Table 1. The proposed four checkpoints to improve quality of research in core facilities.

Based on the current situation in core facilities (CFs) revealed by the survey, four checkpoints were identified, which have the highest potential to improve rigor and reproducibility.

Checkpoints	Recommendations
Experimental design	CFs should provide information and advice on the experimental design and encourage their users to follow good research practices. They should check the experimental design and reject any ill-designed project.
Sample quality	CFs should control sample quality before starting the experiment and reject samples of poor quality. In case of limiting or rare samples, CFs should discuss with their users what consequences the sample quality will have on data interpretation and if the experiment should continue.
Data analysis	CFs and PIs should decide who will be responsible for checking data analysis.
Publication	CFs should be informed before the data produced at the CF are submitted for publication to have the possibility to check them if they wish to.