Journal of Biomolecular Techniques : JBT

For many researchers, Shared Research Resources are often the most cost-effective means of using state-of-the-art (not to mention expensive) instrumentation. Along with access to the instruments themselves, Shared Research Resources also offer individualized training by highly qualified Shared Research Resource staff-again at deeply discounted costs compared to the operational costs of the facilities. Traditionally, this gap in revenue has been termed a subsidy. But, as with many words, connotation matters, and we posit that this language ought to be changed to reframe our thinking and impart the true impact of Shared Research Resources...

The pervasiveness of irreproducible research remains a thorny problem for the progress of scientific endeavor, spawning an abundance of opinion, investigation, and proposals for improvement. Irreproducible research has negative consequences beyond the obvious impact on achieving new scientific discoveries that can advance healthcare and enable new technologies. The conduct of science is resource intensive, resulting in a large environmental impact from even the smallest research programs. There is value in making explicit connections between the conduct of more rigorous, reproducible science and commitments to environmental sustainability...

Shared research resources occupy a unique role in the scientific research landscape. Sometimes called core facilities, shared research resources provide instrumentation, services, and expertise to a wide range of researchers. With dedicated staff maintaining instruments, training users, and supporting collaborations, these resources are well situated to churn out reproducible high-quality data, lead research innovation, create efficiencies, and stimulate economic development all while driving down capital costs for institutions...

This column highlights recently published articles that are of interest to the readership of this publication. We encourage ABRF members to forward information on articles they feel are important and useful to Clive Slaughter, AU-UGA Medical Partnership, 1425 Prince Avenue, Athens GA 30606. Tel; (706) 713-2216: Fax; (706) 713-2221: Email; [email protected] or to any member of the editorial board. Article summaries reflect the reviewer's opinions and not necessarily those of the Association.

Shared research resources (SRRs) promote access and training to advanced technologies and applications for a diverse array of trainees, faculty, students, and staff. Institutions and the broader research community benefit from the expertise and reputation of SRRs, their efficient use of research funds, and their positive impact on faculty recruitment and retention. Moreover, as contemporary science has become increasingly multidisciplinary and team based, SRRs are the nexus for basic discovery and the application of new groundbreaking technologies, with data as the key deliverable...

This column highlights recently published articles that are of interest to the readership of this publication. We encourage ABRF members to forward information on articles they feel are important and useful to Clive Slaughter, AU-UGA Medical Partnership, 1425 Prince Avenue, Athens GA 30606. Tel; (706) 713-2216: Fax; (706) 713-2221: Email; [email protected] or to any member of the editorial board. Article summaries reflect the reviewer's opinions and not necessarily those of the Association.

Rigor, reproducibility, and transparency (RR&T) are essential components of all scientific pursuits. Shared research resources, also known as core facilities, are on the frontlines of ensuring robust RR&T practices. The Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities Committee on Core Rigor and Reproducibility conducted a follow-up survey 4 years after the initial 2017 survey to determine if core facilities have seen a positive impact of new RR&T initiatives (including guidance from the National Institutes of Health, new scientific journal requirements on transparency and data provenance, and educational tools from professional organizations)...

BACKGROUND: Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) is a powerful method commonly used to study global protein-DNA interactions including both transcription factors and histone modifications. We have found that the choice of ChIP-Seq library preparation protocol plays an important role in overall ChIP-Seq data quality. However, very few studies have compared ChIP-Seq libraries prepared by different protocols using multiple targets and a broad range of input DNA levels...

BACKGROUND: Supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the availability of components for specimen collection kits to detect SARS-CoV-2. Plastic injection molding offers a rapid and cheap method for mass production of swabs for upper respiratory tract sampling. Local production of virus transport medium increases flexibility to assemble sample collection kits if the medium provides appropriate stability for SARS-CoV-2 detection. METHODS: A locally produced virus transport medium and a novel injection molded plastic swab were validated for SARS-CoV-2 detection by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction...

This column highlights recently published articles that are of interest to the readership of this publication. We encourage ABRF members to forward information on articles they feel are important and useful to Clive Slaughter, AU-UGA Medical Partnership, 1425 Prince Avenue, Athens GA 30606. Tel; (706) 713-2216: Fax; (706) 713-2221: Email; [email protected] or to any member of the editorial board. Article summaries reflect the reviewer's opinions and not necessarily those of the Association.

A current method to locate sites of N -linked glycosylation on a protein involves the identification of deamidated sites after releasing the glycans with peptide- N -glycosidase F (PNGase F). PNGase F deglycosylation converts glycosylated Asn residues into Asp. The 1-Da mass tag created by this process is observable by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. A potential interference to this method of N -glycosylation site mapping is the chemical deamidation of Asn residues, which occurs spontaneously and can result in false positives...

Cells isolated using electrostatic cell sorters are subsequently evaluated in a variety of in vitro and in vivo applications. Thus, manipulations to the cells during the pre- and post-sort processing as well as when the cells are being analyzed by and passing through the sorter fluidics has the potential to affect the experimental results. There are many variables to consider when seeking to preserve cellular integrity and function during the cell-sorting process. A previous study by the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities Flow Cytometry Research Group (FCRG) investigated downstream effects on different cell types as a function of sorting variables such as pressure, nozzle size, and temperature...

Financial sustainability in biobanks has recently become a key issue globally, as biorepositories struggle to balance limited external funding and high operating costs. To maximize governance and operational efficiency, the Pathology Facility and the University College London (UCL)/UCL Hospitals Biobank for Studying Health and Disease ("the Biobank") have been grouped together under the same management at the UCL Cancer Institute. This paper explores the operational and financial interaction between the Pathology Facility and the Biobank over a period of 3 years (2017-2019)...

Core facilities allow scientists to perform experiments needing specialized technologies in a time- and cost-efficient way. They became increasingly important and now produce a significant amount of research data. Experiments carried out in core facilities are typically shared between the facility staff and the users. However, sharing experiments brings additional challenges to ensure data rigor and reproducibility-for example, in communication, trust, and accountability. We present here an interactive website developed especially for core facilities that offers tools to help them assess, improve, and ensure research quality...

This column highlights recently published articles that are of interest to the readership of this publication. We encourage ABRF members to forward information on articles they feel are important and useful to Clive Slaughter, MCG-UGA Medical Partnership, 1425 Prince Avenue, Athens GA 30606. Tel; (706) 713-2216: Fax; (706) 713-2221: Email; [email protected] or to any member of the editorial board. Article summaries reflect the reviewer's opinions and not necessarily those of the Association.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: DNA, RNA, and proteins are unavoidable human biomarkers. Today, blood remains the commonly used source of biomarkers despite numerous limitations. Therefore, other sources of biomarkers such as urine could be more appropriate for research in the field of bladder cancer. The aim of this study was to set up a new automated procedure for urinary DNA, RNA, and protein extraction and to evaluate their quality and quantity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in the setting of the COBLAnCE cohort...

Data management is a critical challenge required to improve the rigor and reproducibility of large projects. Adhering to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) standards provides a baseline for meeting these requirements. Although many existing repositories handle data in a FAIR-compliant manner, there are limited tools in the public domain to handle the metadata burden required to connect data from multi-omic projects that span multiple institutions and are deposited in diverse repositories...

Core facilities have a ubiquitous and increasingly valuable presence at research institutions. Although many shared cores were originally created to provide routine services and access to complex and expensive instrumentation for the research community, they are frequently called upon by investigators to design protocols and procedures to help answer complex research questions. For instance, shared microscopy resources are evolving from providing access to and training on complex imaging instruments to developing detailed innovative protocols and experimental strategies, including sample preparation techniques, staining, complex imaging parameters, and high-level image analyses...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Shared research resources, also known as core facilities, serve a crucial role in supporting research, training, and other needs for their respective institutions. In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, all but the most critical laboratory research was halted in many institutions around the world. The Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities conducted 2 surveys to understand and document institutional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic from core facility perspectives. The first survey was focused on initial pandemic response and efforts to sustainably ramp down core facility operations...