eeFit: a Microsoft Excel-embedded program for interactive analysis and fitting of experimental dose-response data

We present here a software program dedicated to the fitting of experimental dose-response data, which integrates seamlessly with Excel and allows curve fitting plots and results to reside alongside data within Excel spreadsheets. The program, named eeFit, for Excel-Embedded Fitting software, requires no advanced knowledge of Excel or non-linear least-squares fitting. Any experimental data present in an Excel file, such as dose-effect data obtained with membrane receptor or ion channel ligands, can be graphed and fitted interactively with standard Hill models for activation or inhibition, or with more complex models for biphasic effects resulting from combinations of activation and inhibition. When benchmarked against the commercial program Origin, eeFit yielded equivalent or better results, in terms of accuracy and convergence, and proved much easier to learn and use.