Beyond Infrastructure: Shared Resources as Drivers of Impact and Collaboration in the NCI Cancer Center Community

Shared Resources (SRs) are essential to advancing team science in NCI-Designated Cancer Centers by providing access to specialized expertise, advanced technologies, and state-of-the-art instrumentation. Effective SRs rely on strategic planning, continuous evaluation, infrastructure investment, and user feedback to remain responsive to evolving scientific needs. Beyond technical support, SRs strengthen institutional research capacity by fostering collaboration, leveraging resources, supporting external partnerships, and serving as hubs for mentorship and training. Regional and national efforts have also expanded multi-institutional SR networks, promoting greater efficiency, innovation, and collaboration. Integrating SRs into the broader research ecosystem creates a strong foundation for transdisciplinary discovery, institutional resilience, and sustained innovation amid changing funding environments.