EditorialOpen science – combining open data and open source software: Medical image analysis with the Insight Toolkit
Section snippets
Open source for medical image analysis
This particular combination of challenging, important research questions approachable through digital analysis and a deployed scientific community already interconnected with computer communication networks is predisposed to adopt the principles and practices of open source software development. Open source communities are an example of a concept of scientific rendezvous, essentially a shared vision that promotes dialog throughout a field. It is most likely to be an open and welcoming group,
The need for public image analysis tools
There are pressing needs for automated techniques in image analysis. Medical processes such as early cancer detection, monitoring the progress of medical treatment, response to cardiovascular disease, and analysis of neurological disorders such as stroke all benefit from advanced imaging. Public exchange of software tools accelerates the development and improvement of medical care through imaging. This need creates a focus for the community and a basis for a scientific rendezvous.
After holding
Building a team
The idea of constructing libraries of image processing algorithms is not new. Every research team in this field has attempted it at one time or another, but only with marginal success at distributing their software among their colleagues. Even public sponsorship of imaging software tools has been tried repeatedly. Examples of previous medical image processing efforts include: NIH Image, MedX (Sensor Systems), Analyze (Mayo Clinic), 3DViewnix (UPenn), and others. Also, publicly available methods
Open data + open source = open science
A non-profit association, the ISC was incorporated in early 2004. The formation of this group is an indication of the future of this effort. In time, the ISC may become the trustees of the open source software and serve as a focal point for the community.
One of the founding tenets of the ISC is the notion of reproducible scientific results. A significant strength of an open repository of software tools is that if it is matched with a comparable digital repository of experimental data, results
Contents of this special issue
At the time of this publication, the project has produced its sixth release of ITK (2.0). NLM is committed to supporting this effort, and regular software releases are intended. All software is publicly available in source-code form. It builds and runs on Windows™ systems as well as on a variety of Unix™ systems including Solaris™, Linux, SGI Irix™, and MacOS-X, all on a wide variety of compilers. Interested software developers should visit the Insight home page (URL: http://www.itk.org). An
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