Collaboration: How Bigpicture and VICT3R are turning data into application

VICT3R* is an Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) project focused on enabling the reuse of control animal data from safety studies across the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, with the goal of supporting new, regulator-accepted methodologies. Bigpicture, in contrast, provides the digital pathology infrastructure needed to access and analyse image data at scale. 

For much of their development, both initiatives evolved separately. What became clear is how closely they connect, and that this connection comes at the right moment for both. This has led to a new phase of collaboration, bringing their respective strengths together. VICT3R builds the data foundation. Bigpicture provides the environment to access, connect, and use it at scale.

*Developing and implementing VIrtual Control groups To reducE animal use in toxicology Research; www.VICT3R.eu

From data to proof 

As VICT3R moves forward, the focus shifts from building large well curated tabulated datasets to qualifying their use as virtual control in practice. However, while data can be standardised and reused, pathology depends on how experts interpret images. To validate new approaches, access to the pathology slides becomes essential. As Thomas explains: “Pathology assessment is subjective and driven by the individual pathologist.”  

Where Bigpicture becomes essential 

VICT3R was not designed to manage whole-slide images. Its strength lies in structuring curated single animal data in CDISC SEND standard and successfully developing approaches for regulatory use. But applying those approaches clearly benefits from accessing image data at scale. Thomas: “We do not intend to send around glass slides. This is not feasible. Nobody would actually do that. Bigpicture provides that missing layer, enabling images to be accessed, linked to data, and used across organisations in a controlled environment.” 

A system, not a platform 

This collaboration is not about merging platforms, but about connecting capabilities. VICT3R brings structured data and a regulatory pathway. Julie: “Bigpicture enables that data to be explored and validated through digital pathology. By combining those two together, we get the best of the two worlds.” 

From concept to application 

What changes is not only access, but speed. Instead of building new datasets or repeating work, existing data can be reused and applied more efficiently. As Julie explains: “We are saving resources, but most importantly, we are saving time.”  

Opening the next step  

The collaboration between Bigpicture and VICT3R also creates new opportunities beyond its initial scope. With access to both structured data about study outline and findings collected as well as image data, there is potential to develop models that support interpretation and comparison across data domains in a study and across different study types and designs. Thomas: “This was never in scope of VICT3R, but through collaboration, new directions become possible, extending the value of both initiatives.” 

What needs to change in practice 

Making this collaboration work requires adaptation on both sides. For VICT3R, data that was previously treated as non-sensitive needs to align with stricter governance models when accessing the Bigpicture platform. For Bigpicture, the challenge is making data discoverable and linkable across systems. Julie: “Datasets and images need to be connected through shared identifiers, allowing users to find and retrieve relevant data across systems. This requires new workflows for linking data, managing access, and enabling controlled use.” 

What this means for users 

For users of the Bigpicture platform, this changes how data can be accessed and used. Instead of working with isolated datasets, users can explore connected data, linking structured study information with underlying image data. This enables more integrated analysis, easier validation, and new types of use cases across studies.  

Why collaboration is the enabler 

Both Julie and Thomas emphasise that this level of alignment depends on the right framework. “This can only be achieved through public private partnerships such as IMI or IHI, bringing together strong industry leadership with outstanding academic and small and medium-sized enterprise partners.

What this means for Bigpicture 

Bigpicture is not only a repository, but an enabling infrastructure that allows data to be connected, validated, and applied at scale.  

Collaboration with initiatives like VICT3R makes this visible, but also points to what comes next. By linking study data, images, and methodologies across projects, this joint collaboration is becoming the environment where new approaches can be tested, validated, and brought into use.  

This positions Bigpicture and VICT3R not just as a platforms, but as a foundation for future development, supporting integrated workflows, cross-project collaboration, and the next generation of AI-driven applications in digital pathology and beyond.