ABRF Core Administrators Network: The Early Years

This article presents the authors’ perspectives on the origins and early impact of the Association of Biomolecular Facilities (ABRF) Core Administrators Network (CAN). Formed in 2010 amid the rapid expansion of core facilities across U.S. universities and medical centers, CAN addressed growing demand for guidance on compliant service pricing and cost-recovery practices. Through early leadership and targeted educational programs, CAN helped resolve policy and regulatory questions, raised awareness among federal agencies and institutions of the central role of core facilities in modern research, and advocated for sustained investment to preserve their effectiveness and efficiency. In partnership with ABRF, CAN drove membership growth, positioned ABRF as the national organization for core administrators, and catalyzed the creation of institutional sponsorships These foundational efforts established CAN as a national leader in core administration and strengthened the standing of core facilities as essential assets for research instututions.