What is Imagetwin?
Imagetwin is not a research integrity resource. Imagetwin is a screening tool used by journals and other reviewers of scientific literature, to scan life science images for potential duplications, manipulations, and other irregularities. Even for the data types to which it has been optimized (e.g., microscopy images and electrophoresis products such as PCR and blots), Imagetwin’s false negative rate is notable and may be considerably higher for other types of data such as scatterplots. Conversely, areas flagged for review by the software do not automatically qualify as research integrity issues, and do not obviate the need for careful review of data by the paper’s authors, whose expertise is necessary to interpret any discrepancies. The only way to be confident in the content of a manuscript or grant application is through the review of primary data throughout the lifecycle of the project, and through robust data management, storage, and organization of the data.
What images issues can it detect?
- Detection of both full and partial image duplications within a paper and across external publications
- Manipulation detection within duplicates (e.g., scaling, rotations, flipping, brightness, contrast, color)
- Splicing detection in western blots
Are there risks to using it?
As with any tool, there is a risk of relying too heavily on the review; as noted above, Imagetwin may not detect most image discrepancies, and is unlikely to detect any discrepancies in other data types such as graphs. Authors should always rely on good data management and raw data review for image development. See Research Integrity Resources & Tools for guidance.
What kind of images can be reviewed with Imagetwin?
Imagetwin can review microscopic images, gel bands (like Western Blots), and light photography. It is unlikely to detect known discrepancies in FACS data, or other graphs and charts.
What file formats does Imagetwin support?
The software supports PDF and all common image types: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, jfif, .bmp, .tif, .tiff, .svg
How safe is the software regarding privacy and confidentiality?
Uploaded data is not stored nor does it become a part of the Imagetwin reference database. Data can be deleted immediately after the scanning process; otherwise, it will be deleted automatically in 30 days from upload.
Is there training?
Demo videos are available on the Research Hub.
Where can I find out more?
The Imagetwin website has more information including a User Manual.
How do I get it?
Visit the Imagetwin Order Page. By requesting access, you will be required to agree to use Imagetwin in conjunction with robust data management and data review practices.
Is there a fee?
Imagetwin will be available free of charge for the first year to determine usage for best pricing options in FY26. For labs to continue to use Imagetwin, there will be a cost starting in FY26.
Does MGB offer other tools to help researchers prepare papers for publication?
Yes!
iThenticate enables researchers to compare manuscripts against published works and web sources for potential text duplication that may indicate plagiarism. A ‘Similarity Score’ quantifies how much of the document matches other sources, and links to those sources enable easy comparison and assessment of documents. When used correctly, iThenticate can help to validate citations. To find out more and gain access, visit iThenticate.
Grammarly uses AI to help researchers write more confidently. It suggests corrections or alterations to grammar and word choice based on topic and audience to promote clarity, precision, and brevity. These suggestions are intelligently tailored to be in keeping with the researcher’s own voice. To find out more and gain access, visit Grammarly.