T-CLEARE: a pilot community-driven tissue clearing protocol repository

Area of Science:

• Biological imaging
• Histology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Tissue clearing is crucial for 3D imaging but selecting protocols is challenging.
• Existing protocols vary in performance (speed, cost, stability, quenching) and require optimization.
• Results can differ significantly based on tissue type and antibodies used.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a centralized, accessible resource for tissue clearing protocols.
• To facilitate the sharing of protocol evaluations, modifications, and negative results.
• To aid researchers in selecting optimal tissue clearing methods for specific applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel, freely available repository named T-CLEARE.
• Incorporation of community feedback via an open survey.
• Collection of detailed protocol information, including modifications and performance issues.

Main Results:

• T-CLEARE provides a platform for sharing diverse tissue clearing protocol data.
• The repository captures practical insights beyond published literature.
• Community contributions highlight protocol successes and failures across various contexts.

Conclusions:

• T-CLEARE aims to streamline the selection and implementation of tissue clearing protocols.
• The repository empowers researchers to leverage collective knowledge for improved experimental design.
• Facilitating data sharing can accelerate advancements in 3D tissue imaging.