All Members Community

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has experience with a PI giving half an instrument to a core. Is that allowable? Can the core retain half of the capacity of an instrument, and the PI retain the other half for thier own personal use?

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Andy Chitty
Executive Director, MGB Research Cores
Mass General Brigham
Boston MA
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Are they asking for specific days? Is this a new piece of equipment being purchased? who is covering the maintenance contract or other associated costs?

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Meghan Kraft
Director of Research Core Facilities
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill NC
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Nothing concrete yet. I'm just wondering if it's compliant at all to split up the use of an instrument whereby a PI keeps some time - such as specific days - for themself, and lets the core use it for fee-for-service on other days/times, etc. It's a possibility, but of course all the details you mention have to be worked out. 

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Andy Chitty
Executive Director, MGB Research Cores
Mass General Brigham
Boston MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-21-2026 16:25
From: Meghan Kraft
Subject: PI gives half an instrument to a core

Are they asking for specific days? Is this a new piece of equipment being purchased? who is covering the maintenance contract or other associated costs?

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Meghan Kraft
Director of Research Core Facilities
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill NC
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We have a similar situation. The instrument was purchased jointly by the PI and the Core. The Core is responsible for the service contract, and the instrument is located in a shared space. We do not charge the PI's lab for instrument use. We calculate the time of use for the year and provide complimentary access to the lab for the determined number of hours. Access is not prioritized. Other users are charged for access.

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Sabrina Terranova
The Hormell Institute
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It is really an interesting business model! However, I see red flags all over.

If you have iLabs (or any type of software) that tracks usage, the PI (reservation/time) will be tracked and at the time of billing you have to make it $0, while other users are paying. These records will be complicated to justify if there is an audit.

A better model is: the instrument is given to the core, and the PI is given "some funds" to pay for the usage. In that case everything is transparent

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Marimar Lopez
Director Research Cores
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INST
Troy NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 5/22/2026 3:38:00 PM
From: Marimar Lopez
Subject: RE: PI gives half an instrument to a core

It is really an interesting business model! However, I see red flags all over.

If you have iLabs (or any type of software) that tracks usage, the PI (reservation/time) will be tracked and at the time of billing you have to make it $0, while other users are paying. These records will be complicated to justify if there is an audit.

A better model is: the instrument is given to the core, and the PI is given "some funds" to pay for the usage. In that case everything is transparent

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Marimar Lopez
Director Research Cores
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INST
Troy NY
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