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Access to the ResourceTo utilize the Resource facility, investigators will normally first discuss their interest with the staff of the Resource. For initial contact with the Resource, referral to Resource staff or other information about the submission of applications, please contact:
After discussion of the research problem with the Resource staff, applicants submit a detailed application outlining the scientific problem. However, to test the feasibility of a pilot experiment or novel ideas that do not require a substantial number of AMS analyses, applicants can also obtain access to the Resource via submission of a "letter of intent". Applications and letters of intent are accepted at any time and can propose to utilize the Resource in either collaborative or service modes. Before a final decision for inclusion in the Resource is made, applications and letters of intent will be reviewed to make sure the research problem is appropriate and tenable by AMS, and for scientific impact. It is required that all research projects utilizing Human Subjects and/or Vertebrate Animals must conform to the NIH Human Subjects Research regulations and Animal use guidelines. Applicants must provide documentation of institutional approval for the Human Subject and/or Vertebrate Animal work proposed to the Resource. The use of Human Subjects or Vertebrate Animals should be discussed with the Resource staff prior submitting an application. The Resource can be utilized by biomedical researchers in either a collaborative or a service mode for either single experimental projects or program projects that describe a series of intellectually linked experiments. Although investigators do not need to have NIH funding to utilize the Resource, priority will be given to research projects that are NIH funded. Collaborative projects are generally defined as those that require substantial intellectual investment on the part of both Resource staff and applicant investigators and lead to new AMS applications or the development of improved AMS technologies. Service projects are those from publicly funded researchers that require only AMS sample preparation, sample analysis, and data reduction using previously developed AMS methodologies. The service includes any necessary education of applicant investigators in design of experiments utilizing AMS, preparation of samples for AMS processing, and initial AMS data interpretation. The Resource funds approximately half of the available time on the 1 MV AMS spectrometer. In order to make the Resource as widely available as possible, limits have been set on the number of AMS measurements that will be supported under the Resource for each collaborative project. This limit (100 samples) should allow for completion of most studies or provide enough preliminary data for a successful grant proposal. Use of the Resource or AMS facility above this sample limit is possible for a fee. Commercial or non-publicly funded research may access the Resource capabilities through a full cost recovery contract. Researchers proposing to perform AMS research will need to evaluate their laboratories and equipment for background isotope levels that could interfere with their studies. The specific number of samples needed for QA/QC purposes will be determined in consultation with the Resource staff. Fees for a QA/QC evaluation are dependent on the number of samples (10 samples will be measured gratis) and type of monitoring needed in each individual project. Sample preparation, beyond routine procedures, will incur additional fees that will be determined in consultation with the investigators. Contractual arrangements for payment of fees need to be completed prior to sample submission. See Business and Contractual Arrangements for details. Charges for AMS measurements of samples utilizing 14C are as follows (fees are subject to change):
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