Overview
MSiReader originated as an open academic MATLAB application and is now professionally maintained by MSI Software Solutions. Current Pro and BioPharma editions provide interactive MSI visualization and analysis for high-resolution accurate-mass imaging datasets.
What can this tool do?
Common uses
- Inspect and analyze vendor-neutral high-resolution MSI datasets.
- Visualize spatial ion distributions and compare regions.
Scientific fit
Primary function
Visualization and reporting
Other functions
Statistical analysis
Analysis types
Spatial metabolomics
Data compatibility
Inputs
Imaging data
Outputs
Imaging data, Statistical results
Input formats
imzML
Output formats
Heatmaps, spectra and m/z-abundance data (edition dependent)
Scope and considerations
Designed for
- Interactive mass spectrometry imaging analysis.
Not designed for
- Treating ion-image colocalization as conclusive structural identification.
Important requirements
- Imaging data supported by the selected edition and a compatible desktop installation.
- Check licensing and system requirements for the intended feature set.
Considerations
- Current product capabilities, licensing and supported formats should be checked against the vendor documentation because the software has evolved substantially from the original academic release.
Access and documentation
The current product retains limited freeware functionality after its trial. Pro and BioPharma features require paid licenses; check the current feature comparison. Historical academic releases used a different distribution model.
Evidence and review
Current vendor product, support and feature-comparison pages and original publication metadata reviewed on 2026-09-10. No installation or benchmark performed. The 2013 paper documents the original academic software, not the complete current commercial feature set.
Core publications
Resource papers, direct updates and tool-specific methods. Selection policy.
- Robichaud G, Garrard KP, Barry JA, Muddiman DC. MSiReader: an open-source interface to view and analyze high resolving power MS imaging files on Matlab platform. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 24, 718–721 (2013). doi:10.1007/s13361-013-0607-z
Related tools
Entry history
Changes to this catalogue entry, not the tool's software release history. Acceptance and editorial review are separate.
- 2026-09-11 · First committed entry
Add rMSI, rMSIproc and MSiReader spatial tools
View change · Entry at this revision