ABRF was formally organized in 1988 to represent and support laboratories providing highly specialized methods for analysis and/or synthesis of biomolecules to the research community. A major goal of the organization since its inception has been to define the average technical capabilities of shared facilities for both operators and users of these laboratories. This goal continues to be met by annual studies conducted by a continually expanding number of research committees. Each of these research studies, which are distributed to all ABRF facility directors, involve one or more of the following components: surveys of facility operation/organization, distribution of "unknown" samples for analysis by the facilities, or requests to synthesize specific biomolecules. Anonymously returned samples/results/surveys are then extensively analyzed by the respective committees. The results are reported at appropriate national and international scientific meetings followed by publication in the scientific literature or in this newsletter. The longest-standing committees, which are the Protein Sequence and Amino Acid Analysis Committees, are currently conducting their sixth annual study. A second, related goal of the organization is to contribute to improvements in facility operations as well as educate facility operators, potential users, and administrators concerning realistic expectations and approaches. Although presentations at meetings and publication of research committee study results already substantially contribute to this goal, an Education Committee was recently formed to expand and coordinate ABRF's efforts in this critical area.
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