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Electron Microscopy Public Image Archive (EMPIAR)

EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI)
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About

Launched: 2013
Record Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Data resource
Open scholarly dataset
Repository service
EMPIAR, the Electron Microscopy Public Image Archive, is a public resource for raw images underpinning 3D cryo-EM maps and tomograms (themselves archived in EMDB). EMPIAR also accommodates 3D datasets obtained with volume EM techniques and soft and hard X-ray tomography.
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Domain Relevance

  • Biological sciences

Mission

The mission of EMPIAR is to provide freely available data and bioinformatics services to the global scientific community by archiving and distributing large-scale, raw 2D and 3D bioimaging datasets. It supports the reproducibility of maps deposited in EMDB, methods development in structural biology image processing, training and software development.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open API

Implemented
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Open Data Statement

Implemented
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Open Product Roadmap

In Progress
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Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • python

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses

Standards

Persistent Identifier

  • ORCiD
Other:
DOI

Community Engagement

Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to user research or user testing
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Additional Information

Organizational History

EMPIAR was established at EMBL-EBI in 2013 in response to calls from the electron microscopy community for a sustainable archive for the large raw image datasets underlying 3D structures. Initially developed within Protein Data Bank in Europe (PDBe) to complement EMDB, EMPIAR enabled researchers to preserve and openly share the primary data behind cryoEM and tomography studies. In 2019, EMPIAR became a major component of EMBL-EBI’s newly launched BioImage Archive, providing a sustainable home for its growing, multi-petabyte collection and enabling closer integration with other biological imaging data. Over time, its scope has expanded beyond its original focus on raw 2D cryo-EM images to include a wider range of electron and soft X-ray microscopy data.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Intergovernmental organization

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Other
Grants, EMBL funding

Revenue Sources

  • Grants (private)
  • Grants (public)
  • In-kind contributions

Fiscal Host

EMBL
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