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Core Administrators Network

Core Administrators Network

The Core Administrators Network (CAN) was established in 2010, to support and develop networked interactions between core scientists and administrators.The committee’s mission is based on the understanding that research core facilities exist at the interface of the administrative, financial and scientific sectors of a research organization. Many institutions have established, or are in process of developing, administrative positions to support core facilities with the management of financial, operational, regulatory and performance issues.. The CAN focuses on facilitating discussions on these topics faced by core administrators. A major goal of the CAN is to create a community for core administrators within the framework of the ABRF so they also connect with other Core Directors and personnel perspectives.

Interested in Joining the Committee? or have any Questions? Please complete our interest form located here:

Check out the Core Administrators' online community.  ABRF members can post a comment or respond to an ongoing discussion by clicking here:
Core Administrators. Once registered, you can also post and read directly from your email!

Current Committee Membership

  • Roxann Ashworth - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  • Andy Chitty - Oregon Health and Science University
  • Jeetendra Eswaraka - Rutgers University
  • Meghan Kraft (Executive Board Liaison) - University of North Carolina
    at Chapel Hill
  • Saran McLeod - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • Natasha Nikolaidis – Purdue University
  • Josh Rappoport - Boston College
  • Gordon Roble - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
  • Rajesh Uthamanthil (Chair) - Seattle Children's Research Institute
  • Ben Wright - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Andrew Vinard – Tufts University
  • Nicole White  - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • Michelle Winter - University of Kansas Medical Center

Recent Events

Resources for Core Administrators

Below is a summary of some representative publications, recordings, and documents that may support an area of work that impacts core facility operations and management from an administrative lens. This information is continuing to evolve and only represents a small sample of resources available.

The Value and Impact of Shared Research Resources

Resources on the Value and Impact of Shared Research Resources

ABRF Focus Group on Proposed Indirect Cost Rates (June 2025)

Core Facilities References

Greater Reliance on Shared Resources Can Enrich the Future Success of Academic Research, Journal of Biomolecular Techniques, June 2025

National Science Foundation, Workshop on Nanotechnology Infrastructure of the Future (2023)

Billing Systems and Best Practices

Chimote AA, Mayhew CN, Thornton S, Wetzel CC, White AN. Implementing Research Shared (Core) Facility Billing Systems. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques. 2022;33(4). doi:10.7171/3fc1f5fe.1a877626

Capital and Instrumentation: Funding, Acquisition, and Management

[EXPIRED]:  FAQs for March 2014 NIH Shared Instrumentation Grants (PAR14-073): The purpose of these FAQs is to provide answers to questions regarding new instructions for the Institutional Letter of Support and other issues related to this grant mechanism.  

Career Development
  1. Fletcher, L., Harrington, C. A., Nilsen, A., Petrie, S. K., & Chitty, A. I. (2023). Creating a Career Path for Shared Research Resources Personnel. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques, 33(4). https://doi.org/10.7171/3fc1f5fe.418fa1db
  2. Adami V, Homer N, Utz N, Lippens S, Rappoport JZ, Fernandez-Rodriguez J. An international survey of Training Needs and Career Paths of Core Facility Staff. J Biomol Tech. 2021 Apr;32(1):1-9. doi: 10.7171/jbt.21-3201-002. PMID: 33880077; PMCID: PMC8040527.
  3. Brown CM. Careers in Core Facility Management. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2018 Aug 1;10(8):a032805. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a032805. PMID: 30068529; PMCID: PMC6071492.
  4. You Tube Video: Philip Hockberger, Northwestern University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFtuiGY_JUQ
Core Facility Operations and Design
  1. May 20, 2021: Town Hall: Optimal Design of Cores from the Ground Up < https://abrf.memberclicks.net/core-administration-town-hall---optimal-design-of-cores-from-the-ground-up> 
  2. March 22, 2021: Webinar: Core Facility Operating Models Across the Globe < https://abrf.memberclicks.net/webinar--core-facility-operating-models-across-the-globe>
  3. NIH Workshop: Enhancing Core Facility Efficiency The full workshop report can be viewed here < https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/NIH-ABRF%20Workshop%20Report_Complete_06-22-15.pdf>. 
  4. JHU Core in a Box: starting a new core facility. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/resources/synergy/core-in-a-box/setup/starting-core
Publication Acknowledgement

Kivinen, K., van Luenen, H. G., Alcalay, M., Bock, C., Dodzian, J., Hoskova, K., ... & Premvardhan, L. (2022). Acknowledging and citing core facilities: Key contributions to data lifecycle should be recognised in the scientific literature. EMBO reports, 23(9), e55734.

Recharge Rate Setting: Considerations, Compliance, Process.
  1. FAQs for Costing of NIH-Funded Core Facilities
    The purpose of these FAQs is to provide answers to common questions raised regarding NIH-funded core facilities and other applicable research related facilities that support NIH grants.
    FAQs for Costing of NIH-Funded Core Facilities < http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-13-053.html> 
  2. By Annabelle Stein, available as an ebook here. < https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/annabelle-stein/recharge-rate-setting-considerations-compliance-process/ebook/product-1vgmp4pp.html?page=1&pageSize=4>
  3. Haley, R. (2011). Institutional management of core facilities during challenging financial times. Journal of biomolecular techniques: JBT, 22(4), 127.
  4. Northwestern University Recharge Rate Calculation Template. https://facilities.research.northwestern.edu/core-management/core-finances.html
  5. UNC Rate Development Worksheets. https://osp.unc.edu/core-facilities/core-facilities-forms/
  6. Purdue Recharge Center Forms: rate submission packet. https://www.purdue.edu/treasurer/finance/managerial-accounting-services/costing/recharge-center/recharge-forms-transactions-codes-and-tools-reference/
Return on Investment/ Metrics for Success in Core Facilities
  1. September 15, 2021: Town Hall:  Core Evaluation Strategies: Using Non-Financial Metrics to Enhance Core Operations < https://youtu.be/vc-rCElCHpA> (Questions and Answers) < https://amr.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/amrfiles/EcywA7KBiV9Dr0NQsgJe1i0BjtgrV8RLip6TxV9toOq71A?e=Y1RaDM> 
  2. Chang, M., & Grieder, F. B. (2016). Sharing core facilities and research resources—an investment in accelerating scientific discoveries. Journal of biomolecular techniques: JBT, 27(1), 2.
  3. Kivinen, K., van Luenen, H. G., Alcalay, M., Bock, C., Dodzian, J., Hoskova, K., ... & Premvardhan, L. (2022). Acknowledging and citing core facilities: Key contributions to data lifecycle should be recognised in the scientific literature. EMBO reports, 23(9), e55734.
  4. Zwick, M. E. (2021). Organizing core facilities as force multipliers: strategies for research universities. Journal of biomolecular techniques: JBT, 32(1), 36.
  5. Bowen SK, Kigenyi J, Constable S, Mundoma C. A Shift in Our Thinking: Reframing Shared Research Resources as Investments in Education and Innovation, Not Subsidized Science. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques. 2022;33(4). doi:10.7171/3fc1f5fe.f1e46498
Working with Customers
  1. Best Practices for Core Facilities: Handling External Customers
    Philip Hockberger, Susan Meyn, Connie Nicklin, Diane Tabarini, Paula Turpen, Julie Auger
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3605920/pdf/jbt.13-2402-001.pdf
  2. Strategies for Shared Research Resources for Enhancing Research Sustainability: Communicating Between Stakeholders and Managing Expectations to Maximize Value and Impact: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37033092/
ABRF Core Administrators Network: The Early Years (JBT, March 2026)
Complementary ABRF Committees Working on Core Facility Development
  1. Career Development Committee:  Emphasis on work is focused on career development, mentorship, and career tracks for Core Scientists and Administrators
  2. CCoRRE: Emphasizes work on best practices for Rigor and Reproducibility.
Additional Resources from Other Institutions

Reciprocal Rates for Regional Institutions - MOU

Northwestern University Core Facilities Administration website < https://facilities.research.northwestern.edu/core-management/> has multiple resources on all aspects of core management.

FASEB Task Force Report - https://www.faseb.org/resources/shared-research-resources 

Maximizing Shared Research Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10078836/

News

ABRF responds to NIGMS Request for Information Notice Number: NOT-GM-16-103
On April 4, 2016 the NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) issued a request for information (RFI) on the “Need for and Support of Research Resources for the Biomedical Research Community.” Resources are defined broadly, including reagents, instrumentation, software, and even the manipulation of biological systems to produce tools. Respondents were asked to describe needs and opportunities at the investigator, institutional, regional and/or national level. Feedback will be used to inform NIGMS’s investment in resources and may lead to new programs or activities. Comments were due by June 3, 2016 and submitted to nigmsresource@mail.nih.gov. Additional information can be found in the RFI notice (NOT-GM-16-103).
Special NIH Workshop - Enhancing Efficiency of Research Core Facilities

The NIH partnered with the ABRF to host a one day workshop the day before ABRF2015 in St. Louis. The goal of the workshop was to identify lessons learned and best practices for enhancing the efficiency of research core facilities. NIH characterized its support and policies affecting cores. Institutional leaders presented their experience and perspective on obstacles and solutions to enhancing efficiency including centralizing management, sharing, and co-locating cores. Videos and associated slides of the meeting can be found online (part 1, part 2, part 3).
The full workshop report can be viewed here. 

Core Facility Acknowledgement: BioTechniques New Policy

BioTechniques: the International Journal of Life Science Methods has just announced a new policy regarding attribution of core facilities in publications. Their new policy is that submitted manuscripts should include acknowledgement of any use of core facilities. The journal will now ask authors during final acceptance if they worked with a core laboratory. 

The ABRF will continue to champion the adoption of similar policies by other scientific journals. Please note that the ABRF Website provides Recommended Guidelines for Authorship on Manuscripts (please click here [link to authorship guidelines] for more information). 

August ABRF Response to the NIH Request for Information on the SIG Program (S10)

Response to NOT-OD-14-104. 
This letter pulls together input from both the ABRF Executive Board (EB) and the Core Administrators Network – Coordinating Committee (CAN-CC). EB & CAN-CC Response 

Membership History

Member Name Organization Details
Michelle DetwilerRoswell Park Cancer Institutepast EB liaison: 10/10 - 02/11
Nancy FisherUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hillpast EB liaison: through 03/18
George S. GrillsCornell Universitypast EB liaison: 02/11 - 03/13
Phil HockbergerNorthwestern UniversityMember, Co-Chair: 10/10 - 04/15
Karen JonscherUniversity of Colorado Denverpast EB liaison: 02/11 - 03/12
Connie NicklinUniversity of Florida ICBRMember: 10/10 - 06/15
Diane TabariniMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterPast member: 10/10 - 03/14
Anthony YeungFox Chase Cancer Ctrpast EB liaison: 10/10 - 02/11
Paula TurpenUniversity of Nebraska Medical Centerpast EB liaison: 03/14 - 02/16
Andrew VinardUniversity of MiamiMember: 4/13 - 10/15
Vincent SmeragliaRutgers University
Karolien DenefColorado State University
Katherine HaleMD Anderson Cancer Center
Justine KigenyiUniversity of Kansas Medical Center
Michael LeeUniversity of California at San Francisco
Andy ChittyOregon Health Sciences University

Publications

  1. 2012 CANCC Report to the EB
  2. 2012 CANCC Report to the EB
  3. ABRF Executive Board and the Core Administrators Network – Coordinating Committee response to NIH Request for Information: Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10), notice number NOT-OD-14-104.
  4. Best Practices for Core Facilities: Handling External Customers
    Philip Hockberger, Susan Meyn, Connie Nicklin, Diane Tabarini, Paula Turpen, Julie Auger
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3605920/pdf/jbt.13-2402-001.pdf
  5. CAN-CC ABRF2012 Poster
  6. CAN-CC at ABRF2011
  7. Compiled notes from the Midwestern Association of Core Directors (MWACD) Administrative Meeting held October 17, 2013
  8. Core Models Roundtable - ABRF2012
  9. FAQs for Costing of NIH-Funded Core Facilities
    The purpose of these FAQs is to provide answers to common questions raised regarding NIH-funded core facilities and other applicable research related facilities that support NIH grants. FAQs for Costing of NIH-Funded Core Facilities
  10. FAQs for March 2014 NIH Shared Instrumentation Grants (PAR14-073): The purpose of these FAQs is to provide answers to questions regarding new instructions for the Institutional Letter of Support and other issues related to this grant mechanism.
    FAQs for March 2014 NIH Shared Instrumentation Grants (PAR14-073): The purpose of these FAQs is to provide answers to questions
  11. Managing NIH Resources - Sally Rocky (2011)
  12. Organization, management and operation of contemporary academic mass spectrometry service facilities.
    Karl V. Wood (Purdue University) and David L. Hachy (Vanderbilt University) JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY J. Mass Spectrom. 35, 1157–1164 (2000)
  13. The future of the NIH - Lawrence Tabak (2011)