Background

When analyzing signal intensity from images, for example from western blots, researchers mainly use either proprietary software or the ImageJ Gels plugin [1]. Unfortunately, using those programs for image analysis contributes to a reproducibility crisis [2]. Proprietary software is closed source, so users do not know exactly how the analysis is performed, and the results can only be reproduced using the same software. While the ImageJ Gels plugin is open source, it does not automatically document the steps in the analysis process, leading to decreased reproducibility. IOCBIO Gel [3] solves both of these problems—it is free and open source, and it also records the original image together with all analysis steps performed on it, such as cropping, background subtraction, and lane selection. This makes it easy to reproduce the results and make corrections at any analysis stage. In addition, the software can store the data either on a PC or in a central database, facilitating efficient collaboration between researchers. Taken together, IOCBIO Gel is an efficient tool for image analysis, contributing to the implementation of FAIR (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability) principles [4]. Further information can be found in the original article describing the software and testing its performance against the ImageJ Gels plugin [3].