title: U.S. National Institutes of Health core consolidation-investing in greater efficiency.
abstract: The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) invests substantial resources in core research facilities (cores) that support research by providing advanced technologies and scientific and technical expertise as a shared resource. In 2010, the NIH issued an initiative to consolidate multiple core facilities into a single, more efficient core. Twenty-six institutions were awarded supplements to consolidate a number of similar core facilities. Although this approach may not work for all core settings, this effort resulted in consolidated cores that were more efficient and of greater benefit to investigators. The improvements in core operations resulted in both increased services and more core users through installation of advanced instrumentation, access to higher levels of management expertise; integration of information management and data systems; and consolidation of billing; purchasing, scheduling, and tracking services. Cost recovery to support core operations also benefitted from the consolidation effort, in some cases severalfold. In conclusion, this program of core consolidation resulted in improvements in the effective operation of core facilities, benefiting both investigators and their supporting institutions.
authors: Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Chang
authors: Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Birken
authors: Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Grieder
authors: Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D014481:United States
keywords: centralized resources; infrastructure; shared technologies
references: Sci Transl Med. 2011 Aug 10;3(95):95cm21
references: 21832235