RRID and authentication plans - Digital Persistent IDentifiers - PIDs - Research Guides at Virginia Commonwealth University

RRIDs: Research Resource IDentifiers

RRIDs, or Research Resource IDentifiers, are standard identifier numbers for research resources such as the exact equipment used for spectrometry or chromatography; custom biological agents like cell lines or antibodies; the version of software used; and so on. RRIDs are a little different from the other PIDs in this list because they only apply to some research. However, they cover a wide range of tools and resources and are growing. So everyone should check Scicrunch's RRID database, or determine if there are specific resource identifiers that can help you authenticate your research processes more accurately.

Fair Data Informatics lab: Scicrunch
Scicrunch's "Registry" section aggregates a wide range of research resources and assigns RRIDs as well as showing other persistent IDs. It is the best one-stop place to search for resource identifiers to improve study reproducibility.

Authentication plans for key chemical and biological resources

Authentication plans are a supplementary document requested in NIH research funding proposals. Studies using highly-variable agents or tools, should include a brief discussion for how they will authenticate those agents or tools in an Authentication Plan. The NIH's 2017 Authentication Plan reminder states things that should be addressed in planning how you will authenticate key resources, as well as things that are not considered key resources and should not be addressed.

Using RRIDs is one step that you could take towards authentication of resources. Read the notice and related links for ideas, do's, and don't's.

Reminder: Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources
NIH's 2017 clarification notice on authentication plans.
Implementing Rigor and Transparency in NIH & AHRQ Research Grant Applications
the NIH's 2016 notice on transparency and the use of authentication to improve transparency, rigor, and reproducibility.
Authentication Plan Example
Scroll down for authentication plan example paragraphs on chemicals, plasmid DNA, antibodies, and cell lines.
EQUATOR
The EQUATOR network links to plans for transparent reporting of a wide range of study types, ranging from pre-clinical to qualitative human research. This is a great place to look for transparent protocol guidelines.