The MarLab, a research laboratory at the Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM) of the CNR of Palermo (directed by Dr. Marta Di Carlo and Dr. Maria Di Bernardo), is designed, organized and managed according to a Quality Management System (QMS). In June 2014 it was awarded with quality certification UNI ISO 9001:2008, issued by ITALCERT. This laboratory represents one of few certified laboratories in the Italian and European public research system.

The MarLab, created for the housing, development, and handling of small marine organisms, is also utilized for scientific dissemination and it aims to be employed for Technological Transfer.

The development of the MarLab has led improved efficiency in the laboratory’s work processes, and also to the creation and development of a web site for the management of scientific and organizational structures (https://help4lab.ibim.cnr.it/marlab).

The MarLab has passed all internal and external audits and reviews and after resolving little non-conformity was granted with Quality Certification recognized by the Italian accreditation organization ITALCERT for the EA sectors : “38  Health and social work “

Its creation was made possible by the Quality and Project Management OpenLab project (qPMO, coordinator Annamaria Kisslinger, IEOS-CNR, Naples), funded within the FaReBio Quality project of the Ministry of Economics and Finance, CNR Mezzogiorno. The qPMO, involving researchers from 5 CNR Institutes (IEOS, IGB and IBBR in Naples, IBPM in Rome, IBIM in Palermo) and advised by Antonella Lanati (of  “Valore Qualità”), has been developed as an experimental research project, which uses Quality and Project Management principles as engines and infrastructure in the planning and execution of its operations. A “Quality Management Manual,” along with procedures and guidelines for the management of the MarLab, was drawn up by Antonella Bongiovanni, Marta Di Carlo, Loredana  Riccobono, Maria Di Bernardo and Luca Caruana (IBIM) and coordinated by A. Lanati of “Valore Qualità”.

The MarLab has been conceived as a new model of QMS laboratory organization to be translated in other scientific research labs working in the area of Life Sciences, with the aim to disseminate a new methodology for the planning and organization of research activity. Furthermore, the aim of this QMS model is to increase the efficiency and efficacy of the laboratory by improving results (publications, patents), budget, human and financial resources management to increase the prestige of the laboratory and of the Public Research Institution