How to analyze MALDI imaging data with open source tools?

Question

[foellmelanie]

Hi all,

I just created my first MALDI imaging data (imzML) :)

It made me very happy to see that there are many tools available but having no previous experience with this type of data I am not sure what software is best for which purpose/my data. Looks like some of them can only do the visualization part, but I would also like to do preprocessing and (basic) statistics. Moreover, I would prefer Open Source tools if possible, but what I have found so far is not all Open Source:

• Biomap
• DatacubeExplorer
• MsiReader
• Spectviewer
• Omnispect
• Mirion
• Cardinal (command line)
• Msi.R (command line)
• msIQuant (when new version is launched imzML compatible)
• EXIMS
• OpenMSI
• Amass

Does anyone have any experiences with some of the tools or any recommendations?

Thanks for your help,
Melanie