In recent years, advances in imaging technologies have transformed biological and biomedical research. High-end microscopy, preclinical imaging, and other multimodal imaging technologies generate unprecedented volumes of complex image data. While these datasets hold immense potential for biological discovery, they are often siloed in separate repositories, described using incompatible metadata, and accessible only to limited specialised communities. This fragmentation hinders data discovery and reuse.
The foundingGIDE (founding a Global Image Data Ecosystem) project responds to this challenge by laying the technical and community groundwork for a truly global, FAIR-compliant (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) image data ecosystem. Such an ecosystem aims to connect partner image data resources, allowing data discovery and access, based on common standards and technologies, enabling an extensible system where future resources and tools can be built. The project unites seven partners from Europe, Japan, and Australia, leveraging the collective strengths of major research infrastructures, repositories, and community networks.
FoundingGIDE objectives are to:
- Establish coordination between global open bioimage data resources.
- Harmonise imaging ontologies and metadata models to ensure interoperability.
- Engage with diverse research communities and technical stakeholders worldwide.
- Provide proof-of-concept tools and connections between repositories.
- Create a sustainable framework for ongoing collaboration and expansion of the ecosystem.
The project’s long-term impact will be to enable seamless sharing and reuse of biological and preclinical image data globally, accelerating scientific discovery, fostering cross-disciplinary research, and strengthening Europe’s role as a leader in open science.
