Streamlining Model Organisms Facilities Operation: The Benefits of a Unified Management Structure
Our colleagues from GIMM (formerly from IGC) have recently published a new article exploring the benefits of a unified management structure for model organism facilities: “Streamlining model organisms facilities operation: The benefits of a unified management structure.”
Abstract:
This article is dedicated to elucidating and showcasing the concept of a unified Core Facility for laboratory animals within a research institute specialised in basic biology and biomedical research. In many research centres, animal facilities operate as autonomous entities. Here, we discuss that the centralisation of all animal model units within a consolidated organisational framework offers a multitude of benefits in terms of communication with a variety of institutional stakeholders, including the Direction Board, Operational Logistics (Maintenance, Lab Operations and Safety Units), Procurement and Accounting Offices, Research Funding Affairs, Institutional Communication, and IT Units. This integrated approach facilitates the implementation of consistent policies and service pricing strategies. Moreover, it promotes staff flexibility across species, allows for responsiveness to evolving research dynamics, emergence of new scientific areas and infrastructure challenges. This concept also inspires technical advancement within the animal facilities, supports training in Laboratory Animal Science, stimulates the standardisation of animal welfare practices, and instils a culture of care transversal to all animal models, ultimately enhancing overall animal welfare. This strategy facilitated the integration of non-vertebrate animals and plant models into the Core Facility. Despite significant differences from vertebrate models, this expansion presented advantages, such as incorporation of specialised staff into a larger organisational structure, offering them new opportunities for skill development and enhancing the overall flexibility of the Core Facility’s operations.
Original publication:
Rebelo M, Bom J, Borges A C et al. Streamlining model organisms facilities operation: The benefits of a unified management structure. Laboratory Animals (2025). DOI: 10.1177/00236772241309744