- President’s Column
- Member Spotlight: Emma MacLaughlin, VUMC
- ABCD – Basic Concepts in Image Analysis – Part I
- September 9
- DEIB Virtual Education and Training Series –
September 10
- Membership Orientation – September 10
- Chapters Take Center Stage
- ABRF Joins Research!America
- Executive Board Nominations – submit yours by
September 5
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Hello ABRF Members!
As ABRF members, we
operate at the intersection of innovation and integrity. In today's
dynamic research environment, reproducibility is essential, and
standardization is key to achieving it.
Shared Research
Resources (SRRs) generate data that drives discovery. But without
consistent protocols, transparent workflows, and rigorous quality
control, even the most advanced technologies can be problematic.
That’s why ABRF remains committed to promoting best practices through
benchmarking studies, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and
professional development that strengthen both technical and
operational skills.
Standardization may
not be flashy, but it’s the backbone of scientific excellence. It
enables scalable innovation, trustworthy data, and broad
collaboration. In SRRs, it empowers creativity and makes
reproducibility the norm.
As part of our
strategic plan, ABRF is advancing its efforts to establish standards
of excellence in SRRs. Over the next three years, we aim to:
- Develop
a structured framework for standards and best practices
- Design
a roadmap for technology-specific credentials
- Leverage
ABRF resources to promote widespread adoption
This is a bold
undertaking, but one we believe will provide long-term value to our
members and to the broader scientific community. By championing
standards and reproducibility, we’re not just improving data, we’re
showing that excellence is what it means to be part of ABRF.
Kym
Delventhal
ABRF President
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Emma
McLaughlin, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
ABRF sat down with
Emma to discuss her role at VUMC and how she has enjoyed being
involved with ABRF.
Learn more about
Emma’s work and her ABRF experiences so far.
Have a suggestion for the ABRF
Member Spotlight? Contact us to schedule a time for a
short interview
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AI in
Bioimaging Community Discussions (ABCD)
Next session –
September 9, 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET
Join your colleagues to learn more
about the latest developments in the use of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) in Bioimaging. This month’s discussion will address:
Basic Concepts in Image Analysis – Part I. This session will
focus on the fundamentals of image processing and image analysis. We
will take a build-it-from-the-ground-up approach to explaining the
basic properties of an image and what needs to be considered when
extracting reliable quantitative measurements from data. We will also
cover some of the processing and analysis techniques involved. Hope
to see you there!
Register here.
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DEIB
Virtual Education and Training Series – September 10 – 12:00 – 1:00
pm ET
Speaking Up &
Practice Session – Bystander Practice
Join members of the ABRF DEIB
Council for this important session on how to speak up for yourself
and others. Register here.
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ABRF
Membership Orientation – Make the Most of ABRF – September 10
4:00 – 5:00 pm
ET
New and
experienced members alike will benefit from this engaging overview of
all the ways you can get involved with ABRF. From building on
your existing experience to developing new skills, ABRF membership
offers a range of options for you to grow your network and your
career. Bring your questions and suggestions. Register today.
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ABRF
Regional Chapters Take Center Stage
It’s not too late to join one of
the 5 upcoming ABRF regional chapter events to connect with your
colleagues and learn more about the latest technology and leadership
developments for Shared Research Resources.
Chapter
events include:
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September 15-17
Richmond, VA
Join us in
historic Richmond, Virginia as Virginia Commonwealth University hosts
the 2025 MAD SSCi meeting, September 15-17 at the Hilton Richmond
Hotel & Spa. With a focus on the opportunities Cores create
both within their institutions and in their broader communities, this
meeting is sure to inspire as well as educate all who attend.
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September 30 – October 2
Pegasus Park -
Dallas, TX
The newest ABRF
regional chapter is thrilled to host its second annual meeting in
Dallas, bringing together Shared Research Resource professionals
throughout the region. Session topics include:
- Rigor & Reproducibility in Cores
- Your Coaching Toolkit
- Alternative Funding Core Instrumentation
- Careers in Cores
Plan to join us for another great SC3
meeting.
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October 7-8
Seattle, WA
WACD 2025:
Celebrating the Value of Collaborative Science
This year’s WACD annual meeting,
hosted at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, includes valuable program
content for all shared research resource professionals, featuring
sessions on both the science and management within shared research
resources.
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October 8-10
New Haven, CT
On behalf of the NorthEast Regional
Laboratory Staff and Core Directors (NERLSCD) organizing committee,
we are pleased to announce that registration for the 2025 NERLSCD
Meeting is now open. This year's meeting is being hosted by Yale
University, from October 8th to 10th at the Omni New Haven. The
meeting will kick off on Wednesday with the ever-popular opening
reception to be held at the Peabody Museum of Natural
History.
The next two days
will include keynote addresses, roundtables, and breakout tracks for
Genomics, Imaging, Flow Cytometry and more.
The meeting
registration link can be found on our website at https://nerlscd.abrf.org
The early bird
rate for ABRF members is $135, which is good until September 15th. We
have secured a block of rooms for $219 a night, and you can reserve
them here.
If you have any
questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at oc@nerlscd.org.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Amy Blanchard and
Ben Myers
New Haven 2025
Hosts
Dan Mielcarz
NERLSCD President
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October 22-24
Madison,
WI
We are excited to
invite you to MWACD
2025: Building Sustainable Cores in Challenging Times,
taking place October
22–24 at the historic Wisconsin Union on Lake Mendota.
This year’s program brings together core directors, staff, and
administrators to share strategies for navigating today’s federal
funding climate, explore approaches to build resilient and
sustainable facilities, and discuss emerging opportunities in areas
such as AI in core technologies, IT compliance, and infrastructure
upgrades.
Highlights include
tours of
University of Wisconsin core facilities, exclusive tour and welcome
reception at Promega’s campus, as well as unique
plenary talks celebrating Wisconsin’s renowned traditions in cheese
making and dairy science. Attendees will also enjoy a networking reception and
Halloween costume contest at the iconic Wisconsin
Union. Additional breakout sessions will focus on core personnel
career advancement, physical science cores, and fair models for
indirect costs.
Register
today at MWACD.org!
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ABRF
Joins Research!America
To expand access
to timely and valuable information on the latest policy and advocacy
issues impacting the Shared Research Resources community, ABRF has
become a member of Research!America. ABRF will share all R!A
updates and members can register to receive the latest news
directly. Now more than ever, the voice of SRRs needs to be
heard to ensure the continued investments in shared technology to
advance research.
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ABRF
Executive Board Nominations – Submit yours by September 5
The ABRF
Nominations Committee invites all members to consider serving on the
ABRF Executive Board. Nominate yourself or a colleague for a
3-year term to help guide the future of ABRF. Nominations will be accepted through
Friday, September 5, with the election held this fall and new members
joining the Executive Board following the 2026 Annual Meeting in
March.
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