Core Facilities staff memebers freqenty have a background in fundamental research, but are typically 'tech savies' who contribute to the life sciences via their knowledge and skills.

Core facilities offer visiting scientists access to equipment and expertise to generate and analyze data. For some projects, it might however be more efficient to collaborate remotely by sending in samples.

Core facilities—originally founded to give scientists access to a specific technology or service—have expanded to become incubators for new technologies and services. While it has many benefits, it also creates unique problems and challenges.

Core facilities have become an important resource in biomedical research, providing scientists with access to sophisticated instrumentation and expertise. To enable scientists to perform ever more complex and difficult experiments, core facilities not only need to constantly upgrade technology and expertise, but also cooperate and pool their assets.