About CryoNAV

CryoNAV is a comprehensive data management software platform currently under development for cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) workflows. Being developed by the Navarro Lab at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), CryoNAV aims to provide researchers with an integrated solution for managing the complete lifecycle of cryo-EM data, from initial sample preparation through final data archiving.

Overview

CryoNAV is being designed to address the complex data management challenges faced by cryo-EM facilities and research laboratories by offering a unified platform that will streamline workflows, ensure data integrity, and facilitate collaboration.

Key Features

Sample and Experiment Management

Comprehensive tracking of sample preparation conditions
Experimental parameter recording and management
Protocol standardization and documentation

Data Collection and Import

Planned automated tilt series data import from microscope servers
Real-time data retrieval and organization
Support for multiple data collection schemes

Metadata Management

Centralized metadata storage and organization
Standardized annotation systems
Cross-referencing capabilities between experiments

Grid Visualization and Mapping

Interactive grid maps and thumbnails
Location-based tilt series organization
Visual tracking of data collection progress
Search functionality for specific grid locations

Data Processing Integration

CryoNAV is planned to integrate with leading cryo-EM processing tools including:

IMOD - Image processing and 3D reconstruction
Dynamo - Image processing and 3D reconstruction
CryoCARE - Content-aware image restoration
DeepDeWedge - Missing wedge restoration using deep learning
CTFfind - Contrast transfer function estimation
And many other specialized cryo-EM tools

Storage and Backup

Planned automated data storage management
Redundant backup systems
Long-term storage (LTS) integration
Data integrity verification

Sharing and Archiving

Planned upload capabilities to online repositories and databases
Cataloguing systems for easy data retrieval
Long-term archiving solutions
Collaboration tools for multi-user access

Development Background

CryoNAV is being developed by the Navarro Lab, which applies and advances cryo-electron tomography technologies to image cellular samples. The lab's expertise in implementing and developing computational tools for cryo-electron tomographic data processing directly informs CryoNAV's design and functionality.

The software is being designed to address the lab's mission to build computational strategies for quantitative analysis of 3D volumes and in situ structure determination, extending these capabilities to the broader cryo-EM community through an accessible data management platform.

Technical Specifications

CryoNAV is being designed to handle the demanding requirements of modern cryo-EM facilities:

Planned support for high-throughput data collection workflows
Scalable storage architecture
Web-based interface for remote access
Multi-user concurrent access capabilities
Integration APIs for third-party tools
Cross-platform compatibility

Support and Documentation

For installation guides, tutorials, and technical support, please refer to the other sections of this wiki:

Contact

For more information about CryoNAV development or to discuss the project, please contact Paula Navarro (paula.navarro{at}unil.ch) at the Navarro Lab, UNIL.

CryoNAV About