superfund Meeting at Columbia University. The UCSD Superfund Program helped to send, Dr. Robert Tukey (Director), Michelle Feiock (Program Manager), Autumn Bonner (Project Assistant), Dr. Keith Pezzoli, Dr. Ilya Zaslavsky, and Hiram Sarabia-Ramirez (of the COC and/or RTC), Dr. Guy Perkins (Core C - Imaging Core), the core sent three graduate students (Ryan Holzer, Camille Konopnicki, and Tim Jobe), two postdoctoral fellows (Ryoichi Fujiwara-Project 4, and David Mendoza-Cozatl – Project 7) to present their most current work as research posters.
9. On December 7, the AC organized an External Advisory Meeting that included Dr. Chris Bradfield, Dr. Max Costa, Dr. Raina Maier, and Dr. Eric Johnson to evaluate potential projects that are being considered for programs renewal in 2010.