Toolbox

As the essential part of the EQIPD Framework​, the Toolbox is a s​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​tructured collection of various quality-related items, such as guidelines, protocols, and tools that can be used to build an EQIPD Quality System.

The toolbox is used as a source of potential solutions by the Planning tool to populate the Dossier.​

EQIPD has developed a specific terminology that is used to describe the framework and the quality system Glossary.​​

How EQIPD uses everyday words. Several ordinary terms carry a specific meaning here that differs from general usage — among them process owner, scope, quality and NEEDs. Where a page defines one of these, it says how the EQIPD meaning differs from the everyday one, so take the definition from the page rather than from the familiar sense of the word. The Glossary collects the terminology in one place.

Start here

• EQIPD — the framework, who it is for, and where it came from.
• EQIPD Quality System — what a quality system is in this context, and what it is for.
• Core Requirements — the 18 mandatory requirements. Every toolbox item below refers to one of them.
• Implementation Strategy — what a research unit should do first, and in what order.
• EQIPD principles — the reasoning the requirements rest on.
• Glossary — definitions of EQIPD terminology.
• NEEDs — the unit of work a research unit records and tracks.
• Frequently asked questions — common questions, answered.

​1. Objectives

1.1 Mission

1.2 Scope

​1.3 Qualit​y Culture

1.3.1 Transparency

1.3.2 Sources of pressure and bias-producing communication of pressure

1.3.3 Promotion criteria within a research unit

1.3.4 Performance criteria and assessment

1.3.5 Reward system and incentives

1.4 My Need for Quality

1.4.1 Research ethics

1.4.1.1 Research integrity

1.4.1.2 Data sharing

1.4.2 Adherence to legal and regulatory considerations

1.4.2.1 Biosafety

1.4.2.2 Chemical safety​

1.4.2.3 Radioactivity

1.4.2.4 Genetically modified organisms​

​1.4.2.5 Risks to unborn life

1.4.2.6 Handling of controlled substances

​1.4.2.7 Animal care and use

1.4.2.8 Human data protection​

1.4.3 Quality in collaborative research

1.4.3.1 Industry-academia: Research as service

1.4.3.2 Industry-academia: Research as collaboration

1.4.3.3 Academia-academia: Research as service

1.4.3.4 Academia-academia: Research as collaboration

1.4.3.5 Expectations from public funders

1.5 Govern​​ance

1.5.1 Quality policy

1.5.2 Roles and responsibilities of involved personnel and organization

1.5.2.1 Organigram

1.5.2.2 Management

1.5.2.3 Process owner

1.5.2.4 Principal investigators and study directors

1.5.2.5 Research team​

1.5.2.6 Supporting team​

1.5.2.7 Quality professionals

1.5.3 Management of resources

1.5.3.1 Personnel

1.5.3.2 Facilities

​1.5.3.3 Laboratory and experimental equipment used for measurement

1.5.3.4 Electronic information system

1.5.3.5 Organization-specific know how

1.5.3.6 Documentation requirement for sample and material

1.5.3.7 Retained personnel records

1.5.4 Prevention of Conflict of Interest

1.5.4.1 Independence of internal compliance assessment

1.5.4.2 Internal assessment of the organizations' quality professionals

1.5.5 Sustainability

​2. Key Processes

2.1 Experiment Planning

2.1.1 Study protocol

2.1.2 Unique study ID​

2.1.3 Appraisal of literature and systematic reviews​

2.1.4 Purpose of research

2.1.5 Pre-specification​

2.1.6 Sample size and power analysis​

2.1.7 Blinding​​

2.1.8 Randomisation​​

2.1.9 Inclusion and exclusion criteria​

2.1.10 Plausibility check

2.1.11 Preregistration​

2.2 Study execution

2.2.1 Use of SOPs for standard experiments

2.2.2 Use of template for (manual) data recording

2.2.3 Documentation of the experiment and deviations

2.3 Data handling

2.3.1 Generation, recording, handling and archiving of raw data

2.3.1.1 Converting non-electronic information into an electronic form

2.3.2 Primary analysis and evaluation of raw data

2.3.3 Statistical analysis​

2.3.4 Data visualization​

2.4 Reporting

2.4.1 Non-public reporting

2.4.2 Publication ​

3 Support Processes

3.1 Documentation management

3.1.1 Platform to record data​ ​

3.1.2 Procedures for how and when to record data

3.1.2.1 Traceability of data and any person having impact on data​

3.1.2.2 Process for witnessing of records

3.1.3 Data security​

3.2 Education, training and competence

3.2.1 General guidance on training

3.2.2 Good Research Practice training

3.2.3 Implementation of the EQIPD Quality System

3.2.4 Training on specific methods, tasks and activities

3.3 Laboratory resources

3.3.1 Fit-for-purpose working environment

3.3.2 Processes to enable computerized and non-computerized systems being suitable for intended use

3.3.3 Management of research materials and reagents

​​3.4 Experimental systems

3.4.1 Animal characteristics, care and use

3.4.1.1 Ethical evaluation and authorization process of animal use

3.4.1.2 Animal procurement & identification

3.4.1.3 Animal housing conditions

3.4.1.4 Animal environmental conditions

3.4.1.5 Food, watering and bedding

3.4.1.6 Sanitation procedure

3.4.1.7 Frequency and procedure of observation of animals

3.4.1.8 Animal health and genetic monitoring

3.4.1.9 Veterinary interventions during the study

3.4.1.10 Surgical procedures

3.4.1.11 Animal euthanasia procedures​

3.4.2 Non-an​imal test systems

3.4.2.1 Cell culturing

3.4.2.2 Antibody validation

3.4.2.3 Biological and technical replicates

3.5 Experimental methods

3.5.1 Animal and non-animal method and assay qualification

3.5.2 Protocols for methods and assays

3.5.3 Minimum reporting guidelines

​​4 Continuous Improvement

4.1 ​Assessment procedures

4.1.1 Risk assessment​​

4.1.2 Self assessment

4.1.3 External assessment

4.2 Prevention and improvement

4.2.1 Installation of solutions, actions and mitigation strategies

4.2.2 Error and incident management

​4.2.3 Responsible conduct of research

4.2.4 Key performance indicators​

4.3 EQIPD framework

4.3.1 Updating of EQIPD Dossier

4.3.1.1 Adding new items

4.3.1.2 Deleting items

4.3.1.3 Revising items

4.3.2 Using the EQIPD applications

4.3.2.1 Using the Planning Tool

4.3.2.2 Creating NEEDs

4.3.2.3 Revising NEEDs

4.3.2.4 Deleting NEEDs