This monograph discusses the organization and mission of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT) and describes the research studies and commissioned papers that the Center has sponsored. Part 1, "Dream and Design for the NRC/GT," provides an overview of the Center as an organization and describes how the research efforts have made an impact on students and practitioners throughout the country. Part 2, "Charting New Directions Based on Research," summarizes and synthesizes the research studies and commissioned papers under five main categories: (1) characteristics and identification (including the definition of giftedness and screening and identification techniques); (2) special populations (including cultural and ethnic groups and students with physical and learning disabilities); (3) program impact, options, and outcomes (including curricular and instructional differentiation and different program options); (4) professional development (including increasing the quantity and quality of teachers and providing challenging and appropriate learning options; and (5) policy, program organization, and management (including current status of programs, program organization, and program evaluation). An appendix presents a resource matrix of NRC/GT publications, displaying the research studies and commissioned papers by topics. The matrix is followed by a one-page abstract for each research study or paper and accompanying guidelines, recommendations, or conclusions. (Contains 75 references.) (Author/CR)