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ABRF Research Group Guidelines

     

  1. PURPOSE of the RESEARCH GROUPS

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    The Research Groups are established by a resolution of the Executive Board to fulfill two of the purposes of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities: "to provide mechanisms for the self-evaluation and improvement of procedural and operational accuracy, precision and efficiency in resource facilities and research laboratories" (Bylaws, Article I, Purpose, Section 1. B.) and to contribute to "the education of resource facility and research laboratory staff, users and administrators and interested members of the scientific community." (Bylaws, Article I, Purpose, Section 1.C)

     

    Research Groups are general committees as defined in the by-laws. They have duties and functions as defined by the resolution which establishes them. Details regarding their operation are covered in the Research Group Handbook. The goal of the Research Groups is to serve the general membership of the ABRF, and it is in this spirit that these duties and functions are to be interpreted.

     

     

  2. PARTICIPATION

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    B.1 Eligibility for Membership. Both Members and Associates of the ABRF are eligible to serve in Research Groups. Group members should serve no more than three consecutive years. About 1/3 of the group should retire after their commitments are met, including writing up for publication the results of the study(ies) in which they participated. Retiring members will be replaced by new members nominated by group members and approved by the Executive Board. Groups are encouraged to plan the year so that all responsibilities of retiring members are completed by the annual ABRF meeting, and new members can be added at that time.

    B.1. 1 Selection of New Members. If at all possible, one month before the end of retiring members' terms, the Research Group will present to the Executive Board summaries of experience from candidates agreed upon by the present group members. The Executive Board will review these documents and either approve or disapprove the proposed members. Research Groups should make every effort to maintain a balance and a diversity in experience, research interests and geographical location. Excellence in written communication and data analysis skills should be included as competencies among the members. If the annual meeting of the ABRF is scheduled at such a time that it coincides with the general completion of the present Research Group’s duties, the new members for the following year should be selected soon enough before this meeting so that they can meet with the Research Group and the Executive Board at the time of the annual meeting.

     

    B.1.2 Ad hoc Members may be appointed. Ad Hoc Members are individuals who may be added to the Research Group either to fulfill a specific purpose or to provide a specific skill set which is only needed temporarily by the Research Group or to serve as liaisons to facilitate communication between Research Groups. These liaisons are not expected to carry any part of the work load of the Research Group unless they volunteer to do so. Nominations of ad hoc members who are not already members of another Research Group should be presented to the Executive Board for approval, along with a statement on why they are needed and the term of their appointment. Expect to hear a response within two weeks (except during holidays or the vacation of your Executive Board liaison.)

     

    B.2 Participation of the Executive Board in the Research Groups. A liaison from the Executive Board will be appointed for each Research Group. It is the responsibility of the liaison to inform the Research Group of actions taken by the Executive Board that may impact the group or its members, to regularly attend conference calls of the group, and to keep the Executive Board informed of the activities, progress and needs of the Research Group. The liaison is the conduit for information which needs to be passed from the Research Group to the Executive Board or the meeting organizers, or from the Executive Board to the Research Group. The liaison will also serve as a consultant to the group when questions arise about ABRF policies. The liaison may actively participate in the studies of the group, if they so desire and if the group agrees. The liaison will generally serve as a resource for the Research Group.

     

    B.3 Study Participants. Participation in the studies conducted by the Research Groups is open to all members and associates of the ABRF on a voluntary basis. Data may not be collected from vendors or manufacturers although Corporate Sponsors, Patrons and Benefactors are entitled to receive a sample after study collection is closed. Samples may be sent to non-ABRF members in some cases after receipt of Executive Board approval. Generally groups will be asked to also send a membership brochure.

     

     

  3. DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES of INDIVIDUALS

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C.1 Participation. Members of each Research Group are expected to contribute and to expend a reasonable and timely effort in carrying out the mission of the Research Group. Duties should be divided as equally as possible among the individual members. Members who discover they unexpectedly have other commitments which prevent them from taking an active part in the study must communicate this at the earliest opportunity in fairness to their colleagues. In this situation, the group may ask that individual to stand down and a replacement may be appointed.

 

 

C.2 Disclosure of Conflict of Interest. All members on a yearly basis (or prior to beginning service in a Research Group) must submit a completed and signed Conflict of Interest form (obtained from the Chair) to the President of the Executive Board of the ABRF.

 

C.3 Selection of Chair. The Chair of a Research Group should be selected by consensus of the members in consultation with their Executive Board liaison. The method of achieving this consensus, whether by vote or discussion, is the prerogative of the individual Research Group. The Chair is responsible for the organization, analysis and completion of the study, including publication. The group may wish to operate with a Chair and an assistant Chair, with the Chair having the overall responsibility for ensuring that the key committee obligations are met. The Chair (or designee) keeps the business office updated as to the membership of the group and ensures that the data on the ABRF WebPages is current. The Chair is also responsible for submitting lists of nominees for membership, study designs and manuscripts to the Executive Board in a timely manner, and is responsible for communicating with the meeting organizers and submitting written updates on committee activities to JBT for most, preferably all, quarterly issues.

 

C.4 Executive Board liaisons are appointed by the Executive Board. They should attend most of the conference calls of the group. Executive Board liaisons must respond to queries from the Research Group within two weeks except during holidays or vacation of the liaison. If a matter must be addressed by the full Executive Board in a conference call, the Executive Board liaison must inform the chair of the Research Group of the date at which the question will be addressed, and when the group should expect an answer.

 

D. DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES of the RESEARCH GROUPS

 

     

  1. To design and execute studies. To provide, usually on an annual basis, either:

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    1. a suitable method by which an assessment of the capability and performance of member laboratories can be made, either by distribution of a sample, representative data for analysis or by a survey. The method should allow individual laboratories to compare their own results to that of the overall study.

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b) groups may initiate a study which would investigate the limits of emerging technology.

 

The study should be planned taking into account the requirements of the journal to which the manuscript will be submitted. The design of the study should be presented to the Executive Board for comment and approval in accordance with that year's timeline. If the study is designed for presentation first at a meeting other than the annual ABRF meeting the study proposal should be presented to the Executive Board before work is commenced on the study If the committee embarks on a particularly complex or innovative study, which requires extensive planning and preparation, then studies need not be performed each year, but updates and progress along the projected timeline should be reported. A sample may be designed to challenge members or to define the expectations for a routine sample presented to a resource facility.

 

     

  1. To test the samples before they are sent out to the general membership. This data is not generally included in the analysis of unknown data. General Surveys should be presented to the Executive Board for comment before they are opened for submissions. This requirement does not include questionnaires about conditions which are sent along with samples.

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  2. To ask for the participation of all eligible members and associates by mail or e-mail, and to distribute the object of the study to those who request it. The study may also be publicized on various web bulletin boards and mentioned in the quarterly report to the JBT if the group desires. Samples may be sent to non-ABRF members in some cases after receipt of Executive Board approval. Generally groups will be asked to also send a membership brochure. To also distribute the object of the study to Corporate Sponsors, Patrons and Benefactors along with distribution to those associates working for vendors and manufacturers, after the closing date of the study. (Data from vendors and manufacturers may not be collected by research groups unless the procedure outlined in the ABRF policy on "Distribution of ABRF Samples and Use of Data from Vendors and Manufacturers" is followed.)

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  3. To guarantee the anonymity of all participants. Neither research group members nor others examining the data should be able to determine the identity of any of the participants. When web-based surveys and data collection are used, particular care must be taken to remove any numbers which might be used to trace the participant. If raw data are published extra cautions are necessary so that the identity of the participant is not made obvious by their instrumentation or other descriptors

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  4. To receive, analyze, evaluate, and interpret the results.

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  5. To present the results in a timely and unbiased manner to the membership and the scientific community. This includes both oral presentations at meetings as well as manuscripts submitted for publication in a suitable journal or book. Since the Research Groups are formed in part to contribute to "the education of resource facility and research laboratory staff, users and administrators and interested members of the scientific community¼ " (Bylaws, Article I, Purpose, Section 1. C.) they are encouraged to publish their studies in peer-reviewed journals, preferably the Journal of Biomolecular Technology. The completed manuscript of the study should be given to the Executive Board within six weeks of the scientific meeting where the work is first presented. Any posters presenting the study should be based on a complete analysis of the data. Research Groups should be aware of the publication policies of the journal to which the manuscript will be submitted. Although JBT accepts manuscripts which have been published as web posters, many other journals do not. Webposters and manuscripts should be given to the Executive Board for comment and approval prior to their publication. Decisions on the suitability of presentations, abstracts and posters are left to the discretion of the Research Group, in consultation with their Executive Board liaison.

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7. To contribute written updates for publication in most, if not all, quarterly issues of The Journal of Biomolecular Technology

 

8. To participate in ABRF sponsored meetings and to notify the organizers of the meeting by the date given in that year's time line, if the group needs thirty minutes or an hour for presentation. (Research groups may also submit proposals for tutorials. These ideas may or may not be accepted by the organizers. The deadline for submission will be determined each year and the groups notified as to the date.)

 

     

  1. To remain completely impartial in regard to any commercial concern that might stand to gain from the Research Group's activities.

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E. GENERAL ISSUES

 

E. 1 Budget. An amount of money will be made available each year by the Executive Board for the individual research groups' expenses including payment to WISLINE for conference call services. Requests for funds beyond this amount may be presented to the Executive Board along with the study proposal, or at other times in advance of the expenditure. The research groups will be informed quarterly of their charges with WISLINE and their current balance by the treasurer

 

E.2 Timeline. A timeline, with dates for submission of proposals for tutorials, study proposals, and presentation requests for the annual ABRF meeting will be developed each year by the Executive Board in consultation with the meeting organizers for the following year, and the chairs of the Research Group. This timeline will be distributed to the research groups along with the minutes of the annual winter Executive Board meeting. If a study is designed for presentation at a meeting other than the annual ABRF meeting, the study proposal should be presented to the Executive Board for approval and comment before work is commenced on the study.

 

E.3 Reimbursement of expenses for conference calls will typically be only to members that do not reside in the U.S.

 

E.4 Conflict of Interest Policy. The Conflict of Interest policy applies to everyone who serves the Association, including the Executive Board, Research Committee members, the Editorial Board, meeting organizers, and employees. The policy states that individuals who wish to serve the ABRF must complete a form that discloses any potential conflicts of interest to the President of the Executive Board.

 

E.5 Policy on Distribution of ABRF Samples and Use of Data from Vendors and Manufacturers: See Research Book Handbook.

 

 

     

  1. DUE PROCESS: See Research Group Handbook

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  2. DEGREE OF AUTONOMY

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The Research Group should have a substantial degree of autonomy in conducting its tasks as long as it remains within the policies and framework of the ABRF. It is recognized that it exists under the auspices of the ABRF and the Executive Board and in this regard should always strive to carry out the wishes and intentions of its parent organization. At the same time, it is also recognized that the task to which the Research Group is called is very demanding and time-consuming. In addition, the task of coordinating the efforts of members from diverse geographical locations to work in concert while faced with very real time constraints is difficult in its own right without the need to consult extensively with additional individuals. When the Research Group accepts the responsibility of conducting its activities as outlined in these Guidelines, it also accepts the authority from the Executive Board to meet that responsibility. The Executive Board member of the Research Group is present to monitor the actions of the Research Group only should the need for intervention arise.