Confronting heterogeneity in cryogenic electron microscopy data: Innovative strategies and future perspectives with data-driven methods

The surge in the influx of data from cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) experiments has intensified the demand for robust algorithms capable of autonomously managing structurally heterogeneous datasets. This presents a wealth of exciting opportunities from a data science viewpoint, inspiring the development of numerous innovative, application-specific methods, many of which leverage contemporary data-driven techniques. However, addressing the challenges posed by heterogeneous datasets remains a paramount yet unresolved issue in the field. Here, we explore the subtleties of this challenge and the array of strategies devised to confront it. We pinpoint the shortcomings of existing methodologies and deliberate on prospective avenues for improvement. Specifically, our discussion focuses on strategies to mitigate model overfitting and manage data noise, as well as the effects of constraints, priors, and invariances on the optimization process.