Used by researchers at
Create a free account to keep this chat
Run an analysis
- Attach your images with Attach image, or drop them on the message box.
- Say what you want to measure, for example "Count the cells and report confluency".
- Check the plan VolkCell shows you and confirm it. Nothing runs before you confirm.
- Results appear in the chat. Any measurement that fails a quality check carries a warning.
The tabs in a chat
Chat is the conversation. Data lists this chat's images and lets you attach more. Output collects the results and files once they are ready.
More detail in the Guide.
Delete this chat?
This deletes the chat and any images you attached to it.
My workflows
Sign in to save a completed method and reuse it on new images. A saved workflow holds the method only, never your images or results.
Save a completed method, then reuse it on new images. Each reuse re-checks the setup and asks you to confirm before anything runs. Native 3D candidate workflows stay provisional and review-only.
Save this method
Give the method a name. Nothing is saved until you confirm the plan in the chat.
Already have an account?
Before we start
- The assistant processes small previews of the images you attach.
- Guest chats and images expire after two weeks. If an analysis is still running, deletion waits until it finishes.
- See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dictate your message
Dictation uses your browser's speech service, which may process your audio. VolkCell does not store any audio. You can edit the text before sending.
From microscopy
to measurements.
Attach your images. Describe the analysis task. Get your results.
Your images
Only images for this conversation appear here.
Your results
Anything this conversation produces and that is available to open or download is listed here.
Adherent cells · example
Free, no account needed: up to 3 images per run.
VolkCell counts cells , tracks wound closure 
, segments organoids 
and provides you all the data and the pipeline used in an easily interpretable format.
Image credits
Segmentation overlays by VolkCell. Image: BBBC019v2, Komoutsakos, Witz, Tsarfay and Zaritsky, CC BY 3.0. Overlay added by VolkCell.
Image: Organoid Basic, van Beuningen, Lefferts and UMC Utrecht, CC BY 4.0. Overlay added by VolkCell.
Ask. Confirm.
Get the data.
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Describe your research question
Attach your images and describe your research goal in the chat.
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Verify the analysis plan
For a new workflow, review the proposed image analysis pipeline for your use case. Accept the plan or refine it before running.
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Run and analyse
Your images are analysed and the available outputs are returned: measurement CSVs, image overlays and requested plots. Review the masks and quality warnings alongside your results.
adherent-cells.pngSpeak to the team.
Whether you’re after a demo, need advice around a particular image analysis job or just a chat.
Talk through your images, the measurements you need and a workflow that fits your research.
Frequently asked questions
What is VolkCell?
VolkCell is a UK-based start-up that enables life science researchers to extract critical insights from microscopy and other imaging formats.
How accurate and fast is VolkCell?
Accuracy and processing time depend on the image and the desired measurement. There is no single accuracy percentage that applies to every sample. To solve for this, all our analysis pipelines are tunable through natural language instructions or manual labelling. In doing so, the final pipeline is highly accurate and specialised for your exact use case.
Which cell types and culture formats does VolkCell support?
You can request analyses for adherent cells, cells in suspension, scratch assays and spheroids.
Do I need to know the pixel size of my images?
No. Counts, confluency, coverage and intensity do not need a pixel size, so VolkCell runs them without asking. It does help, however, if you upload images in TIFF format, as they came off your imaging device. That way we can read the metadata where a more complex analysis is needed.
How much does VolkCell cost?
For individuals, we operate on a freemium model, whereby you are granted a daily analysis allowance depending on usage. For enterprise deployment or dedicated analysis capacity, book a time with us so we can understand your needs before quoting.
Where is VolkCell based?
VolkCell is based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.