The Search Workspace is used to access and collect data from distributed online databases. From the Search Workspace, a user can submit a single query to multiple databases simultaneously. The user submits either keyword (free text) or query term (pre-defined terms) searches depending on the query type supported by the database being accessed. Query returns are organized by data source and data type. Currently MBAT searches the following mouse brain databases:
- Allen Brain Atlas (ABA): mouse brain ISH gene expression patterns -Allen Institute for Brain Sciences
- GenSat: mouse brain ISH and GFP gene expression patterns -Rockefeller Institute
- GenSat (Entrez)
- GeneNetwork
- Cell Centered Database (CCDB): histology, EM, fluorescence images -UCSD
- Animal Imaging Database (AIDB): MRI image volumes -UCSD
New data sources can be added to the Search Workspace by writing data source specific plugins.