Working Group Connects Lab Managers Across NIH
When you’ve seen one biomedical research laboratory, you’ve seen them all, right?
Not by a long shot, said Andrea Francesconi, senior technical laboratory manager at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and chair of the NIH Lab Managers Working Group.
“There are all sorts of differences,” she said. “And that’s why the working group is so useful. We have members from ICOs all across NIH and we share the kind of information that helps us stay on top of best practices.”
The group consists of about 45 representatives across five committees that support initiatives such as fire safety, emergency cold storage, inventory sharing and more. Biologists, chemists, facility managers, safety specialists and others from across NIH institutes meet once a month and use a Teams group to stay connected day-to-day.
Information isn’t all the lab managers share in their working group. An inventory of free lab supplies, equipment, chemicals and office supplies comprises the “NIH FreeStuff” web site, where lab managers can share things like halogen light bulbs for microscopes and equipment to isolate RNA and DNA from biological fluids. Before making a purchase, all NIH researchers can check the NIH FreeStuff website.
For instance, late last year a new lab in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) claimed $22,000 worth of free chemical reagents and supplies from the site.
“That example really highlights the cost-savings benefit of the NIH FreeStuff website” said Francesconi.
Biologist Dr. Charlie Drinnan serves as lab manager for the National Eye Institute’s (NEI) Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory. In addition to his research with bioengineering and regenerative medicine, Drinnan said he spends time each month working on initiatives of the group.
“It’s something I build into my schedule,” he said.
Last year, Drinnan helped lead an effort to update the lab’s safety policies.
“After Covid, we lost some of the continuity,” he said. “It’s important to keep things like that up to date.”
The working group has compiled a catalog of NIH-wide standard operating procedures (SOPs) that covers safety, lab operations, acquisitions, NIH resources and more. The list contains step-by-step procedures for everything from hazardous spills to cryogenic safety and biological and chemical waste disposal. There is a working group committee dedicated to establishing a “one stop shop” for researchers to access important SOPs.
In addition to monthly meetings, the LMWG hosts science-related vendor capabilities meetings each month. Representatives from companies like Fisher, Bio-Rad Laboratories and others join LMWG members via Teams for a discussion on what they can provide to the NIH community .
The LMWG is open to all NIH staff.
“You don’t have to manage a lab to join the group,” Francesconi said. “Representatives identify, troubleshoot and resolve issues to improve laboratory function. They commit to two-year terms, serve on a committee and perform tasks as needed.”
To learn more visit https://go.nih.gov/Y2LWVGX. To inquire about joining, email LMWG@nih.gov.