The Ohio State University Medical Center Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute

 

Core Lab Policies and Procedures

 

This document is intended to provide users of the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (DHLRI) Core Laboratories with detailed information about the use of these facilities

 

The Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute provides research services in the following core laboratories:

• Small Animal Imaging Core
• Comprehensive Small Animal Surgery Core
• Interventional Cardiology Cath Core
• Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center Core
• Metabolism Core
• Flow cytometry Core
• Poster Printing and Event Rental Core

 

As part of the DHLRI, the core laboratories provide specialized equipment and services not routinely available in individual laboratories. The core laboratories are staffed by experienced specialists who provide training and technical assistance for the operation of equipment available in each lab. This document provides a general description of the function and major equipment provided in each of the core laboratories. In addition, it lays out the policies that govern the operation and use of the core facilities. Investigators and their staff who use the facilities will be expected to read and observe the following operating procedures. Continued access to these resources will be contingent upon appropriate interaction with staff, and responsible use of all equipment as well as payment of charges incurred.

 

Core Operations Committee

 

The Core Operations Committee is a subcommittee of the Shared Equipment and Core Operations Committee and was formed by the institute director with the charge of providing oversight, direction and support for the core facilities of the institute.

 

Core Operations Committee Mission Statement

 

The Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute is committed to providing its investigators with access to state-of-the-art technologies in well-organized and maintained core facilities to optimize their investigations of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The Core Operations Committee will provide oversight, direction and support for the core facilities of the Institute. Functions of the Core Operations Committee will include:

 

• Developing long-range planning for the cores
• Serving as a resource to advise the lab directors
• Monitoring customer satisfaction with the cores
• Providing oversight of core budgets
• Making decisions about new equipment purchases, management of existing equipment, and construction requests
• Providing assistance and oversight in the recruitment and interviewing of personnel for the Cores
• Reviewing the performance of core directors, managers and personnel.

 

 

Core Laboratories Oversight

 

The DHLRI Core Laboratories manager will provide general oversight on all core operations in the DHLRI. The responsibilities of the DHLRI Core Laboratories manager will be as follows:

 

• Serve as liaison between the managers of each core and the DHLRI Director
• Provide scientific advice to the core managers and DHLRI investigators
• Serve as liaison between core managers and investigators as needed
• Oversee effective operation of the core laboratory
• Advise about pricing structure and profitability
• Provide input on latest equipment and software available to enhance laboratory operations
• Assist core managers in developing and implementing laboratory policy and procedures
• Serve on the DHLRI Shared Resources and Core Operations Committee and Core Operations Subcommittee.

 

 

The Core Laboratory Managers

 

A manager will be assigned to oversee day-to-day operations of each core laboratory. The managers will have the following general responsibilities with regard to their core operations:

 

• Oversee daily operation of the core laboratory
• Schedule use of core laboratories
• Monitor equipment maintenance
• Provide input on latest equipment and software available to enhance laboratory operations
• Troubleshoot equipment problems
• Assist principal investigators in study design
• Assure compliance with applicable safety regulations
• Determine usage charges and initiating monthly billing to projects
• Train staff on use of core equipment
• Assist in grant application and design
• Serve on the DHLRI Core Operations Subcommittee

 

Core Laboratory Users

 

There are two categories of users for the core laboratories – academic and non-academic. The difference between the two groups is reflected in the usage rates charged by the cores, other than the rate schedule, all users are bound by the same operating policies. 

 

Core Laboratory Access and Equipment Use

 

Prior to using a core lab, the principal investigator must establish an account with the billing office of the DHLRI. This account authorizes the monthly billing of charges generated in one or more core labs. Accounts are established by submitting a completed eRequests for the appropriate DHLRI Core Lab. Authorizing eRequests must be submitted by the PI prior to any work being performed in the core labs. In addition, each individual user must submit a completed and signed access registration form, authorizing them to incur charges on behalf of the PI. A separate form must be submitted for each core lab used by each individual. This form is only required the first time that an individual requests access to a particular core lab. Failure to pay for core charges will result in loss of access to core use until payments are made.

 

Additionally, with the transition to iLabs the PI will need to create an account and assign personnel to give them access for scheduling with the core labs.

 

After submission of all required forms, core managers will determine the level of access for the user based on their equipment needs. Some equipment will require completion of a formal training course before a user can utilize the instrument. Investigators should contact the core manager well in advance of their anticipated needs in order to ensure that they either have the necessary skills, or will be able to obtain the required training prior to their planned use of the equipment. Please note that completed forms must be approved by the core managers prior to any scheduling or actual usage of equipment. Continued use of core facilities requires that the PI maintain an active billing account with the DHLRI billing office.

 

Where appropriate, 24-hour access to the core via key card will be authorized. When granted, such access is only for the authorized user, and then only for the equipment that the user has been approved to use.

 

The following points provide important access information:

 

• Core equipment that is designated only for core operators is off-limits to all users at all times.
• All core access and utilization requires prior authorization by the core manager. Core managers will specify the registration forms and training necessary for users to become authorized. Authorization is specific to equipment and level of operation.
• Access to core facilities is available 24 hours a day for trained and approved users. Off-hour access is by key card only. Key card access to the core labs is approved by core managers. Access is contingent on having active billing account information on file with the DHLRI business office. Core managers will review usage on an annual basis and cancel inactive accounts.
• Damage to equipment resulting from improper or unauthorized use may result in loss of privileges for the users involved and assessment of repair costs to the users’ principal investigator.

 

Core Laboratory Training

 

It is the responsibility of the core manager to ensure that all users are properly trained for the equipment they are authorized to use. The training will vary greatly depending upon the complexity of the equipment, and may be as simple as a ten minute demonstration by the core manager, or it may involve several hours of lecture and hands-on evaluation by the manager. Some sessions may involve a training charge, so be sure to discuss the training with the manager before signing up for it. Training in another facility or familiarity with a similar piece of equipment does not negate the requirement to prove competence to the core manager’s satisfaction. After discussion of previous experience with the manager, it may still be required to attend an abbreviated (or possibly a full) training session. Managers will maintain records of users who have undergone formal training. Principal investigators can contact the manager for information on their staff’s training and usage of core facilities.

 

Core Laboratory Charges

 

Each of the core laboratories will be a cost-recovery center within the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. Managers will maintain a price list for the services of their laboratories. There are different usage charges based on user category. Depending upon the core lab, there may also be different rate levels for regular business hours versus after-hours use. For the purposes of rate determinations, regular hours for all core labs are defined as 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, University holidays excluded. Note that the hours of manager availability may be different from the regular hours and may vary from core to core. Contact the core managers to determine their hours of availability. Charges for services are subject to change without advance notice. Any changes in pricing will be posted to the DHLRI website along with their effective date. Users are encouraged to consult the website for the current price list before initiating any new studies. Charges will be billed monthly to the account number on file in our business office, and investigators will receive a summary of charges incurred for the month. Scheduling of core equipment or core personnel is considered a commitment of resources and, therefore, a billable event, whether or not the user follows through with the reservation. Users are encouraged to carefully read the following section on the scheduling policy for the DHLRI core labs. Feel free to contact any core manager if there are questions regarding any of the rules.

 

Core Laboratory Scheduling

 

Users can check availability and schedule time for core equipment by accessing the online calendars after gaining access from the core manager. The web calendar may also be used to request assistance time by the core personnel. However, all assisted appointments are only tentative until confirmed by the core person involved. Checking on the availability of the core person before scheduling is generally recommended in order to expedite the process. Scheduling of off- hours assistance is always at the discretion of the core personnel and will carry a surcharge beyond the normal charges. To schedule equipment, go to the individual core lab web page and select the appropriate calendar based on the equipment/software you wish to use. If requesting core assistance, please refer to the individual core lab page for general hours of operation. For non-assisted operation, authorized personnel will have 24-hour access. The scheduling policy of the DHLRI core labs is designed to encourage the maximum availability of the facilities to all users. With this in mind, repeated over-booking of time or no-shows for scheduled time slots will be considered billable usage of the facilities. Users are expected to make reasonable estimates when booking time. If the core manager observes a pattern of scheduling excess or unused time, the user will be notified, after which they will be liable for all future scheduled time whether used or not. Core personnel are aware of the unpredictability of experimental setups and that planned experiments may need to be cancelled. Communicating problems to the core managers as soon as possible is the best way to avoid default charges. There will be no charge for cancellation of scheduled time if the core manager is notified at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled time. Charges for cancellations less than 24 hours in advance will be determined by the core manager based on the current demand for the equipment and the frequency of past cancellations by the user. A no-show with no cancellation call, however, can result in the entire amount of scheduled time, as well as any set up time, being charged to the investigator’s account, with no consideration given to the user’s history or equipment demand. If a user is late for a scheduled appointment during regular core hours, they must contact the core manager no later than 30 minutes after the scheduled start time to request the time slot be held. Note that the user can only request their originally scheduled time block will be held. Extending the time block to compensate for missed time will depend upon availability of the equipment and the manager. In either case, the user is responsible for the originally scheduled time slot. Scheduled time slots not claimed after 30 minutes become available for rescheduling to other users at the discretion of the core manager. Any unused time may be billed to the originally scheduled user. In the event that equipment in a core lab is not functioning properly, affected customers will be notified as soon as possible. To expedite this notification, users should make sure their contact information filed with the core is up-to-date and complete. The schedule will be adjusted to accommodate the time necessary for servicing the equipment. Once the equipment has been repaired, users bumped by the downed equipment will be given the first opportunity at scheduling the initial open time slots. To minimize the amount of equipment downtime, users should always report any problems with the equipment even if they were able to complete their work.

 

Core Laboratory Equipment Damage

 

Users who demonstrate misuse, unauthorized use, or abuse of equipment, scheduling, or core policies may have their access to all core equipment suspended. Core directors will be responsible for issuing any warning or suspension of privileges. If warranted, the core manager may require the offending user to repeat previous training sessions (including payment of any training charges) before reauthorizing the user. Please note that use of equipment for which you have not received prior approval is considered misuse, regardless of whether or not actual damage or incorrect operation of the instrument has occurred. In addition, it is considered misuse for any user to give access (either by key card or passwords) to an unauthorized person. All damage determined to be the result of misuse or neglect will require payment of needed repairs by the authorizing PI. The core directors will grant access to users whose privileges have been suspended only after the period of suspension has been completed and any damages have been reimbursed. A second offense will require a review meeting of the DHLRI Core Operations Committee to approve reinstatement of laboratory usage.

 

Core Laboratory Computer Usage

 

All users of the core laboratories computers will follow the Policy on Responsible Use of University Computing Resources located at

https://policies.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2025/02/responsible-use-policy_0.pdf

The use of some core computers may require a user account and password. These accounts will be issued by the core manager. The accounts may be on a per-user or per-lab basis, as determined by the policy of the core lab. Because you have the password to sign on to a piece of equipment does not mean that you also have the authorization to use it. Also, you cannot “loan” your authorization to someone else.

The core labs will provide disk space on workstations for data acquisition and processing, but not for data storage. The amount of space available will be determined by the core manager, based on the hardware available, and the number of users. Data files should be moved to the appropriate long-term storage (network shared drives or removable disks) upon completion of acquisition and processing.

 

All users are responsible for archiving data files they deem important to preserve. These may include raw data, intermediate or final processed files and images. Methods available for archiving will depend upon the user and workstation, but may include transfer to CDs, Zip disks, or the DHLRI servers. The Core Computer Services (CCS) provides directory space (10 GBytes) for DHLRI principal investigators. CCS performs daily backups of all data stored on the central servers, thereby allowing investigators to meet their archiving needs by simply transferring data files to research folders on the servers.

This policy is effective June 1, 2026. If you have questions about the DHLRI Core Labs Policy, please reach out to Holly.Sucharski@osumc.edu.