HCR RNA-FISH: Protocol Overview
The same 2-stage protocol is used independent of the number of target RNAs.
All major
automation platforms
Our Mission
To create a new era in which the building blocks of life are quantified at high resolution in the anatomical context of intact tissues.
Our Products and Services
Molecular Instruments® (MI) designs and synthesizes kits for multiplexed, quantitative, high-resolution bioimaging in academic research, drug development, and clinical pathology and diagnostics. MI offers custom assay design and development services for life sciences and pharmaceutical laboratories and companies, as well as nucleic acid sequence design and analysis services for agricultural and veterinary enterprises.
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Our Technology
Our HCR™ technology introduced the concept of conditional nucleic acid self-assembly — a foundational principle for the field of dynamic nucleic acid nanotechnology. Our HCR™ imaging platform opens a new era for in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunofluorescence (IF), enabling simultaneous multiplexed, quantitative, high-resolution RNA and protein imaging in the anatomical context of intact tissues, with 1-step, multiplexed, quantitative, isothermal, enzyme-free HCR™ signal amplification for all RNA and protein targets simultaneously.
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HCR™ RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (HCR™ RNA-FISH)
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HCR™ immunofluorescence (HCR™ IF)
Molecular Instruments Leadership
Dr. Harry M.T. Choi
Founder & CEO
Harry Choi co-founded Molecular Instruments (MI) in 2018, serving as the CEO since its inception. Prior to founding MI, Harry was the lead researcher for three generations of HCR™ technology development at Caltech (v1.0 in 2010, v2.0 in 2014, v3.0 in 2018), exploiting new concepts from dynamic nucleic acid nanotechnology to overcome multi-decade challenges to multiplexed quantitative bioimaging in thick autofluorescent samples. Harry served as Director of the HCR™ technology resource within the Beckman Institute at Caltech from 2010–2018, supporting research labs around the world. Harry received a BS in Bioengineering with honors from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Dr. Aneesh Acharya
Chief Commercial Officer
Aneesh Acharya brings experience as a commercial lead in the health technology sector and management consultant in the life sciences sector. His technical background includes developing the technologies for HCR™ flow cytometry and HCR™ microRNA-FISH. Aneesh received a BS in Biomedical Engineering summa cum laude from Boston University and a PhD in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Dr. Maayan Schwarzkopf
Technology Lead and Head of Technology Support
Maayan Schwarzkopf brings extensive expertise developing HCR™ technologies including HCR™ IF for multiplexed, quantitative, high-resolution protein imaging, HCR™ IF + HCR™ RNA-FISH to extend these benefits to simultaneous protein and RNA imaging, dHCR™ RNA-FISH for RNA absolute quantification with single-molecule resolution in thick autofluorescent samples, qHCR™ RNA flow cytometry for multiplexed quantitative high-throughput expression profiling of mammalian and bacterial cells, and qHCR™ northern blotting for multiplexed quantification of RNA target size and abundance. Additionally, Maayan brings experience providing technology support to HCR™ users worldwide as Director of the HCR™ technology resource within the Beckman Institute at Caltech from 2018-2021. Maayan received a BSc in Biology from Tel Aviv University, an MSc in Biotechnology magna cum laude from Tel Aviv University, and a PhD in Biology from the California Institute of Technology.
Dr. Mike C. Liu
Head of Operations and Product Development Lead
Mike Liu has over a decade of experience leading product development and IP commercialization teams in the biomedical sector, leveraging expertise in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microfluidics, sensors, and manufacturing processes. Mike received a BS in Bioengineering with honors from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Prof. Niles A. Pierce
Founder & Chair of the Board
Niles Pierce is Professor of Applied & Computational Mathematics and Bioengineering and Executive Officer for Biology & Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. His research group has developed mechanisms, principles, and algorithms that enable the rational design and construction of dynamic molecular devices in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. He is a co-founder of the field of dynamic nucleic acid nanotechnology and a co-inventor of HCR™. Pierce graduated as valedictorian from Princeton University with a BSE in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, then received a DPhil in Applied Mathematics as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford. Pierce has received the Fox Prize in Numerical Analysis, a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Rozenberg Tulip Award, the Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, a Christensen Fellow at the University of Oxford, and the 74th Eastman Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford.
Molecular Instruments Team
Molecular Instruments® is located in the heart of the trendy Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. MI is a vibrant team combining creativity, hard work, and high standards with a fun-loving spirit in a beautiful work environment. We believe that a small team with unique technology and outstanding execution can overcome multi-decade technological challenges and practices to assist biology and medicine in entering a new era in which the building blocks of life are quantified at high-resolution in the anatomical context of intact tissues. We're always looking for outstanding new team members. If our mission excites you, we encourage you to apply for one of our job openings.