Names and titles sometimes cause substantial and unexpected concern. ABRF, as the name indicates, is an organization dedicated to serving biomolecular resource facilities. Frequently our membership is equated with "core" facilities and this terminology has been used with some regularity in ABRF-related activities and publications.
Unfortunately, the terminology "core facility" creates substantial anxiety for some potential members who either do not want to be considered a core facility or feel that they do not qualify as members. The major objections to the core facility label usually comes from laboratories that are primarily basic research oriented. These laboratories almost invariably receive some samples from other laboratories, although the arrangements are usually on a highly-selective collaborative basis rather than fee-for-service.
ABRF represents all interested laboratories engaged in synthesis and/or structural analysis of biological macromolecules whether the primary mission of the laboratory is research oriented or service oriented. In addition, there is not, and should not be, a requirement that members charge for services. The requirement that a facility have a separate budget is intended to distinguish whether separate facilities exist within a single department or institution and qualify for separate membership. For example, the protein microchemistry facility that I supervise contains a protein sequencing service, an amino acid analysis service, and an electroblotting/protein purification service, but these individual services do not qualify as separate facilities since there is a single administrative unit or budget for the entire operation.
Recent ABRF surveys clearly show that member facilities cover a continuous spectrum ranging from totally service oriented to completely basic research oriented with relatively few laboratories at either extreme. Only a few laboratories completely recover operational costs by charges, and some laboratories do not have any charges, including many European laboratories. This diversity reflects differing institutional needs and administrative goals as well as differences in philosophy and the degree of research involvement by the laboratory director. It should be emphasized that the majority of ABRF member facilities are substantially engaged in basic research as indicated by a recent ABRF survey committee analysis showing that a majority of facility directors in academic institutions had tenure track appointments and research grant support. Similarly, very few laboratories in the macromolecule synthesis/characterization field are totally isolated with no significant interactions with other scientists. Therefore, very few such laboratories would fail to qualify as a resource to the scientific community or as members of ABRF.
If you are not a member and your laboratory is engaged in synthesis and/or structural characterization of biological macromolecules, join the organization and support it by participating in its activities.
David Speicher
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Created: 15th August 1995
Last modified: 15th August 1995