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Smart microscopy: current implementations and a roadmap for interoperability

Hinderling, Lucien ; Heil, Hannah S. LU orcid ; Rates, Alfredo ; Seidel, Philipp ; Kesavan, P.S. LU ; Gunkel, Manuel ; Diederich, Benedict ; Guilbert, Thomas ; Torro, Rémy and Bouchareb, Otmane , et al. (2026) In Methods in Microscopy p.1-21
Abstract
Smart microscopy is transforming life sciences by automating experimental imaging workflows and enabling real-time adaptation based on feedback from images and other data streams. This shift increases throughput, improves reproducibility, and expands the functional capabilities of microscopes. However, the current landscape is highly fragmented. Academic researchers often develop custom solutions for specific scientific needs, while industry offerings are typically proprietary and tied to specific hardware. This diversity, while fostering innovation, also creates major challenges in interoperability, reproducibility, and standardization, which slows progress and adaption. This article presents a collaborative effort between academic and... (More)
Smart microscopy is transforming life sciences by automating experimental imaging workflows and enabling real-time adaptation based on feedback from images and other data streams. This shift increases throughput, improves reproducibility, and expands the functional capabilities of microscopes. However, the current landscape is highly fragmented. Academic researchers often develop custom solutions for specific scientific needs, while industry offerings are typically proprietary and tied to specific hardware. This diversity, while fostering innovation, also creates major challenges in interoperability, reproducibility, and standardization, which slows progress and adaption. This article presents a collaborative effort between academic and industry leaders to survey the current state of smart microscopy, highlight representative implementations, and identify common technical and organizational barriers. We propose a framework for greater interoperability based on shared standards, modular software design, and community-driven development. Our goal is to support collaboration across the field and lay the groundwork for a more connected, reusable, and accessible smart microscopy ecosystem. We conclude with a call to action for researchers, hardware developers, and institutions to join in building an open, interoperable foundation that will unlock the full potential of smart microscopy in life science research. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Methods in Microscopy
pages
1 - 21
DOI
10.1515/mim-2025-0029
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a835a821-630c-44ee-84c4-0e6f91bf31db
date added to LUP
2026-04-08 12:58:44
date last changed
2026-04-10 14:22:47
@article{a835a821-630c-44ee-84c4-0e6f91bf31db,
  abstract     = {{Smart microscopy is transforming life sciences by automating experimental imaging workflows and enabling real-time adaptation based on feedback from images and other data streams. This shift increases throughput, improves reproducibility, and expands the functional capabilities of microscopes. However, the current landscape is highly fragmented. Academic researchers often develop custom solutions for specific scientific needs, while industry offerings are typically proprietary and tied to specific hardware. This diversity, while fostering innovation, also creates major challenges in interoperability, reproducibility, and standardization, which slows progress and adaption. This article presents a collaborative effort between academic and industry leaders to survey the current state of smart microscopy, highlight representative implementations, and identify common technical and organizational barriers. We propose a framework for greater interoperability based on shared standards, modular software design, and community-driven development. Our goal is to support collaboration across the field and lay the groundwork for a more connected, reusable, and accessible smart microscopy ecosystem. We conclude with a call to action for researchers, hardware developers, and institutions to join in building an open, interoperable foundation that will unlock the full potential of smart microscopy in life science research.}},
  author       = {{Hinderling, Lucien and Heil, Hannah S. and Rates, Alfredo and Seidel, Philipp and Kesavan, P.S. and Gunkel, Manuel and Diederich, Benedict and Guilbert, Thomas and Torro, Rémy and Bouchareb, Otmane and Demeautis, Claire and Martin, Célia and Brooks, Scott and Sisamakis, Evangelos and Grandgirard, Erwan and Mutterer, Jerome and Oatman, Harrison and Toettcher, Jared and Rogov, Andrii and Antonovaite, Nelda and Johansson, Karl and Ahnlinde, Johannes K. and André, Oscar and Nordenfelt, Philip and Nordenfelt, Pontus and Pfander, Claudia and Reymann, Jürgen and Lambert, Talley and Cosenza, Marco R. and Korbel, Jan O. and Pepperkok, Rainer and Kapitein, Lukas C. and Pertz, Olivier and Norlin, Nils and Halavatyi, Aliaksandr and Camacho, Rafael}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--21}},
  series       = {{Methods in Microscopy}},
  title        = {{Smart microscopy: current implementations and a roadmap for interoperability}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/mim-2025-0029}},
  doi          = {{10.1515/mim-2025-0029}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}