Today@Dal

Dalhousie’s shared research facilities provide access to equipment, services, and technical expertise that empower research excellence and innovation across the university. ‘Core’ research facilities are recognized as critical to the success of Dalhousie’s research mission and require centralized supports and investment for sustainable operations.

In 2020-21, a consultative review process was sponsored by the Offices of the Vice President Research and Innovation and Vice President Finance and Administration to identify opportunities to support Dal’s core facilities. From this the DalCore program was created, with funding from the Government of Canada’s Research Support Fund, to support the sustainable development and operation of critical research resources for Dalhousie researchers. To this end, the program aims to improve awareness and access to core facility resources, streamline administrative processes, and implement coordinated and data-informed strategic planning processes.

As the Dal Core project moves forward, we took the opportunity to discuss its goals and what the research community can expect with program administrator Jessica Connors, Manager of Operations, Core Facilities.

1. Please describe the kinds of infrastructure to be included in the DalCore program?

Core facilities generally contain research technology platforms that are needed by multiple investigators but are too complex or resource-intensive for a single investigator to maintain and operate, such as a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Importantly, infrastructure within core facilities is run and maintained by experts who ensure optimal condition of equipment, provide specialized research support and consultation, and train/educate users to ensure high quality data outputs. Together, facility equipment and staff expertise form the essential research resources the DalCore program is aiming to sustain and develop.

2. Are there models at other universities or research institutions from which Dalhousie is drawing inspiration? What are the key elements you hope to capture?

Centralized core facility programs are becoming common at research-intensive universities and provide a range of examples for shared management of major research resources. Specific program details vary, but several common elements included in the DalCore are:

• Establishing transparent and data-informed strategic planning processes
• Providing a software tool to streamline facility operations and financial management
• Improving awareness of available resources through a central online portal
• Developing and promoting consistent best practices for core facility administration

3. How will Dalhousie researchers benefit?

Existing shared research facilities currently provide equipment and/or services to several hundred Dalhousie researchers, as well as student programs and external research communities. The DalCore program’s centrally coordinated approach to facility administration and planning will benefit our researchers by:

• Improving visibility and accessibility of all research infrastructure and services
• Ensuring the development and implementation of sustainability plans for operation, maintenance, and replacement of critical research resources
• Better enabling and supporting R&D linkages with industry and community partners
• Reducing facility and university level administrative burden through improved efficiencies in day-to-day operations, such as instrument booking, billing, and payment processing.

4. Can you describe the web platform you plan to launch and how the research community will interface with it?

The program will establish and maintain a central Dal.ca site which allows Dalhousie researchers and external users to access information about available equipment, services, and expertise available to researchers. DalCore is also implementing a web-based core facility management software system— Idea Elan’s Infinity X—that will improve administrative and operational efficiency of core facilities while providing researchers a user-friendly portal for requesting research supports or services, training, and reserving the use of equipment. Infinity X is planned to go live by summer 2024. New and existing users will be able to log in with their NetID (or e-mail, if external to Dal) to view available resources and request access.

Research Support Fund

Established in 2003, the Research Support Fund (RSF) helps Canadian universities and colleges, along with their affiliated health research institutes and research hospitals, with the indirect costs associated with federally funded research. In 2023-24, the RSF/IPG is providing $10,488,318 to support the indirect costs of research, including research security, at Dalhousie and affiliate hospitals.

_

This story is also available as a PDF copy on the Research Support Fund webpage.