Toxic and narcotic reagents are critical specialized substances widely used in pharmacology, toxicology, neuroscience, and other biomedical fields across medical colleges and research institutions. Due to their high toxicity, significant addictive potential, and elevated risk of abuse, they pose serious safety, regulatory, and ethical challenges. Managing these reagents constitutes a “safety red line” in university laboratories. In recent years, laboratory accidents related to the mismanagement of hazardous chemicals have increased, exposing deficiencies in current practices, such as unclear allocation of responsibilities, insufficient real-time monitoring, and fragmented procurement processes. These incidents underscore the urgent need to strengthen both regulatory frameworks and personnel professionalism to prevent abuse, diversion, and accidental exposure.

This study systematically reviews the major challenges in managing toxic and narcotic reagents in academic settings, including ambiguous approval workflows, a lack of digital tracking, and inadequate safety training. Drawing on the operational experience of the National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Anesthetic and Psychotropic Drugs at Xuzhou Medical University, we propose an integrated management model based on the PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle within the overarching framework of a “safety red line.” The model incorporates four iterative phases: planning (defining roles and standard operating procedures), doing (implementing digital procurement and real-time inventory tracking), checking (conducting internal audits and risk assessments), and acting (correcting nonconformities and updating protocols). This paper elaborates on practical experiences and innovative strategies in reagent management and team development, emphasizing institutional mechanisms, technological integration (e.g., role-based access control and blockchain-ready logging), and human factors, such as safety culture and continuous education.

The study demonstrates innovative approaches to building a safety management team tailored to the supervision of toxic and narcotic reagents. Through the PDCA cycle, a supportive environment has been established that enhances the safety and efficiency of teaching and research activities. Key outcomes include a clear hierarchical approval system (departmental review by academic affairs, science and technology, and security offices, followed by centralized qualification by the state assets management office), fully information-based procurement, and mandatory documentation for regulatory submission to public security and drug administration authorities. The model provides strong institutional support, ensures regulatory compliance, and offers a replicable framework for other institutions. It emphasizes continuous training, clear allocation of responsibilities, and the use of digital tools for real-time monitoring and accountability. Since implementation, procedural violations have decreased significantly, and emergency response preparedness has improved.

Effective management of toxic and narcotic reagents requires a multifaceted approach integrating standardized processes, technological empowerment, and a people-oriented safety culture. The proposed PDCA-based model not only safeguards the lives and health of university faculty members and students but also ensures the smooth progression of laboratory activities. By reinforcing laboratory stability, it contributes to the broader social responsibilities of academic institutions. Future efforts should focus on continuous optimization, intelligent monitoring systems, and ongoing professional development to adapt to evolving regulatory demands and emerging research needs.

Large-scale scientific research instruments are indispensable scientific and technological resources in universities and colleges. Local universities and colleges can use these resources to efficiently perform talent training, scientific research, and social service, providing personnel and technical support for regional pharmaceutical research and development and economic and social development. However, constructing large-scale scientific research instrument-sharing platforms in local medical universities is unsatisfactory. For example, the sharing rate is low, and the sharing mechanism needs to be further strengthened. To maximize the utilization efficiency of large-scale scientific research instruments in local medical universities, to provide support for developing discipline, and to provide a reference for constructing large-scale scientific research instrument-sharing platforms in similar universities, this paper proposes construction suggestions to improve the open-sharing system of large-scale scientific research instruments in local medical universities.

Through a literature review, this paper uncovers existing problems in the large-scale scientific research instrument-sharing process, such as unbalanced distribution of scientific research instruments, low use efficiency, shortage of experimental technicians, unstable team structure, and insufficient cooperation and sharing. Meanwhile, combined with the construction experience in the Scientific Research Experiment Center and National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs at Xuzhou Medical University, this paper provides construction advice and a reference for similar universities and colleges.

This paper proposes suggestions on large-scale scientific research instrument-sharing platform construction from five perspectives: improvement of the sharing system, establishment of an experimental technical team, building of skill training system, development and application of instruments, and focus on market demand and strengthening of campus-enterprise cooperation. These suggestions aim to promote the maximization of the utilization efficiency of large-scale scientific research instruments in local medical universities, provide support for developing discipline, and provide a reference for constructing large-scale scientific research instrument-sharing platforms in similar universities and colleges.

Based on the literature review and the construction experience at Xuzhou Medical University, this paper suggests that local medical universities and colleges should actively improve the open sharing system of large-scale scientific research instruments, link the open sharing of instruments with the project declaration and final assessment of research groups or platforms, and establish an open sharing intelligent management system. These universities and colleges should introduce and train high-level and -quality experimental technical personnel, increase the number of experimental technical personnel, set up senior professional titles for laboratory personnel, and create green channels for those who have made major contributions in key research and development fields, thereby optimizing the team structure of experimental technicians and improving their status and treatment. In addition, they should build skill training systems to effectively improve the practical operational ability of operators in laboratories; encourage experimental technicians to actively develop and apply the functions of instruments according to the requirements of experiments to provide full play to the functions of scientific research instruments; efficiently serve scientific research innovation and discipline development; actively explore the integration cooperation mechanism among local governments, universities or colleges, and enterprises; and make good use of the functions of their large-scale scientific research instruments to efficiently serve regional pharmaceutical research and development and economic and social development.

Universities in China play a crucial role in scientific research, and the management of scientific research rooms, which are important places for teachers and students to engage in scientific research, is a significant concern. Current concerns include uneven resource utilization, difficult housing allocation implementation, and unrestricted use of real estate. Addressing these issues is imperative for more effective university management.

The Xuzhou Medical University has developed an innovative housing resource allocation model based on scientific research performance adjustment housing. The core of this system is the scientific research performance evaluation. We synthesized domestic and international research findings and, based on practical considerations, selected several key evaluation indexes for scientific research output. These include high-quality papers published by the laboratory, research projects secured at or above the provincial or ministerial level, awards for scientific research achievements obtained at these levels, invention patents, and awards for guiding college students to the innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan. Additional factors such as periodical division, author identity, person rank, and research project rank are also considered. Through this model, the school implements total quantity control and quota management of laboratory housing area allocation and links evaluation results to housing demand, thereby integrating scientific research management with asset management.

In the specific implementation, our university uses a variety of administrative and economic regulatory methods to prioritize housing needs based on “More output, contribution, and obvious characteristics.” For laboratories exceeding standard housing usage, punitive property use fees are imposed to encourage efficient use of space, resulting in remarkable improvements. The reform supports the sustainable and scientific development of the university and serves as a reference for other local medical universities.

The reform of performance evaluation for laboratory housing, as a leading project, requires firm support and full authorization from the university’s main leaders. A firm determination to reform is crucial for overcoming obstacles and resolving conflicts. The leading department should carefully conduct investigations and research, grasp various data sources, and continuously optimize the reform plan to meet established goals, striving for understanding and support from researchers. Continuous analysis and timely adjustments are necessary to address new problems and situations. Establishing public housing management and incentive mechanisms that adapt to the development needs of high-level and research-oriented universities is fundamental. This not only guarantees the sustainable and scientific development of universities but also serves as a valuable reference for other local medical universities.