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Voices from the Bench: Focus Group Insights on Shared Research Resource Sustainability Amid Federal Policy Shifts — White et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2025)
Explores how US federal policy uncertainties impact Shared Research Resources, emphasizing the importance of administrative support, funding diversification, operational efficiency and work.
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Staying on Track – Keeping Things Running in a High-End Scientific Imaging Core Facility — Renaud et al., Journal of Microscopy (2024)
How a high-end imaging core facility maintains performance, reliability and user satisfaction at scale, covering workflows, staffing, quality control and operational governance.
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Bringing Science Back to the Core: A Financially Sustainable Model for Core Facilities — Garcia-Vallejo, EMBO Reports (2023)
Argues for a shift away from purely service-based cores toward science-driven facilities that remain financially sustainable while actively contributing to research quality and innovation.
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Organizing Core Facilities as Force Multipliers: Strategies for Research Universities — Zwick, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2021)
Explores how strategically structured core facilities amplify institutional research output, acting as force multipliers rather than cost centres.
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Maximizing Shared Research Resources — FASEB (2017)
A policy-focused report outlining best practices for governance, funding and sustainability of shared research resources.
Reports -
CTLS-2016 and the Formation of a Pan-European Professional Society — Niece, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2017)
A historical account of how the European core facility community organised itself into a professional network.
Accounts -
Swiss Light Microscopy Facilities: A Success Story for the Last Fifteen Years — Bauer, Chimia (2016)
Describes how Switzerland built a nationally coordinated, highly successful network of light microscopy facilities.
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Sharing Core Facilities and Research Resources – An Investment in Accelerating Scientific Discoveries — Chang & Grieder, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2016)
Shows how shared infrastructure accelerates research by improving access to advanced technologies and specialised expertise.
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Institutional Core Facilities: Prerequisite for Breakthroughs in the Life Sciences — Meder et al., EMBO Reports (2016)
Shows how access to high-end core facilities directly enables scientific breakthroughs.
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Disaster and Contingency Planning for Scientific Shared Resource Cores — Mische & Wilkerson, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2016)
Essential reading on how cores can protect data, instruments and services against failures and disasters.
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Operational Changes in a Shared Resource Laboratory Using a Product Lifecycle Management Approach — Hexley et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2016)
A case study showing how industrial-style lifecycle management improves reliability, maintenance and service delivery in cores.
Papers -
Metrics for Success: Strategies for Enabling Core Facility Performance and Assessing Outcomes — Turpen et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2016)
A paper on how to measure core facility performance, impact and value.
Papers -
Core Technologies in Life Sciences (CTLS) 2016 Conference Summary — Rappoport, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2016)
Summarises key trends and discussions from one of the leading European core facility conferences.
Summaries -
NIH Core Consolidation – Investing in Greater Efficiency — Chang et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2015)
Examines the benefits of consolidating multiple cores into shared platforms to improve utilisation, financial sustainability and scientific quality.
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Best Practices for Core Facilities: Handling External Customers — Hockberger et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2013)
Covers policies, pricing, contracts and risk management when cores serve external or commercial users.
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Sharing for Excellence and Growth – Synthesis Report — N8 Research Partnership (2012)
A UK-focused report on how universities benefit from sharing facilities, expertise and infrastructure.
Reports -
Core Facilities: Maximizing the Return on the Investment — Farber & Weiss, Science Translational Medicine (2011)
Explores how institutions can maximise scientific and financial ROI from their research infrastructure.
Papers -
Institutional Management of Core Facilities during Challenging Financial Times — Haley, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2011)
Focuses on how institutions can protect and prioritise core facilities during budget constraints.
Papers -
Cost (Non)-Recovery by Platform Technology Facilities in the Bio21 Cluster — Gibbs et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2010)
A real-world analysis of how much core facilities actually recover from users versus institutional subsidy.
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Institutional Shared Resources and Translational Cancer Research — De Paoli, Journal of Translational Medicine (2009)
Highlights how core facilities are essential to translational cancer research, bridging basic science and clinical application.
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Shared Experimental Infrastructures — Murray, Analytical Chemistry (2009)
A short but influential piece on why shared scientific infrastructure is critical for modern research.
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A Framework for Managing Core Facilities within the Research Enterprise — Haley, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2009)
Presents a governance and management framework for running cores as part of a wider research ecosystem.
Papers -
Workshop on Efficient Management and Utilization of Core Facilities — NIH (2009)
Report on a workshop examining the challenges, use and optimisation of NIH-funded research core facilities.
Reports -
A Bright but Demanding Future for Core Facilities — Slaughter, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2005)
An early look at the growing importance and increasing operational pressures facing cores.
Papers -
Pricing the Services of Scientific Cores – Part I: Charging Subsidized and Unsubsidized Users — Fife & Forrester, Journal of Research Administration (2002)
A practical guide to pricing models for internal academic users.
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Pricing the Services of Scientific Cores – Part II: Charging Outside Users — Fife & Forrester, Journal of Research Administration (2002)
Extends pricing models to external and commercial users.
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Biotechnology Core Laboratories: An Overview — McMillen et al., Journal of Biomolecular Techniques (2000)
A broad introduction to how biotechnology cores operate and why they are critical to modern research.
Papers -
Research Technologies: Fulfilling the Promise — Angeletti et al., The FASEB Journal (1999)
A foundational paper outlining how shared research technologies and core facilities underpin modern biomedical research.
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