WG 7 – Objectives
Work Group 7 focuses on Image Metadata (initially Microscopy Metadata, but increasingly Experimental, Sample, and Analysis Metadata as well, in line with REMBI recommendations).
Our work spans defining, updating, extending, and maintaining the Light Microscopy Model (published in Nature Methods) of metadata specifications, formalizing Best Practices for the LiMi-Model revision process, building user-friendly tools for metadata capture (such as Micro-Meta App, MethodsJ2 and MDEmic), and integrating captured metadata into cloud-ready storage containers such as the Open Microscopy Environment (OME) Next-Generation File Format (NGFF).
The QUAREP-LiMi Steering Committee has formally endorsed the LiMi-Model, affirming its status as one of the organization’s major outputs. Building on this endorsement, WG7 recently launched the LiMi-Model website, which includes the LiMi-Model Viewer, a user-friendly tool for easily navigating the model.
As an essential part of this work, we are developing and promoting the use of the Next Generation Metadata Framework (NGMF), a LinkML-based, community-driven schema definition language designed to keep metadata interoperable while remaining easy to extend and maintain.
Alongside these efforts, we collaborate with WG 8 – Education, training and outreach, to produce educational material and outreach strategies that promote the adoption of the LiMi-Model and its related tools.
To carry out this work, WG7 organizes into ad-hoc Subgroups (see the “Subgroup” tab below), which are created, paused, or dissolved as needed to accomplish specific goals. Our general meetings serve as a community forum for discussing topics of broad interest, reporting on Subgroup progress, and coordinating strategy across the group.
To get involved, complete the general QUAREP-LiMi membership form, select WG7, and, if you’d like, choose a specific Subgroup (see the “Subgroup” tab below) to work on.
Still not sure where to start? Join one of our upcoming working group meetings — we’re happy to help you find the right fit.
WG 7 – Meetings
On the 3rd Monday of every other month at 5-6:30 pm UTC +1.
Last meeting: 9th March 2026, 5:00 pm
For more details, check the QUAREP-LiMi Calendar.
WG 7 – Co-Chairs
WG 7 - Latest News
Last meeting: 9th March 2026, 5:00 pm
Global Bioimaging Training Module: Reporting and Reproducibility in Microscopy.
- Reporting and Reproducibility in Microscopy modules are dedicated to image metadata, an essential additional information including dimensions, pixel size, image type, bit depth, and microscope settings, all necessary for extraction of meaningful data from images, quantitative image analysis, and reproducibility of experiments. The training module can be found here.
Protocols.io: Getting started with Micro-Meta App Tutorial
- The tutorial can be found here.
Light Microscopy Model (LiMi-Model) of metadata specifications (formerly known as 4DN–BINA-OME):
- Hammer, Mathias, Maximiliaan Huisman, Alessandro Rigano, Ulrike Boehm, James J. Chambers, Nathalie Gaudreault, Alison J. North, et al. “Towards Community-Driven Metadata Standards for Light Microscopy: Tiered Specifications Extending the OME Model.” Nature Methods, December 3, 2021, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01327-9. CITE
- Huisman, Maximiliaan, et al. “A perspective on Microscopy Metadata: data provenance and quality control.” arXiv, 24 Oct. 2019, arxiv.org/abs/1910.11370v6.
- Explore with the LiMi-Model Viewer
- GitHub
- Provide feedback (How to)
Micro-Meta-App
- Rigano, Alessandro, Shannon Ehmsen, Serkan Utku Öztürk, Joel Ryan, Alexander Balashov, Mathias Hammer, Koray Kirli, et al. “Micro-Meta App: An Interactive Tool for Collecting Microscopy Metadata Based on Community Specifications.” Nature Methods, December 3, 2021, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01315-z. CITE
- Download
- How to
- Provide feedback
MethodsJ2
- Ryan, Joel, Thomas Pengo, Alex Rigano, Paula Montero Llopis, Michelle S. Itano, Lisa A. Cameron, Guillermo Marqués, Caterina Strambio-De-Castillia, Mark A. Sanders, and Claire M. Brown. “MethodsJ2: A Software Tool to Capture Metadata and Generate Comprehensive Microscopy Methods Text.” Nature Methods, October 15, 2021, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01290-5. CITE
- Download
- How to
MDEmic (OMERO.mde implementation)
- Kunis, Susanne, Sebastian Hänsch, Christian Schmidt, Frances Wong, Caterina Strambio-De-Castillia, and Stefanie Weidtkamp-Peters. “MDEmic: A Metadata Annotation Tool to Facilitate Management of FAIR Image Data in the Bioimaging Community.” Nature Methods, October 11, 2021, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01288-z. CITE
- Download
- How to
- GitHub
ACTIVE
- Subgroup 4: Metadata model revision
- Status: ACTIVE
- Aims: Revise the published version of the LiMi-Model of metadata specifications on the basis of feedback from commercial manufacturers and the imaging community.
- Lead: Caterina Strambio De Castillia
- Contact information: caterina.strambio@umassmed.edu
- Ongoing tasks:
- Implement changes requested for the Detector/Camera model collected during a series of meetings held in Spring 2022 with Camera manufacturers and organized jointly by WG2 and WG7
- Changing the overall structure and content of the LiMi-Model Calibration and Performance extension.
- Cloud storage location (can be accessed as a member) → here
SUSPENDED
- Subgroup 1: Improving the usability of Metadata tools
- Status: SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
- Aims: Develop user-friendly tools to input, update, and visualize image metadata.
- Co-leads: Caterina Strambio De Castillia and Roland Nitschke
- Contact information: caterina.strambio@umassmed.edu
- Ongoing tasks:
- Provide feedback for the design and usability of Micro-Meta App canvases for capturing Laser Scanning Confocal (LSM) and for Spinning Disk Confocal (SDC)
- Cloud storage archive(can be accessed as a member) → here
- Subgroup 2: Metadata education and outreach
- MERGED WITH QUAREP-LIMI WG 8 – Education, training, and outreach WG
- Cloud storage archive (can be accessed as a member) → here
- Subgroup 3: Metadata storage specifications
- Status: SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
- Aims: Develop ways and options (e.g., OMERO) to store/manage/retrieve metadata together with image data and, in particular, OME-NGFF
- Co-leads: Guillaume Gay, Ken Ho, and Damir Sudar
- Contact information: dsudar@qitissue.comandkenneth.ho@crick.ac.uk
- Ongoing tasks:
- Cloud storage archive (can be accessed as a member) → here
To join one or more of the groups, you first need to fill in the general QUAREP-LiMi membership form, select WG7, and then, if desired, pick one of the Subgroups.
18th meeting, 21st of November 2022
Meeting date
21/11/2022 @ 5:00 PM (CET/CEST)
Meeting summary
Caterina reported that all the to-do items from last meeting have been completed. Created a granular task list based on what are tasks identified in each of the Sub-Groups and a link to spreadsheet was added to WG7 mainpage. In addition a proposal was tabled to announce QUAREP-WG7 meetings on Image.sc and it was agreed at the meeting. Ken reported the OME-Meeting on Metadata. Josh’s talk can be found here https://www.openmicroscopy.org/events/ome-community-meeting-2022/ · Great material for advocating about the need of a NG Metadata framework, although no clear definition of storage location. There were much discussion of Nature Methods and Nature Cell Biology request to QUAREP-LiMi to develop a light microscopy checklist for Nature Portfolio. Caterina reported back that we had initial meeting with Rita and Melina to discuss Nature requirements and initial meeting with WG7, 9, 11 and 12 chairs to dicuss next steps. We aim to provide the checklist by Christmas to Nature Methods. Nature is not going to release the data, but something that they will like to work and discuss with their editors.
Subgroup Model, 3rd meeting, 7th of November 2022
Meeting date
07/11/2022 @ 4:00 PM (CET/CEST)
Meeting summary
- Report back from Mathias and Caterina revision of the Camera Metadata Model based on the feedback from the JOINT CAMERA FEEDBACK GROUP Caterina and Mathias have completed the revision of the DETECTION SYSTEM 2022-10-07_NBO-Q_DETECTOR_v3-00-0_DRAFT_V01 spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KQgAClf4lp90sZ0egUez1h2HYwhvC5VFbaBn1mqvgqE/edit?usp=sharing) Caterina and Mathias have worked at testing LinkML as a framework that we could use to represent the metadata model and would allow the automatic generation of different representations starting from a unique source of truth. · Specifically the advantage of LinkML is that it can use a spreadsheet as the source of truth · The spreadsheet has to be following the schemasheet format (https://linkml.io/schemasheets/) o https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wVoaiFg47aT9YWNeRfTZ8tYHN8s8PAuDx5i2HUcDpvQ/edit#gid=55566104 · Mathias and Caterina are testing the schemasheet format to see if it can be used as a source of truth
- Decide on more frequent schedule for follow up meetings · Mathias and Caterina will communicate when the schemasheet version of NBO-Q v3.00_DRAFT is ready to be discussed and presented · David, Mathias, Roland, and Britta will review the 2022-10-07_NBO-Q_DETECTION SYSTEM_v3-00-0_DRAFT_V01 spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KQgAClf4lp90sZ0egUez1h2HYwhvC5VFbaBn1mqvgqE/edit?usp=sharing) so that we can then present it to the CAMERA FEEDBACK GROUP to finalize the request for changes and produce a DRAFT v02 that can be used as a source of truth for implementation
Subgroup Model 2nd Meeting, 5th of October 2022
Meeting date
05/10/2022 @ 4:00 PM (CET/CEST)
Meeting summary
–Caterina and Mathias are having a series of twice-a-week in-person meetings at UMass Med to produce a revised version of the NBO-Q model Excel Spreadsheet that incorporates all proposals for change that emerged from the series of meetings with Camera Manufacturers (referred to as JOINT CAMERA FEEDBACK GROUP)
The product should be done in 1 month.
–This revised spreadsheet will be used as a starting point for our work as well as to solicit a final round of feedback from the JOINT CAMERA FEEDBACK GROUP.
–We will use LinkML as the framework to represent the metadata model. LinkML core format is YAML but a SPREADSHEET can be used as the core representation from which other representations can be generated.
DECISIONS:
NEXT MEETING ON 11/7/2022 AT 11 am ET and then every 1st Monday after that
LinkML will be tested to support the production of different interlinked representations of the model
17th meeting, 19th of September 2022
Meeting date
19/09/2022 @ 5:00 PM (CET/CEST)
Meeting summary
The work of QUAREP-WG7 is done within WG7-Subgroups that have clear goals listed on the WG7 homepage (https://quarep.org/working-groups/wg-7-metadata/).
The general meeting serves as a space for reporting back on the progress that has been achieved within the Subgroups, connecting the dots, strategic planning, and general discussions.
This organization allows WG7 to carry out several parallel tasks that span from image metadata model specifications, the development of metadata collection tools, the improvement of the metadata storage formats, and the development of educational and training material to onboard biomedical researchers.
DECISIONS:
- The general organization of WG7 is sound, and it will be maintained.
- To leave more time for Subgroup work and reduce time waste, it was decided that we will reduce the frequency of WG7 general meeting while making Subgroup meetings regular and consistent.
- Specifically, the general meeting will be held on the third Monday once every 2 months —> NEXT GENERAL MEETING will be on 11/21/2022 (17:00 CEST / 11:00 EST)
- The same slot will be utilized as needed by the subgroups. For example, the next WG7-Subgroup 2 meeting will take place on the 17th of October (17:00 CEST / 11:00 EST).
- At the same time, it is essential to improve communication and progress management to make sure people have a clear idea of what is happening, and how they can contribute.
- To facilitate the division of labor and communication, we will create granular task lists in Excel and link the list from the WG7 homepage (https://nextcloud.quarep.org/index.php/s/DgJBQnjg3jSMgx8). The list will be bae on the tasks emerging from Sub-Group meetings, will provide precise instructions, and include clear due dates (e.g. Subgroup 1: TASK = provide feedback on Micro-Meta App Confocal canvases; DUE=10/17/2022)
Subgroup Model, 1st meeting, 19th of September 2022
Meeting date
19/09/2022 @ 4:00 PM (CET/CEST)
Meeting summary
This was the kick-off meeting for Subgroup 4 of WG7 on Metadata. The purpose of this working group is to revise the published 4DN-BINA-OME Microscopy Metadata model on the basis of feedback from commercial manufacturers and the imaging community.
As a starting point, we are going to revise the Camera model.
During this meeting we described the current status of the work conducted by the WG2-WG7-Camera Manufacturers series of feedback meetings to revise the NBO-Q Camera metadata specifications:
– GitHub —> https://github.com/WU-BIMAC/NBOMicroscopyMetadataSpecs/tree/master/Model/in%20progress/v02-10/Components/Detector
– GoogleDrive —> https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uCjLqRj9jS1pBXmFlk7sOUIrJCVeCrZS?usp=sharing
After that, we started discussing the specifics of the requested changes.
In particular, we discussed how to implement the concept of CAMERA OPERATIONAL MODE.
For more details, see the video recordings.
Memberlist WG 7