Molecular Pathology Core Laboratory

About the Molecular Pathology Core Laboratory

The Molecular Pathology Core Laboratory (MPCL) at Rhode Island Hospital provides histology, immunohistochemistry, molecular analysis, and other services to the research community. 

The lab is equipped with the state-of-the-art instruments:

• Leica BOND RXm and DAKO Link 48 automated immunostainers with multiplexing and RNAscope
• Aperio VERSA high resolution brightfield and fluorescent slide scanner
• Arcturus XT Laser capture microdissection instrument
• Olympus BX41 microscope with CoolSnap Camera from Media Cybernetics and Image Pro-Plus Software
• Agilent MX3005p Quantitative Real-time PCR system
• Agilent BioAnalyser 2100
• Cryostat
• 40-cubic feet of 80° Celsius freezer space for the tumor tissue bank

Our facility serves as a key function in all aspects of translational as well as basic science research.  

Services

Histology/Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)/Special Stains

• Tissue trimming and cassetting
• Paraffin processing
• Paraffin embedding
• Parafin sectioning (includes RNA/DNA extraction and GeoMx DAP assay)
• Parafin scrolling
• Parafin tissue core punches
• H&E stain
• Special stains
• Frozen tissue – create OCT block
• Frozen tissue - sectioning
• Decalcification
• Electron microscopy

Immunohistochemistry (IHC)/Immunofluorescence (IF)/In Situ Hybridization (IHF)

• IHC staining and optimization
• IF staining and optimization
• ISH (RNAscope)

Whole Slide Imaging

• Digital image analysis

Tissue Microarrays (TMAs)

• TMA sectioning
• TMA H&E stains

Instruments

• Nanodrop 2000
• Covaris
• BioRad Thermal Cycler C1000
• Agilent MX3005p Real-Time PCR
• Olympus fluorescence microscope
• BioAnalyzer 2100
• Cryostat
• ArcturusXT LCM

Additional Services

• Pathologist consultation
• Tissue Bank
• DNA/RNA extraction
• Visium Spatial Gene Expression assay
• RNAscope assay
• Microdissection
• Region of interest identification by pathologist
• Technical assistance