biostudies-literatureUnknownMartin ANCI NIH HHSImage analysis of subcellular structures and biological processes relies on specific, context-dependent pipelines, which are labor-intensive, constrained by the intricacies of the specific biological system, and inaccessible to broader applications. Here we introduce the application of dispersion indices, a statistical tool traditionally employed by economists, to analyze the spatial distribution and heterogeneity of subcellular structures. This computationally efficient high-throughput approach, termed GRID (Generalized Readout of Image Dispersion), is highly generalizable, compatible with open-source image analysis software, and adaptable to diverse biological scenarios. GRID readily quantifies diverse structures and processes to include autophagic puncta, mitochondrial clustering, and mbioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2024.08.18.608451https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11370428biostudies-literatureUniversal high-throughput image quantification of subcellular structure dynamics and spatial distributions within cells.PMC11370428R01 CA232056Grinstaff MWTingley BShirihai OWilliamson ANia HTZurakowski DHan XPickus MZhang SMartin AfalseUniversal high-throughput image quantification of subcellular structure dynamics and spatial distributions within cells.Image analysis of subcellular structures and biological processes relies on specific, context-dependent pipelines, which are labor-intensive, constrained by the intricacies of the specific biological system, and inaccessible to broader applications. Here we introduce the application of dispersion indices, a statistical tool traditionally employed by economists, to analyze the spatial distribution and heterogeneity of subcellular structures. This computationally efficient high-throughput approach, termed GRID (Generalized Readout of Image Dispersion), is highly generalizable, compatible with open-source image analysis software, and adaptable to diverse biological scenarios. GRID readily quantifies diverse structures and processes to include autophagic puncta, mitochondrial clustering, and m2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2025-07-13T03:04:26.345Z2025-04-04T01:57:47.573ZS-EPMC113704283922922410.1101/2024.08.18.608451