Examples of implementing a unique study ID

From INBC of University of Heidelberg

Claudia Pitzer, the core facility head of the Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, uses this explanation in a document handed out to the user:

File naming: in order that each data is unique and retrievable we suggest that you adhere to the following file naming convention: [date YYMMDD]-[the first letter of your first name together with your last name]-[free text]. If your surname is long you may use only the first 6 letters of it.

e.g. 201108-cpitzer-catwalk with mice zQ98

From Neuro-Behavioral-Analysis Unit, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Lausanne

Leonardo Restivo, the core facility head of the Neuro-BAU, uses this nomenclature to store metadata at his core facility.

This system is only used to store metadata(project id, project info, experimental protocols) but it is not used for raw data. The experimental record ID is generated as follows:

Initials of the PI + Acronym of the department + Institution acronym + Sequential integer

Example: Leonardo Restivo, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience (swap letters in french acronym), University of Lausanne, project one

e.g. LR_DNF_UNIL_1

This id is part of a simple two-table database (it has its unique own row_id see image): The `code-name` field contains a friendly name (e.g. "gut microbiota and spatial orientation") for the project. This name is used to communicate with the lab working on the project. Each experiment belonging to this project inherits the project id. Every experiment has its own unique id (which is a unique auto-incrementing integer) + friendly name (e.g. "water maze") The `experiment` table has a field named `data`. This is a link to a text-markdown file that logs the experimental protocol and any change to it.

From Behavioral and Physiological Phenotyping Unit of Weizmann Institute of Science

Michael Tsoory, the core facility head at Weizman Institute, describes the procudure for users as follows:

“The PI must communicate the IACUC Approval number to the CF and to the person(s) undertaking the Studies and Experiments. This number must be incorporated into the unique study-experiment ID by whomever assumes responsibility on maintaining the Experimental Records”.

Here at the WIS, the IACUC# is the first and most important requirement; a PI CANNOT purchase lab animals without it (it is a “must fill in field” in the procurement system) NOR ask for a breeding procedure (similar “must fill in field in electronic form).

Therefore a record keeping system may apply the below noted suggestion:

For example, IACUC Approval 12340221-1 (IA) includes 3 studies (3 Study Protocols: SP1, SP2, SP3), one of which ('SP2) is assessing the relevance of gene X to learning and memory. So SP2 includes assessing wt and KO mice in the 1) Y-maze; 2) NOR; 3) MWM; as well as some anxiety tests 4) Acoustic Startle Response; 5) Dark-Light Transfer test; and basic motor assessments 6) home-cage locomotion; 7) Open-Filed. All together 7 Experimental Procedures (EP).

The Experimental Records will be filed in a FOLDER named: IA12340221-1

• PLANS, experimental designs, planed experimental procedures, and everything else that has to do with planning etc. (like calculations of Ns), will filed in folders named SP with subfolders for every experiment EP.,
• All data generated in these studies will be filed a RAW DATA folder; a DATA folder will have subfolders of SP and subsequent EP.
• All analyses of data generated in these studies will be filed an ANALYSES folder

(we may want to include additional folders for “conclusions”, “publications”)

IA12340221-1

PLANS

SP1

SP2

EP1

EP2

…

EP7

RAW DATA

SP1

SP2

EP1

EP2

…

EP7

ANALYSES

SP1

SP2

EP1

EP2

…

EP7

  The data generated in this MWM experiment will be

e.g. IA12340221-1/DATA/SP2/EP3

The files in that folder can take a name comprised of the DATE and initials of the person performing the test “John Doe”: JD_YYMMDD.   Moreover, in the data sheet I STRONGLY recommend that the IACUC#, SP# and EP# would appear in the columns next to the mouse#, DOB, SEX and Genotype columns (in the Noldus Ethovision these columns may be added already in the “trial list” stage and would be automated included in all output/export files):

Identifiers							Latency to reach platform
IACUC#	SP#	EP#	M#	DOB	SEX	Genotype	Day1 Trail1	Day1 Trail2	…..	Day5 Trail4
12340221-1	2	3	666	YYMMDD	F	wt	90	90		25
12340221-1	2	3	667	YYMMDD	m	vKO	90	v87		34
v12340221-1	2	3	668	YYMMDD	F	KO	90	90		18
12340221-1	2	3	669	YYMMDD	m	wt	90	78		27