The core facilities support the Center research projects, ISB research, and in some cases, external users by providing access to the technologies on a fee-for-service basis or from joint research project grants. Center research projects improve the functionality of the core facilities by setting priorities for the equipment purchases used for technology development and data production, working with core personnel on technology development strategies and evaluation, reporting back to the core facilities which data generation strategies are working well, and which need improved quality control, and by providing data analysis software tools to the cores, thereby promoting resource sharing. In turn, the cores support Center research by making the process of data acquisition efficient. The cores are a central repository for best practices, quality control and data standards with regard to a given technology. Experienced core managers advise on experimental design and potential pitfalls, thereby helping investigators obtain results more expeditiously. Thus, the relationship between the cores and the research projects is strengthened via positive feedback.