A University of Guelph Core Research Facility (CRF) provides access to state-of-the-art research services, analyses, instrumentation, technologies, expertise and training needed and utilised by many investigators to conduct their research. Normally, a CRF will be too expensive, complex, or specialized for an individual investigator to cost-effectively sustain. A CRF will be broadly available to many researchers to conduct their research activities, irrespective of their administrative affiliation and with no requirement for collaboration or co-authorship.

University of Guelph CRFs will have formal institutional recognition, through the Office of the Vice-President Research. CRFs must be broadly available to all University of Guelph with no requirement for research collaboration or co-authorship other than normal acknowledgement based on contributions in accordance with normal research practices. CRFs will have institutional support and an approved governance model, generally involving multiple Colleges. CRFs will be managed professionally by Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) who provide resources, expertise, and instrumentation for both expert and non-expert researchers with services that are accessible, timely, reliable, and quality controlled.  CRFs may provide a range of support services including, consultation, training, experimental design, sample preparation, data analysis and interpretation, and technology development.

The following principles will guide the formation and institutional recognition of a CRF:

  • Demonstrated strong alignment with the Strategic Research Plan.
  • Size, scale, and broad usage, exceeding what is normally managed by a single department or college.
  • Researcher and staff buy-in and significant user base, across multiple departments and/or Colleges.
  • Wide accessibility by both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Reduced duplication of infrastructure.
  • Sustainable funding model, which may include membership fees and/or fee-for-service revenue.
  • Shared governance, which may include the Office of Research (depending on the funding model), faculty users, and a Steering Committee.
  • Scientific directors or leads with the capacity to provide vision and strategic direction and support infrastructure renewal and upgrades.

The following outcomes should be a feature of a CRF:

  • Wide access to state-of-the art services, facilities, and technologies.
  • Financial savings that arise from consolidation of activities, including economies of scale, development of in-house maintenance capabilities, increased equipment life, and elimination of duplicated effort.
  • Expert oversight guaranteeing skilled use of equipment, technical support, training and education; thereby ensuring high-quality data production and safe operations.