Products
The Slice image bank is a shared educational resource developed and maintained by the BEST Network. Over many years, it has grown through contributions from academic institutions and collaborators around the world, resulting in a diverse and high-quality collection of over 23,000 images that includes microscopic, macroscopic and radiology images across multiple disciplines.
This collaborative approach allows educators and students to benefit from a much broader range of material than any single institution could provide alone. By contributing to the Slice image bank, you are helping to strengthen a global teaching resource that supports learning, assessment, and innovation in biomedical education.
The value of a shared image bank includes:
◦ Filling gaps in teaching collections – access tissues, stains, structures, or disorders that may not exist in your local slide set
◦ Enhancing teaching quality – supplement your own materials with high-quality examples from trusted sources
◦ Supporting assessment and practice – provide students with access to unfamiliar images for exam preparation and skill development
◦ Reducing duplication of effort – share resources across institutions rather than recreating similar collections
◦ Supporting ethical and responsible sharing – the Slice image bank has been developed within an ethical framework.
All images contributed to the Slice image bank are made available to BEST Network members for non-commercial educational use, with full acknowledgement of contributors and their institutions.
Slice accepts a wide range of image formats, including many virtual slide formats commonly used in microscopy and digital pathology.
Step 1: Prepare Your Files
Ensure files are clearly named where possible and confirm you have permission to share the images for educational use
Step 2: Share Your Files
Send the Slice team a download link to your files or contact us to arrange a shared folder.
Step 3: Image Processing
The Slice team will:
- Download your files
- Tile and process the images
- Upload your images into the Slice platform
- Send through our Deposit Agreement
Step 4: Receive Access
Once uploaded, you will receive links to your images within Slice. These can be used immediately in teaching and can be shared with students.
