Before you begin
If you have just logged into CellRepo and are unsure where to begin, this page is for you.
CellRepo is not a software tool you need to master before it becomes useful.
It is a way to keep track of biological work so that context, history, and ownership are not lost over time.
This guide is written for people who work with biological assets, not for software engineers.
What CellRepo is meant to support
Most biological work involves gradual change.
Strains are modified.
Constructs evolve.
Protocols are adjusted.
People join and leave projects.
Over time, it becomes difficult to answer simple questions with confidence:
- What exactly is this asset in its current state?
- How did it reach this point?
- Who contributed to it, and when?
- What information is missing or assumed?
CellRepo exists to make those answers easier to recover.
It does not replace how you think about your science.
It helps you record it in a way that remains usable months or years later.
How to approach CellRepo at the beginning
You do not need to understand everything at once.
CellRepo is built around a small number of ideas that reflect how lab work already happens:
- Work is usually organised around a project
- Within that project, there are individual biological assets
- At certain points, the state of an asset is worth recording
CellRepo gives structure to these moments.
The structure is there to support you, not to get in the way.
You will encounter specific terms as you go, but you are not expected to memorise them now.
A realistic first use
Most people do not complete a full setup in one sitting.
A typical first use looks like this:
- You decide whether you are working on your own or within a lab or organisation
- You create a project to group related work
- You create a record for a biological asset
- You save its current state
That is enough to get started.
Nothing at this stage is fragile or final.
Individual work and lab work
One of the first decisions CellRepo asks you to make is whether your work is personal or shared.
This choice affects who the work is associated with and who can access it.
It does not change how biological information is recorded.
If you are unsure which option applies to you, that is expected.
The next page explains the difference and helps you choose a starting point.
When something feels unfamiliar
Some of the language used in CellRepo may be new, especially if you have not used structured digital tracking tools before.
This is not assumed knowledge.
Whenever a term is unclear, the CellRepo vocabulary section explains it in plain language and in the context of biological work.
You are not expected to infer meaning or guess how something works.
You are not expected to get this right immediately
Early exploration is part of using the platform.
You can reorganise work.
You can revise records.
You can adjust how you use CellRepo as your understanding grows.
The goal is continuity and clarity over time, not perfection on the first day.
Getting help when you need it
If you are unsure about a step, a concept, or how to set something up for your situation, you do not need to figure it out on your own.
You can always reach us at support@cellrepo.com.
We are happy to help you work through questions, setup decisions, or anything that feels unclear.
What to read next
If you are ready to continue, the next step is to decide how your work should be set up: