Research facilities at GUIDE

GUIDE considers the area of biotechnology of strategic importance and part of our technology strategy is therefore aimed at initiating and actively supporting the establishment and/or improvement of facilities needed for research and development of biotechnology medicines. Globalisation accompanied by massive advances in computing and automation has led to major shift in how research is carried out. Centralised resources, or resources available through a virtual network play an increasingly important role in advances made in individual research programmes. GUIDE is closely involved in the strategy and planning of the required equipment, as well as the management of and access to equipment (facilities) already available. Both (post)genomics and proteomics technologies feature strongly.

The quality of the facilities, was assessed as part of the assessment systems for all Dutch university research, as organised by the universities in The Netherlands and carried out by the independent organization QANU (Quality Assurance Netherlands Universities; see http://www.qanu.nl/. The commission wrote:

'The committee considers the equipment and facilities an important asset of GUIDE.
They are simply at top level, both in terms of the modernity of the technical infrastructure,
and in terms of the level of skill and knowledge of the operating staff. Most importantly, the
innovative research questions are geared towards optimal utilisation of the possibilities that the
technical infrastructure provides, creating a true cutting edge situation.
Efficient use of the equipment is ensured by the fact that several groups share in the cost of
purchase, maintenance and operation. The committee has noticed that the scientists agree that
sharing the facilities also leads to interesting scientific confrontation and cooperation.'

An overview of the facilities is given