Question About Using and Distributing Allen Brain Cell Atlas Data in Non-Commercial Research Visualization Tools

Hello,

I am developing several non-commercial research visualization tools using data from the Allen Brain Cell Atlas, including MERFISH and imputed gene-expression data.

These tools allow users to interactively visualize spatial gene-expression patterns in selected brain regions and cell types. For some applications, I extract subsets of cells and gene-expression values from the Allen Brain Cell Atlas data and convert them into formats optimized for interactive visualization.

The tools are intended solely for academic, research, and educational purposes and are provided free of charge, with no commercial use.

I am planning to present some of these tools at an academic conference. I would also like to allow conference participants and other researchers to access or receive the applications free of charge, for example through a web application, QR code, or downloadable application.

The Allen Brain Cell Atlas and the relevant publications will be clearly cited in the applications, conference materials, and any related scientific presentations or publications.

I would therefore like to confirm whether the following uses are permitted:

  1. Using Allen Brain Cell Atlas data to develop interactive research visualization applications.
  2. Including processed, reformatted, or subsetted Allen-derived data within the applications when necessary for visualization.
  3. Demonstrating these applications at academic conferences.
  4. Providing or distributing the applications free of charge to conference participants and other researchers.
  5. Making the applications freely accessible through a web-based interface or downloadable software.
  6. Describing and presenting the applications in scientific presentations, posters, or publications.

If there are any specific requirements regarding attribution, licensing, redistribution of derived data, or distribution of applications containing processed Allen Brain Cell Atlas data, I would greatly appreciate your guidance.

Thank you very much for your help

Hi @Sora,

What you are doing is both permitted and encouraged! Our specific citation policy is here–try your best to follow it, but if you have good intensions but don’t get it perfect that is okay.

If you’d like, you are welcome to submit your tool as a Community Tool. There is a form on that page, but if it isn’t working feel free to message me separately.

Best,
Jeremy

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