NERLSCD-2025-Recap

The Northeast Regional Laboratory Staff & Core Directors (NERLSCD) community gathered in New Haven, CT, October 8–10, 2025, for an energizing three-day meeting that brought together 255 participants and 44 sponsors from across academia, government, and industry.

Hosted at Yale University, this year’s meeting showcased the region’s thriving network of core facilities and technical experts who power discovery through shared instrumentation, advanced services, and collaborative research support.

The program featured workshops, keynotes, and breakout sessions spanning scientific innovation and operational excellence. Attendees explored emerging technologies—from multiomics and advanced microscopy to new data-management tools and instrument standardization—while also tackling practical issues such as core sustainability, institutional alignment, and effective communication of impact.

A major highlight of the Thursday roundtable featured Erin Darbouze, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy at Research!America, who provided an insightful overview of current federal actions affecting research funding, workforce stability, and institutional operations. Her remarks sparked thoughtful discussion on advocacy strategies and the evolving role of core facilities in supporting national research resilience.

Keynotes by C. Shan Xu, Seth Herzon, Kallol Gupta, and Peter Raymond highlighted frontier research in electron microscopy, synthetic chemistry, membrane biology, and environmental science.

The meeting also featured sponsor-led workshops (including Qiagen, Illumina, BD Biosciences, and TissueGnostics) and lively networking events—from the Peabody Museum reception to informal “Afterdark” gatherings—that strengthened community ties across institutions.

The Tom Volkert Memorial Award for Mentorship was presented to Bruce Kingham (University of Delaware), recognizing his exceptional leadership within the core community. The meeting wrapped up with a spirited New Haven Pizza Competition, where Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana was crowned the winner—a fitting finale celebrating the city’s culinary legacy and the collegial spirit of NERLSCD.

Special thanks to Amy Blanchard, Director of Research Cores, Yale School of Medicine, and Ben Myers, Director of Research Cores, Yale University – Office of the Provost, whose leadership as hosts made the event seamless and engaging.

With record attendance and strong sponsorship support, NERLSCD 2025 reaffirmed the region’s shared commitment to advancing research infrastructure, professional development, and advocacy.

Photos of this, and prior NERLSCD Meetings are available here. 

We look forward to seeing everyone at NERLSCD 2026, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA