Virtual Institute Infrastructures – EXPERTISSUES Core Laboratories (ECLs)
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ECLs will be driven by cross-discipline intended to support optimal use of facilities for education, outreach experiments, research and technology development within the EXPERTISSUES EEIG activities. The proposed regulations are aimed to ensure that ECLs offer its members quality services and a productive and pleasant working environment.
ECLs will operate and function based on the core philosophy of open-access, hand-on training, collaboration and assistance. However, the following regulations will apply:
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Research Centers & Institutes
3B´s Research Group, University of Minho (Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
Research Centers & Institutes (headquartered at other institutions)
CSIC, Institute Sci. Tech. Polymers, Madrid
University of Pisa, Chemistry & Ind. Chemistry Dept.
University of Tampare, Institute of Biomaterials
Ludwig Boltzman Institute, LBI Trauma Care, Vienna
Acad. Sciences Prague, Dept. Bioanalogous & Biodegradable Polymers
Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Pathology, Mainz
ETH Zurich, Institute of Biomedical Engineering
EPFL, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Middle East Technical Univ. Dept. Biological Sciences, Ankara
Hacettepe University, Dept. Chem Eng., Bioengineering Div., Ankara
U. Trento, Department of Materials Engineering
U. Sheffield, Centre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, School of Clinical Dentistry
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Casali Inst. Chem.
Chalmers Univ., Dept. of BioPolymer Technology
Univ. Keele
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck
MATERIALISE NV
Cell Med
Medical University Vienna, Department of Traumatology, Center of Joints and Cartilage
Cross Blood Transfusion Service of Upper Austria
University of Genova, Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics
Imperial College London, Department of Materials and Institute for Biomedical Engineering
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The ECLs can be used by internal and external users following the rules of the owner Member (e.g. prior authorization, proper training, set-up of user account, fee payment).
Internal Users
Internal users are staff (professors, post-docs, graduate students, technicians, other researchers) belonging to any member of the Virtual Institute that intend to carry out a specific work plan related with the EXPERTISSUES EEIG activities.
External Users
Externals users can be researchers at the nearby academic institutions and related industrial companies.
Prior conditions to use the ECLs
The use of equipments at ECLs can be done by qualified individuals (trained users only) or with technical assistance by an ECL’s Technical Specialist.
In order to use the ECLs, it is necessary to fill out an account application form for the proper services to set-up an user account (application form with user information: e.g. user name, institution/department, User ID, password, billing details). An User ID and password will be necessary to reserve time on-line and to
log on to the instrument.
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Following account creation, users must attend a training session on the proper instrument(s). Regular training sessions and short courses will be offered as part of EXPERTISSUES EEIG educational programs.
Training by ECL authorized personnel is a necessary pre-requisite for core equipment use. The training process may include the following steps:
On-line Training Courses
A “Training site” with training modules required for each equipment will be implemented. Upon completion of the relevant courses and exams a certificate will be provided.
Instrument Instructions
A list of instrument guides will be available for reading and printing in order to provide useful material for the training sessions. These instruction manuals are not meant to substitute formal training, but rather to complement it.
Hand-on Training
The ECL staff will ensure proper training to the users by arranging a training session for a specific instrument.
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Equipment inventory and Specifications
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A detailed instrument inventory and specifications is under preparation and will soon be available.
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The reservation of equipments will be made through an on-line manager software or using web based calendars to insure that the core equipment is available at the desired date and time. Authorized users can access to all the facilities at ECL following the procedure:
Fill out the application form and apply for a user account
Prior to access to any of the facilities, application must be approved by the facility manager.
Attend the relevant training session on the specific instrument
All users are required to attend training sessions before they are authorized to run any instrument by themselves.
Reserve a specific instrument and operate the instrument
All users must book reservations in advance. Depending on the instrument, users may not book more than 5 consecutive hours.
Obey the facility rule of ECL
All users need to follow general good practices and the owner Member's rules
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The ECLs will be used on a fee per use basis. The fees at the ECL will be established by the owner Member and the charge rates will be based on the type of user (ECL affiliated - members of Virtual Institute, or non-affiliated) user experience (Inexperienced and Experienced) and need of technical assistance. ECLs staff can be contracted to perform any of the services offered by ECLs.
Each user upgrades to a higher level of experience (lower fee rate) after accumulation of certain usage time for each individual instrument.
Training, tech assistance, certain supplies are charges additional to instrument use.
A list of prices for the usage of ECLs (User Fees for ECL affiliated and non-affiliated members), billing forms will be available at the ECL website. The payments will be made according with rules established by each owner member.
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ECLs Funding Acknowledgement
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In order to support the ECLs, all users will be asked to acknowledge the institutions that fund ECLs on all communications, papers and presentations where data from ECL equipment is used. Alternative forms of acknowledgement are acceptable as long as funding agency is acknowledged and ECL is mentioned.
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Mailing address
Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra
S. Cláudio do Barco
4806-909 Caldas das Taipas – Guimarães
Portugal
Tel: +351 253 510 900
Fax: +351 253 510 909
Rui L. Reis
Director
Tel: +351-253-510902 (Direct) or
+351-253-510900 or
+351-253-510915 or
+351-253-510916 (PAs)
e-mail: rgreis@dep.uminho.pt
Adriano J. Pedro
Facility Manager
Tel: +351-253-510910 (Direct)
e-mail: adrianopedro@dep.uminho.pt
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Virtual Institute 