A traditional perception is that core facilities are primarily technical service centers for a higher strata of scientist who performs more intellectually demanding work. The rationale behind this is varied but frequently relies upon arguments which are not universally accurate such as: core facility work is routine and unimaginative; the requisite methods are already established, and automatic instruments do all the work anyway. Although core facility personnel can find satisfaction in knowing that their expertise is in demand, they should also feel good about the work they do. Core facility expertise is still hard to find and will remain a challenge to acquire as our technologies evolve. Can the perception of biomolecular resource facilities be enhanced and how?
Briefly, I argue that yes, core facility stature can be improved. Although interactions with a network of professional peers such as the ABRF can be helpful, the onus for enhanced status lies with the individual laboratories. Education of core facility users and administrators regarding the nature of your facility is crucial. Administrative officials must be shown that c-)re facility biotechnology is rapidly changing (eg. note for them the ever increasing importance of PVDF-based technologies, CZE, and mass spectrometry) . Administrators must recognize that what appears routine is not necessarily state-of-the-art (or visa versa) and that significant effort in methods development research must be exerted just to keep up to date with these rapidly changing and increasingly diverse technologies. Administrators know that automated and expensive instrumentation is required for facility work, but they also must realize that these instruments are worthless without expert personnel. After all, the difficulties associated with maintaining protein micropurification/characterization expertise severely limited availability in the first place and helped justify the existence of core facilities. The teaching activities of core facilities should also receive greater recognition where appropriate - namely all the time spent custom designing, troubleshooting and improving experimental approaches with multiple users. This can be considered highly specialized consulting work and grateful beneficiaries often will serve as strong and effective allies in communications with administrators. Finally, if we wish to improve our status, we must not compromise high quality and timely results. An objective eye must always be maintained on internal quality control. Financial pressures for a facility to completely pay for itself through a large volume service business are unreasonable and clearly should not be allowed to adversely influence scientific quality and performance.
John W. Crabb
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Created: 21st August 1995
Last modified: 21st August 1995