RRID | Resource Citation Guidelines

FIND YOUR RRIDs
http://rrid.site

RESEARCH RESOURCE IDENTIFIERS (RRIDs)
The Resource Identification Portal is not in the business of minting new identifiers. Whenever possible, the RRIDs it provides are based on existing identifiers from authoritative community databases and vendors for each resource type. To ensure their global uniqueness, RRIDs are prefixed to indicate the source of the identifier. For example, the "AB" prefix of the RRID:AB_794454 indicates its provision by the Antibody Registry. This source prefix also helps researchers find key metadata located in resource repositories, vendor catalogs, or aggregation services. To avoid ambiguity where a resource has been assigned more than one identifier by different authorities, such IDs are cross-referenced in our system. For example, the fgf8a(ti282a/+)AB zebrafish strain has the identifier ZDB-GENO-070209-1 from the Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN) model organism database, and ZL1030 from the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) stock center. Both are valid and used in the literature, and can be resolved to a single resource in our system.

RESEARCH RESOURCE CITATION GUIDELINES
RRIDs are provided in this portal as part of research resource citations, which are pre-formatted snippets of text that can be copied directly into a publication. Resource citations are comprised of key metadata for the resource such as the company name and catalog number or the genotype of the organism plus the RRID. The structure and content of these citations represent a standard for how resources should be cited in the literature to adequately document their identity and provenance. Below we review the key elements of research resource citations for antibodies, tools, and organisms, and the key attributes of these resources types that are critical to cite for their identification and re-use.

Antibody Citations

Commercial antibody citations provided here include a vendor name, catalog number, Lot number and an RRID that is derived from the Antibody Registry authority:

DSHB Cat# RC2, lot# 123, RRID:AB_531887

While a vendor, catalog and lot number may be a sufficient for uniquely identifying most antibodies, an Antibody Registry identifier is useful in virtue of how antibodies are cataloged and distributed across vendors - which often results in a single antibody becoming associated with numerous catalog numbers. The Antibody Registry associates each unique antibody with a registry identifier that tracks with this reagent throughout its lifetime, no matter how its catalog number or vendor may change. We strive to provide this information, however antibody origins may be hidden by some vendors and this will cause the same antibody to have several RRIDs.

Lab-Sourced antibodies are also a target for inclusion in the registry, but we depend largely on users like you to register them. An submission portal currently resides here for any antibody (commercial or lab-sourced) not found in the registry database, which will return an identifier for immediate use and authors should expect an official answer from the antibodyregistry curators within 1 business day.

Cell Lines
Cell line identifiers provided here include a standard name, the provider, the catalog or clone number and RRID based on a Cellosaurus identifier:

KCLB Cat# 10020.2, RRID:CVCL_2260

The Cellosaurus database is the most complete curated database of cell lines on the web and staff take care of cross-linking data between vendors and ontologies. Importantly the International Committee on Cell Line Authentication, ICLAC, which puts together a list of contaminated cell lines is also included in Cellosaurus as soon as it it made public. This ensures that authors searching for their RRIDs will easily find information about any adverse events reported with the cell line before they publish their papers. They can decide whether or not the conclusions of their study will be affected by the report.

Tool Citations
Software tool and database citations provided here include a standard tool name, the provider, a version number if available, and RRID based on a NIF SciCrunch Registry identifier:

CellProfiler Image Analysis Software, V2.0, RRID:SCR_007358

At present the recognized authority for software tools is the NIF SciCrunch Registry, which focuses largely on non-commercial tools, but as our content expands new sources of tools will be included. When a single tool is referenced with different identifiers in different sources, they will be cross-referenced in our system. A recommended name and the providing organization is also included in the resource citations. This offers important provenance information which can be relevant for obtaining the resource, and for documenting any code modifications at in a particular implementation. Any tools that are not found in the Resource Identification Portal should be registered with the NIF SciCrunch Registry as a "General Resource" here, and an identifier will be supplied for use in your publication.

Organism Citations
At present, the citation provided for organisms includes only an RRID that is derived from a model organism database authority:

RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664

If the organism was obtained from a supplier, the vendor and stock number should also be provided.

As noted above, when a single organism is referenced with different identifiers in different sources (e.g. ZFIN and ZIRC), they will be cross-referenced by the Model Organism Database (MOD) and often the stock center as well as our system. We leave it up to authors to document the organism name in their citation, as the names in this portal are not yet stable, and authors often prefer their own syntax or notations to be used in a publication. Our recommendation is for names of genetically modified organisms to specify their genotype according to nomenclature guidelines of each model organism authority listed below. Organisms that are not found in this portal or in their respective MOD should be registered with the proper authority, most of which will return an email within 1-3 business days. When necessary, citations reporting organisms in the absence of an identifier should include all known genotype-related information. This includes the genetic background and breeding history, as well as the sequence, genomic location, and zygosity of alterations and transgenic insertions.

Organism Authorities, Submission

The following model organism authorities provide identifiers used in constructing organism RRIDs.
To submit or name a new organism resource, follow the relevant submission and nomenclature links below.

Organisms Currently in Portal

Rodents

Mouse: Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) Homepage Submit Data Nomenclature Submit Strains

Rat: Rat Genome Database (RGD) Homepage Submit Data Nomenclature RRRC rat submission

Invertebrates

Worm: Wormbase Homepage Submit data Nomenclature CGC Repository Submit worms

Fly: Flybase Homepage Submissions Nomenclature BDSC Submit Stocks Kyoto Submit Stocks

Fish

Zebrafish: Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN) Homepage Nomenclature Data Submissions ZFIN ZIRC Submissions

Xiphophorus: Homepage Contact Page

Amphibians

Frog (Xenopus): Xenbase Homepage Nomenclature Contact NXR Frog Repository

Salamander (Ambystoma): AGSC Homepage Stock Center

Higher mammals

Pig: NSRRC Homepage Contact Page

Single Celled Organisms

Tetrahymena: Homepage Contact Page

Additional Model Organism Authorities (not current RRID providers)

Amoebae (D. discoideum): Dictybase Homepage

Chicken(Gallus gallus): Trans-NIH Gallus Initiative Homepage

Fission Yeast (S.pombe): Trans-NIH S. Pombe Initiative Homepage

Filamentous fungus (Neurospora): Trans-NIH Neurospora Initiative Homepage

Daphnia: Trans-NIH Daphnia Initiative Homepage

Plasmids

Addgene is a global, nonprofit repository that was created to help scientists share plasmids and accelerate research. Addgene plasmids are registered RRID items in the format of RRID:Addgene_####. To obtain an RRID for any plasmid you plan to share with the research community, please visit the plasmid deposit my plasmid page to learn how you can share plasmids through Addgene. Please note, you must deposit your plasmid to obtain an RRID.
Addgene links: Homepage Plasmid deposit page Contact page

Cell Lines

To obtain an RRID for a cell line that is not currently found in the RRID portal please contact Cellosaurus, the authority on cell lines. Cellosaurus will take your information and generate an RRID for your cell line in 1-2 business days:

Cellosaurus links: Homepage Please send email: Mail:cellosaurus

Do you wish to deposit a cell line?

The following bioresource centers distribute authenticated cell lines, following the ANSI standard for human cell line authentication. Some of these will also allow researchers to submit their cell lines. Please contact your local cell line stock center to deposit cell lines.

ATCC: USA Homepage Contact page

Coriell: USA Homepage Contact page

CMRI: Australia Homepage Contact page

DSMZ: Germany Homepage Contact page

ECACC: England Homepage Contact page

JCRC: Japan Homepage Contact page