Policy for MOLSCREEN Access
1. User Eligibility and Access
MOLSCREEN is open to researchers, trainees, and collaborators with the following access tiers.
- Self-Serve (Trained Users): Approved users operate equipment independently after training and competency assessment.
- Assisted Use: MOLSCREEN staff run experiments on behalf of users who require technical support or lack training.
- Full-Service (Collaborative Projects): Staff fully manage project design, sample handling, data acquisition, and interpretation.
New users must complete an orientation session and safety module(s) before instrument use.
2. Training & Competency
MOLSCREEN is committed to fostering user independence and skill development.
- Training is mandatory for first-time users, who must have at least a BSc degree in chemistry or biochemistry and safety certification.
- Competency evaluations are conducted before granting unsupervised access.
- Training includes system operation, maintenance, data handling, and safety protocols.
- Refresher sessions are available upon request and may also be required at the discretion of RB and MO.
Users must review standard operating protocols and relevant equipment manuals before instrument use.
3. Scheduling & Cancellations
Instrument time must be booked in advance via the MOLSCREEN booking portal.
- Late cancellations (within 24 hours) or no-shows may incur charges and/or reduced priority to ensure fair resource allocation.
- Extended or recurring use may require project review and approval.
- Users must record the time they are using the system and are logged onto the system on the record books near each system.
4. Cost Recovery & Billing
MOLSCREEN operates on a cost-recovery model as required by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and host institution guidelines.
- Fees cover a portion of the costs of instrument usage, regular maintenance, and relevant staff support.
- Quotes are available upon request; all charges will be billed monthly, and are payable within 30 days.
- Users are responsible for their own consumables including buffers, pipettors, tips, sample cells, plates and probes, these are not included.
- Users must provide valid grant and departmental accounts before booking instrument time and training.
- Users will contribute fairly to the costs of agreed and required repairs or maintenance of the equipment based on their percentage of usage.
5. Sample & Safety Compliance
To ensure safe operations:
- All samples must be clearly labeled to identify the user, contents, and date of generation and logged prior to analysis.
- Hazardous, infectious, or unstable materials require prior approval.
- Users must adhere to institutional biosafety and chemical safety regulations.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be used as required in the lab.
6. Data Management & Integrity
MOLSCREEN users are responsible for the stewardship of their research data.
- Users must transfer data to secure institutional or lab storage after each session.
- Data on instrument computers may be deleted without notice to manage disk space.
- Users must maintain metadata: sample ID, date, instrument, operator, file naming.
- MOLSCREEN is not responsible for lost data due to user inaction or storage failure.
Where appropriate, users are encouraged to share data in open repositories per institutional and funding body requirements.
7. Publications & Acknowledgment
To demonstrate impact and ensure continued funding users agree to:
- Acknowledge MOLSCREEN in all publications, posters, and presentations that include data collected on MOLSCREEN systems.
- Cite the funders with a statement such as: “This work was supported by the Molscreen facility, which is funded by a Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund Grant (38496) and NSERC Discovery and RTI Grants (2024-06426 and 2018-00620).”
- Notify MOLSCREEN of all relevant publications, posters and presentations and send PDFs or citations to RB for reporting purposes.
- Discuss co-authorship with MO if scientific support including for sample optimization, data collection or analysis was provided.
8. User Conduct & Liability
Users agree that they
- must treat equipment, space, and personnel with respect and professionalism.
- must alert MO and RB as soon as safely possible about any incidents or potential damage to the facility or equipment.
- will be held liable for damage due to intentional misuse, gross negligence, or unauthorized access by untrained users.
MOLSCREEN reserves the right to refuse service for unsafe behaviour, policy violations, misuse or undocumented samples.