To address scientific, technological, organizational and funding challenges facing core labs in Europe, core facilities at six European research institutes announced in May the formation of the Core for Life alliance. Core laboratories support the research of an institute’s scientists by providing testing services and access to advanced analytical instruments and other laboratory equipment.

Current alliance members consists of core labs located in five countries. One of the German members is the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, which is publicly funded by 20 nations and supports 85 independent groups at five locations. Also located in Germany is the Dresden-based Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, a nonprofit organization with 361 employees. Spain’s Centre for Genomic Regulation (CGR) is an international research institute that supports international researchers and utilizes a novel organization model. Associated with the ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, the Functional Genomics Center Zurich is a research and training facility that supports over 180 new projects each year. The Vienna Biocenter Campus, whose nonprofit Campus Science Support Facilities is an Alliance member, houses universities, research institutes and private companies. Belgium’s nonprofit VLAAMS Instituut Voor Biotechnologie (VIB) supports 1,300 scientists and is a partner with four Flemish universities. The alliance was spearheaded by Geert Van Minnebruggen, Integration Manager and Head of Core Facilities at VIB, and Doris Meder, Head of Core Facilities at CGR.

Among the most pressing issues is a core lab’s ability to stay up to date with technology changes. “As technologies become more expensive and short lived, the real challenge for each institute is to be able to renew its machines and to keep pace with new technologies,” said Monica Morales, PhD, Acting Head of Core Facilities at the CGR. “To master this evolution, each life sciences institute has to decide on a few technological areas in which it will make continuous investments to be at the cutting edge. At the same time, the institute needs to guarantee access to other platforms that cannot be provided at an equal level of sophistication in-house,” she said. As noted in the alliance’s position paper, sequencers and super-resolution microscopy are among the techniques experiencing rapid technology improvements.

Core for Life aims to address the dilemma through resource sharing. Such a solution would enable different labs to specialize in different technologies, thus growing demand for each lab by pooling users and increasing user access to a wider range of technologies. The plan also addresses cost constraints. “A similar solution would come from joint investments in equipment. If a technology isn’t worth it for a single institute investing, but you have five more institutes also interested, there is enough support to purchase the equipment via a joint financial commitment,” said Dr. Morales.

As part of this effort, the alliance has formed six technology work groups: Bioinformatics & Scientific Computing; Genomics; Screening; Protein Technologies & Nanobodies; Light & Electron Microscopy and FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting); and Proteomics & Metabolomics. According to Dr. Morales, these groups will “scout new technologies and best equipment, which can then be validated quickly using an enlarged pool of users. The work groups meet on a regular basis (probably twice a year) to discuss a variety of items such as implementation of new SOPs, game changing new technologies, mini-sabbaticals for staff members, thematic workshops and even operational models to handle capacity sharing.” In addition, the groups’ chairs will meet to discuss coordination among different fields.

The alliance is also made up of general working groups. “In addition, there are general work groups tackling issues like quality management, staff training, or how to track technology contributions in publications—a very important issue when we want to critically evaluate the performance of a core facility,” explained Dr. Morales. Other general working groups are focused on low-input omics, image processing and one called the Directors’ Round Table, which discusses core lab management models. The alliance’s plans this year include a meeting addressing the integration of light and electron microscopy and an Annual Technology Forum.

Major goals of the alliance also include the creation of best practices and common standards for member labs, sharing of technology information and the formation of alliances for early technology access, training of core facility staff and lobbying for increased lab funding. “In order to fulfill our goals, we believe we need to work in a small circle of peers for effective and efficient decision-making,” said Dr. Morales. Periodic meetings of core facilities directors will be held to focus on management issues and create best practice documents and guidelines. In addition, she explained, “We plan to publish guidelines and position papers on our website, to organize open symposia, and to provide specific consultations to other institutes and organizations. “