Collaboratory
Enhancing the efficiency and productivity of our collaborative and innovative academic research programs to speed biomedical discovery.
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Neuroscience Collaboratory
Purpose
Create a new departmental research unit that enhances the productivity and efficiencies of individual BISC researcher programs, centralizes BISC support for laboratory training and instruction, and administers the BISC sterilization monitoring service.
Rationale
STEM research conducted in academic and non-academic settings have unique limitations and advantages. Academic research has a high rate of innovation and discovery. In part, this stems from the autonomous management of each laboratory that enables the principal investigator to independently identify critical research problems and approaches. In contrast, corporate research often uses a centralized approach to maximize productivity. Here, we propose a unique research structure the merges the advantages of each approach to optimize productivity and rate of discovery while potentially reducing the effort required of individual investigators.
Approach
Identify aspects of the academic scientific workflow (and related activities) that can be more efficiently completed by a corporate-like departmental research team. In the typical academic research environment, the amount of time researchers can devote to processes and activities that lead to scientific discovery is limited by numerous other demands.
A partial listing of activities that may not directly contribute to scientific discovery includes:
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Training of staff and students
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Optimizing protocols
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Disseminating technical expertise
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Incorporating state of the art technical expertise
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Regulatory compliance
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Coordinating with University offices (e.g., ARC)
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Purchasing/Budget management
Centralization of key operational activities would enable faculty to better focus their talents and specialized training on activities that directly lead to scientific discovery. To do this, BISC will establish a Neuroscience Collaboratory. Collaboratories are new research support models that enhance efficient use of resources and better support collaborative research.
The BISC Neuroscience Collaboratory enhances research by leveraging our collaborative culture, shared equipment, and financial resources.
Supported by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, the Charles E. Kubly Mental Health Research Center, and the BISC sterilization monitoring service.
