Rigour & Reproducibility: adding value to research assets and scientific excellence

Session

Poster Session

Authors

Audrey SALLES (1), Anne Danckaert (1), Cidalia Da-Agra (1), Anne-Sophie Delannoy-Vieillard (1), Elric Esposito (1), Julien Fernandes (1), Yumi Gosselin (1), Benjamin Leveau (1), Nassim Mahtal (1), Lesly Raulin (1), Maimouna Seye (1), Christelle Travaillé (1), Nathalie Aulner (1), Spencer L. Shorte (1)

Affiliations

1. Institut Pasteur

Keywords

core facility, quality assurance, ISO9001, project monitoring, instrument metrology.

Abstract text

Advising scientists, training users, implementing, and maintaining access to cutting-edge research equipment and methodologies are routine activities for the vast majority of core facilities. Researchers and students rely on a core facility’s knowledge and technical skills to support their scientific projects. In this context, quality assurance processes provision the monitoring and management of the offered services (training, collaboration, assisted sessions) as well as the equipment and methodologies that underwrite every step from the experimental design through to analysis and interpretation. This is especially important in the case of imaging facilities where sample preparation and image data are vulnerable to inadvertent biases resulting from artefacts arising from undetected optical aberrations or inadequate experimental design. Since 2007, the bioimaging core of the Institut Pasteur implemented and has maintained  ISO9001 certification for service quality assurance (QA). We have used  this international certification to  assure the monitoring of internal processes aimed to minimize the impact of biological and system artefacts on data production, analyses and interpretation ranging from rigorous monitoring of project handling and instrument metrology over time. This methodology constitutes an asset within the core facility when it comes to producing consistent and reliable output from the installed microscope systems therein. 

In this poster we will present these quality assurance workflows from the request of a service to image data, and show how they enable comprehensive support, underwriting our commitment to guarantee optimal service and image data quality.