Molecular Pathology Facility

Overview of Services

The Molecular Pathology Facility at Brown University, open to all investigators, provides all-inclusive histology and histopathology services and training. The core houses state-of-the-art equipment, including an automated tissue processor, a paraffin embedding center, two automated microtomes, a cryostat, a vibratome for soft-tissue sectioning, a multiheaded light microscope with projection capabilities and a slide scanner with analysis software for the identification and quantification of morphological structures.  The Molecular Pathology Facility is staffed by a director, a histologist and a histotechnician, who have expertise in histopathological and immunocytochemial methods, including fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, histological staining, immunolabeling, high-resolution imaging, and quantitative image analysis. Facility staff provides all-inclusive services in sample preparation, offers assistance in imaging and image analysis and provides consultation for ongoing or future research projects. 

Services and Instruments
Tissue Sample Processing:

• Paraffin Processing and Embedding
• Plastic Processing and Embedding
• Frozen Tissue-Embedding in OCT Block

 Staining:

• Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)
• Special Stains*

              *Special Stains include Masson's Trichrome, Sirius Red, Congo Red, Oil Red O., Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)

Sectioning:

• Paraffin
• Plastic
• Frozen/Cryostat
• Vibratome
• Serial and Step Sectioning

Immunolabelling:

• Immunohistochemistry
• Immunofluorescence

Additional Services:

• Technical Assistance
• Consultation and Support Services

Core Acknowledgment

This facility was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIEHS Grant Number P42ES013660), Brown University's Division of Biology and Medicine and Provost's office.

The Molecular Pathology Facility began as part of Brown University's Superfund Research Program (SRP) - Toxicant Exposures in Rhode Island: Past, Present, and Future. The Core's initial purpose was to examine molecular and morphological changes in cells, tissues, and organs following exposure to complex environmental contaminants. The core was opened to non-superfund users soon after to stimulate interdisciplinary collaborations in environmental toxicology and create critical mass in the development of novel methodologies.

Leadership

David Silverberg | Facility Manager | david_silverberg@brown.edu

Edward Hawrot | Faculty Director

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

• Molecular Pathology Facility
• CoresRI

Contacts